So, can anyone claim—when we forbid prostrating to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—that we are denying his rank and status? Certainly not, by no means.
Likewise, can anyone argue that because the Prophet’s ﷺ rank is established, bowing and prostrating to him must therefore be established as well? Again we say: absolutely not.
It is therefore perfectly clear, Allah willing, that affirming the Prophet’s ﷺ rank does not in itself justify venerating him by seeking nearness to Allah through that rank, so long as such a practice is not endorsed by the revealed law.
Part of his ﷺ standing, moreover, is that we are obliged to follow and obey him just as we must obey his Lord. It is authentically reported that he ﷺ said, “I have left nothing that brings you closer to Allah except that I have commanded you to do it.” 1 If he did not command us to engage in this form of intercession—not even as a recommended act—then it is not an act of worship. We must therefore follow him in this matter, set aside our emotions, and not allow them to introduce into Allah’s religion anything that does not belong to it under the pretext of loving him ﷺ. True love is shown by obedience, not by innovation, as Allah says: “Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.’”
In the same vein, the poet said:
“You claim to love the Almighty yet still disobey Him—
By your life, this is indeed a wondrous verdict!
Had your love been true you would have obeyed Him,
For the lover is ever obedient to the one he loves.”
Two weak reports
- The report about seeking rain through the Messenger ﷺ after his death:
Having finished citing the weak ḥadiths on tawassul and examining