Is the statement: "I love Allah with an intense love, and my love for Muhammad is like my love for Allah" considered polytheism (shirk)?

Equating the Creator and the created in love is a major shirk that expels one from the fold of Islam. Thus, whoever loves other than Allah with a love of servitude that entails complete submission and humility has committed shirk. This is supported by Allah's saying: "And among the people are those who take rivals to Allah, loving them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah." (Al-Baqarah 2:165) And His saying about the inhabitants of Hell: "By Allah, we were indeed in manifest error when we equated you with the Lord of the worlds." (Ash-Shu'ara 26:97-98).

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, warned against equating in words, saying to someone who said, "Whatever Allah wills and you will": "Have you made me an equal to Allah? Say: Whatever Allah alone wills." He also forbade exaggeration concerning him by saying: "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the son of Mary, for I am only a slave. So, call me Allah's slave and His Messenger."

While it is obligatory to love Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, it is not permissible for the love and veneration of the created to be equal to the love and veneration of the Creator, Exalted be He.