Reference: Fataawa Noorun ‘alad-Darb – Volume 2, Page 522, Question 414
Question: How can one actualise [their] love for the Messenger ﷺ?
Response: Love of the Messenger ﷺ and love of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) is actualised by following the Messenger ﷺ, and everyone who follows the Messenger ﷺ is more eligible for the love of Allaah and the love of His Messenger. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) says:
{Say: “If you (really) love Allaah then follow me (Muhammad), Allaah will love you”}, [Soorah Aal-‘Imraan, Aayah 31].
And the sign of the love of the Messenger ﷺ is that a person inquires about his Sunnah and then follows it and does not add nor take anything away from that. Based upon this, then those who innovate in anything related to the Prophet ﷺ and state that this is from their love and honouring of him (the Prophet) then in reality they do not love him and nor honour him. And that is because true love and honouring of him is to follow his sayings and not to add to his Sharee’ah and nor to take away from it.
And indeed whoever desires to innovate in the Sharee’ah of Allaah that which is not from it, then his love of Allaah and His Messenger is limited without doubt, because completeness of manners and honouring is not to extend oneself before Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) said:
{O you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allaah and His Messenger, and fear Allaah. Verily! Allaah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds may be rendered fruitless while you perceive not}, [Soorah al-Hujuraat, Aayahs 1 and 2].
