“…dearer to me than my own self.” He ﷺ replied, “Now, O ʿUmar!”

Allah the Exalted says:

“Say, ‘If you truly love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.’” (Āl ʿImrān 3:31)

He also says:

“Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, so that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger, support him, and revere him, and that you may glorify Allah morning and evening.” (al-Fatḥ 48:8-9)

In the clause “support him and revere him,” the pronoun refers exclusively to the Messenger; whereas “glorify Him” refers to Allah alone. Thus, belief is in Allah and His Messenger, support and reverence are for the Messenger, and glorification belongs solely to Allah. This foundational principle is elaborated elsewhere.

Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ to establish and perfect pure monotheism, to strip it of every impurity, and to eradicate shirk in every guise—even in phrasing. He ﷺ said:

“Let none of you say, ‘Whatever Allah wills and Muhammad wills.’ Rather say, ‘Whatever Allah wills, then whatever Muhammad wills.’”

On another occasion a man said to him, “Whatever Allah and you will.” He replied, “Have you made me a rival to Allah? Rather say, ‘Whatever Allah wills.’”