Is it correct to say “My dear father”?

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

There is nothing wrong with this and in fact it is permissible. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad) is anxious over you; for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful”

[al-Tawbah 9:128] 

“and she has a great throne”

[al-Naml 27:23]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Al-kareem (the good and noble one) son of al-kareem son of al-kareem is Yoosuf.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3390. 

This indicates that these words may be used to describe Allaah and to describe others, but when they are used with regard to Allaah, that cannot be likened to their use with regard to created things, because the attributes of the Creator befit Him and the attributes of created things suit them. If a person calls his father or mother ‘azeez, it means “you are precious to me” and so on; it does not mean at all what the word means in reference to Allaah, which is ‘izzah (might, pride) by virtue of which none can subdue Him.