2:

The Rights and Etiquettes regarding the Prophet (ﷺ)

1. To Believe in Him (ﷺ)

Etiquette: To have complete faith and belief in Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

﴿لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ﴾

"(O people!) so that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger, and help him, and honor him."

Quran, Al-Fath 48:9.

2. To Obey and Follow Him (ﷺ)

Etiquette: To submit to his commands and follow his Sunnah (way of life).

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ﴾

"O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger."

Quran, An-Nisa 4:59.

3. To Love Him (ﷺ) Above All Others

Etiquette: To ensure that your love for him (ﷺ) is greater than your love for your parents, children, and all humanity.

لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "None of you becomes a (perfect) believer until I become more beloved to him than his father, his children, and all mankind."

Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman.

4. Belief in His Superiority

Etiquette: To believe that he (ﷺ) is the most excellent and superior of all Prophets and human beings.

أَنَا قَائِدُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَلَا فَخْرَ

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "I am the leader of all the Messengers, and I say this without pride."

Sunan ad-Darimi; Mishkat al-Masabih.

5. Belief in the Finality of His Prophethood

Etiquette: To hold the conviction that he (ﷺ) is the Last and Final Prophet (Khatam an-Nabiyyin).

﴿مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ﴾

"Muhammad (ﷺ) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets."

Quran, Al-Ahzab 33:40.

6. Belief in His Infallibility (`Ismah)

Etiquette: To have the conviction that he (ﷺ) is protected from sins (Ma'sum) and is blameless.

"All Prophets (Peace be upon them) are protected from minor sins, major sins, disbelief, and indecent acts, both before and after their prophethood".

Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar, pp. 132-133.

7. Avoiding All Opposition

Etiquette: To protect oneself from even the slightest opposition to him (ﷺ).

﴿وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوْلَى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا﴾.

"And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination".

Quran, An-Nisa 4:115.

8. Avoiding Extremism in Love (Ghulu)

Etiquette: To avoid exaggeration in love, specifically by not attributing attributes that are exclusive to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) to him (ﷺ).

لَا تُطْرُونِي كَمَا أَطْرَتِ النَّصَارَى عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ، إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَقُولُوا: عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising Jesus, son of Mary. I am only a servant of Allah, so say: (He is) the servant of Allah and His Messenger".

Shamail At-Tirmidhi, Hadith 328.

9. Sending Abundant Salutations (Salawat)

Etiquette: To constantly send blessings and peace (Durood-o-Salam) upon him (ﷺ).

أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ عَلَيَّ صَلَاةً.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The people most deserving of my proximity on the Day of Resurrection will be those who used to send the most blessings (Durood) upon me".

Jami` At-Tirmidhi, Hadith 484.

10. Love for the Ahl al-Bayt and Progeny

Etiquette: To maintain love for the household (Ahl al-Bayt) and the children and progeny of him (ﷺ).

أَحِبُّوا اللَّهَ لِمَا يَغْذُوكُمْ مِنْ نِعَمِهِ، وَأَحِبُونِي لِحُبِّ اللَّهِ، وَأَحِبُّوا أَهْلَ بَيْتِي لِحُبِّي.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Love Allah because He feeds you from His blessings, love me because of your love for Allah, and love the members of my family because of your love for me".

Mishkat al-Masabih.

11. Love for the Sahabah (Companions)

Etiquette: To have deep love and respect for the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet ﷺ) and to refrain from making them targets of criticism or insult.

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: "اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي أَصْحَابِي، لَا تَتَّخِذُوهُمْ غَرَضًا مِنْ بَعْدِي، فَمَنْ أَحَبَّهُمْ فَبِحُبِّي أَحَبَّهُمْ، وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُمْ فَبِبُغْضِي أَبْغَضَهُمْ".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "(Fear) Allah, (fear) Allah regarding my companions! Do not make them objects of insult after me. Whoever loves them, loves them because of his love for me; and whoever hates them, hates them because of his hatred for me".

Jami` At-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3862.