What title is Abraham given in Islam, meaning Friend of God?

In Islam, Abraham is given the title Khalilullah, meaning “Friend of God.”

Khalilullah is formed from Arabic words related to khalil, an intimate or devoted friend, and Allah, meaning God. The title is associated especially with Abraham—called Ibrahim in Arabic—because the Qur’an describes God as having taken Abraham as a close friend. It expresses Abraham’s exceptional faith, devotion, and closeness to God.

Abraham is a major prophet and patriarch in Islamic belief. The Qur’an presents him as a determined opponent of idolatry, a model of submission, and an ancestor of important prophetic lines through Ishmael and Isaac. Islamic tradition also associates Abraham and his son Ishmael with establishing or rebuilding the Kaaba in Mecca, making him central to the story of Hajj.

The title is closely connected with Eid al-Adha. Muslims commemorate Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s command to sacrifice his son, although the Qur’an does not name the son in the passage itself; later Islamic tradition commonly identifies him as Ishmael. Khalilullah should not be confused with Rasulullah, “Messenger of God,” a title commonly associated with Muhammad.