The Necessity of Loving Rasool Allah (Peace Be Upon Him)

Allah says, ‘(O Holy Prophet!) Say (to the believers) if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your clan, the wealth that you have earned, the business in which you fear loss and your chosen houses are more dear to you than Allah and His prophet and jihad (fighting or struggling) in His cause then wait until Allah brings forth His command (punishment.’
(Holy Quran, Surah 9, At-Tauba, Verse 24)

Qadhi Iyadh rahmatullah-alaih writes that this verse is sufficient proof and indication of the necessity of loving the Holy Prophet and the fact that this is an immensely important obligation.

The Holy Prophet said, ’None amongst you can be a true believer until his love for me is greater than the love he holds for his parents, his children and everyone else.’
(Bukhari and Muslim related by Hazrat Anas)

Hazrat Anas radhi-allahhu-anhu also relates that the Holy Prophet said, ‘A person who possesses the following three qualities has acquired the true meaning of eeman(faith):

1. His love for Allah and the Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallahu-alaihi-wasallam is greater than his love for anyone else.
2. His friendship with anyone is solely for Allah’s pleasure.
3. Having accepted Islam, he abhors ‘kufr’(disbelief) as much as he would loathe burning in fire.’
(Bukhari and Muslim)

Hazrat Umar radhi-allahu-anhu said to the Holy Prophet, ‘I love you more than everything than myself.’ The Holy Prophet said, ‘None amongst you can be atrue believer until I am dearer to him than even himself.’
Hazrat Umar said, ‘I swear by Him (Allah) who revealed the Book (Holy Quran) to you! You are indeed dearer to me than even myself.’
The Holy Prophet replied, ‘Umar, now your eeman (faith) is complete.’
(Bukhari)

The ahadeeth below have been selected from ‘Ash-Shifa’ , Part Two, Chapter Two, Section 2; ‘The Reward for Loving the Prophet’:

A man came to the Holy Prophet and asked, ‘When will the day of Judgment come?’ The Holy Prophet replied, ‘What have you prepared for it?’ The man said, ‘I have not prepared for it with a lot of salah, fasting or sadqah (charitable donations) but I do love Allah and His Prophet. ‘The Holy Prophet said to him , ‘Anta ma’a man ahbabta (On the day of judgment) you will be with the one you love.’
(Bukhari related by Hazrat Anas)

Hazrat Safwan bin Qudamah radhi-allahu-anhu relates, ‘I did hijra (emigrated) to the Holy Prophet and went to him and said, “O Holy Prophet! Give me your hand so I may swear the oath of allegiance to you,” The Holy Prophet gave me his hand. I said to him, “O Holy Prophet! I do indeed love you, “The Holy Prophet replied, “Al-mar’u ma’a man ahabba- A person is (and always will be) with the one he loves.”’
(Tirmizi and Nissaee)

A man came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Holy Prophet! You are indeed dearer to me than my family and my wealth, I remember you and I cannot wait until I can come and look at you. I think of my death and yours and know that when you enter paradise you will be at a high ranking place with the prophets and so, even if I am granted entrance to paradise I will not be able to see you (because of your high status).
In response to this, Allah revealed the verse: “And he who obeys Allah and the Prophet, he will be with those whom Allah has favored-the prophets, the siddiqeen (truthful people), the shuhada (martyrs) and the saliheen (pious people). And what good companions they are.” (Holy Quran, Surah 4: An-Nisa, Verse69). The Holy Prophet called the man and recited this verse to him.