Many people quote a narration “If it wasn’t for the Prophet, Allah would not have created the universe.” Is this a hadith?

Question:

Many people quote a narration “If it wasn’t for Prophet Allah would not have created the world.” Is this a Hadith?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
There is no doubt that loving, honouring and following the Prophet ṣalallahu ʿalayhi wasallam is compulsory and a requirement of Imān.  Reciting, memorising and disseminating authentic and established Ahādīth is also from the love of the Prophet ṣalallahu ʿalayhi wasallam.  However, spreading and quoting fabricated Ahādīth despite knowing the status of it is totally prohibited and disrespectful to the Prophet ṣalallahu ʿalayhi wasallam.
Fabrications do not elevate the status of the Prophet ṣalallahu ʿalayhi wasallam.
One such famous narration often quoted as a Hadīth is:

لَوْلاكَ لَمَا خَلَقْتُ الأَفْلاكَ

“If it had not been for you, I would not have created the universe.”

The Muḥaddithūn have stated the following with regards to this narration:
Imam Sāghānī rahimahullah states that this is a fabrication.[i]
This is endorsed by ʿAllamah Tahir al-Patnī  rahimahullah in his Tadhkirat al-Mawḍūʿāt.[ii]
Mullā ʿAlī al-Qārī rahimahullah also reiterates the same opinion in his al-Mawḍūʿāt al-Kubrā.[iii]
Hafiẓ ibn Hajar al-Asqalānī rahimahullah has also stated that this narration is a fabrication.[iv]
Maulana Abd al-Hayy al-Laknawī rahimahullah states in his Tadhkihrat al-Rāshiḍ that this narration is a fabrication.[v]
Imam al-Suyūtī rahimahullah has also classified this report as a clear fabrication in his al-La’ālī al-Masnūʿah.[vi]
In light of the above, the wording of the report is clearly fabricated.
Although the wording is a fabrication and it is not a Hadīth, many of the Muḥaddithūn have stated the meaning to be sound.  In other words, the Prophet ṣalallahu ʿalayhi wasallam is the most beloved to Allah Taʿālā.  The rank and status of the messenger of Allah outranks and excels the worth of the entire universe in the sight of Allah.
And Allah Ta’ālā Knows Best
Mufti Faraz Adam al-Mahmudi,
www.darulfiqh.com