Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Qāʿidah al-Jalīlah (pp. 132, 150):

“Even though the Prophet’s ﷺ status with Allah is greater than the status of all the other prophets and messengers, the standing of a created being before the Creator is not like the standing of one creature before another. No one may intercede with Him except by His permission, whereas a creature may intercede with another creature without first obtaining his leave, thereby becoming a partner in securing the requested benefit. Allah, exalted is He, has no partner, as He says:

‘Say, “Invoke those you claim besides Allah. They do not possess even an atom’s weight in the heavens or on the earth, nor do they have any share in either of them, nor does He have any helper from among them. Intercession will not avail with Him except for one to whom He grants permission.”’⦗1⦘

Therefore, the fact that the Prophet’s ﷺ rank with his Lord is so great does not oblige us to seek nearness to Allah by means of him, for no authentic text from the Prophet ﷺ commands us to do so. To make this clearer, consider that bowing and prostration are conventional expressions of veneration among people. In former times—and some still do today—they would stand, bow, and prostrate to their king, their leader, or whomever they held in reverence. All Muslims are agreed that Muhammad ﷺ is the most honored and exalted of humankind. Yet is it permissible for them to stand, bow, and prostrate to him during his life or after his death?

The answer: anyone who claims such acts are permissible must bring evidence from the revealed law. Upon examination, we find that bowing and prostration are permitted only for Allah. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited anyone from prostrating or bowing to another person, and the Sunnah records his dislike of people’s standing for him. This shows unmistakably that such practices are not sanctioned.