Ruling on giving the title Sayyiduna to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and calling people by the names of Allah
Question

                What is the ruling on giving the title Sayyiduna to Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and to the righteous close friends of Allah (awliya’)? What is the ruling on calling people by the beautiful names of Allah such as al-Baseer, al-‘Azeez and so on?.
Praise be to Allah.
      Giving the title Sayyiduna to the Prophet (blessings and 
      peace of Allah be upon him) is right and proper, because he is the master 
      (sayyid) of the sons of Adam, and it is proven that he (blessings and 
      peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I am the master (sayyid) of the sons of 
      Adam and no boast.” He is the master of mankind and the Messengers. So if 
      a man says Sayyiduna Muhammad, and: Allahumma salli ‘ala Sayyiduna 
      Muhammad (O Allah, send blessings upon our master Muhammad), there is 
      nothing wrong with that. He is the master (Sayyid) of the sons of Adam and 
      the master of mankind. 

    He only disliked that from people during his lifetime because 
    he feared that they might exaggerate. So when they said, You are our master 
    (sayyid), he said: “Al-Sayyid is Allah, may He be blessed and exalted,” so 
    as to block the means (that might lead to exaggeration), as he was afraid 
    that they might exaggerate about him (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
    him). But after he died (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and as 
    he told us that he is the master (sayyid) of the sons of Adam, there is 
    nothing wrong with saying Sayyiduna (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
    him). So he is the best of us, and our master (sayyid), and our leader 
    (imam), and he is a close friend of the Most Merciful (blessings and peace 
    of Allah be upon him). 

    With regard to other people, it is better not to say 
    Sayyiduna or to address them as such, but if it is said that so and so is 
    their sayyid, meaning their leader or ruler or the head of the tribe, there 
    is nothing wrong with that. It is like what the Prophet (blessings and peace 
    of Allah be upon him) said to his grandson al-Hasan: “This son of mine is a 
    sayyid (master)” and he said: “Who is the sayyid of such and such a tribe?” 
    And he said to the Companions on the day Sa‘d ibn Mu ‘aadh came to pass 
    judgement on Banu Qurayzah: “Stand up to greet your sayyid.” So there is 
    nothing wrong with it. 

    But one should not say “Ya Sayyiduna (O our master)”; it is 
    better not to say it because the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be 
    upon him) said: “Al-Sayyid is Allah, may He be blessed and exalted,” and 
    because this may lead to arrogance or exaggeration if it is said to another 
    human being. 

    So it is better to address people as “our brother” or “Abu So 
    and so”, and this is sufficient. But there is nothing wrong with saying it 
    in some contexts, such as the following: saying “Who is the sayyid of such 
    and such a tribe?”; or “This (person) is a sayyid” because he is descended 
    from the family of the Prophet, or because he is a faqeeh or a scholar or 
    noble in and of himself and in his attitude and actions, or because he is 
    generous -- in such cases, there is nothing wrong with it. But if there is 
    the fear that calling him sayyid may make him become big-headed or think too 
    highly of himself, then it should not be done. 

    This word should not be used for a kaafir or hypocrite or 
    sinner; rather it should only be said to a senior Shaykh or a leading faqeeh 
    or scholar who is known to be righteous, good, forbearing, virtuous and 
    generous. 

    If such people are called sayyid, there is nothing wrong with 
    it, but with regard to addressing them as “Ya Sayyiduna”, it is better not 
    to do that. But if an immoral person or hypocrite is the leader of his 
    people, there is nothing wrong with addressing him by saying “Ya sayyid Bani 
    Fulaan (O leader of the tribe of So and so”). 

    With regard to the second part of the question, the names of 
    the Lord, may He be exalted, are of two types: 

    Those which it is permitted to call people by and those which 
    it is not permitted to call people by. So one cannot be called Khallaaq 
    (Creator) or Razzaaq (Provider) or Rabb al-‘Aalameen (Lord of the Worlds), 
    but there is nothing wrong with names such as ‘Azeez (strong) or Baseer 
    (seeing). Allah called some of His creation by such names, for example 
    (interpretation of the meanings):

    “so We made him [man] hearer and seer”

    [al-Insaan 76:2]

    “The wife of Al‑‘Azeez said…”

    [Yoosuf 12:51].

    These names may be given to created beings, e.g. ‘azeez 
    qawmihi (leader of his people), baseer bi’l-umoor (having insight 
    into things), baseer (referring to one who can see, as opposed to one 
    who is blind), and hakeem meaning wise. There is nothing wrong with 
    these names, because they are common between Allah and created beings. 

    But Allah has the most perfect level of these attributes. But 
    names that can only belong to Allah should not be given to anyone other than 
    Allah, so a human being cannot be called Allah or al-Rahmaan (the Most 
    Merciful) or al-Khallaaq (the Creator) or al-Razzaaq (the Provider) or 
    Khaaliq al-Khalq (the creator of creation) or other similar names that can 
    only be given to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. End quote. 

    Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him).