be accompanied by worship, veneration of Allah, and humble submission to Him, inspired both by hope and by fear.

As for what pertains to the Messenger in this matter, it is love for his sake and obedience for the sake of Allah, for whoever obeys the Messenger has in fact obeyed Allah. Indeed, the Messenger’s right over his community proceeds from Allah’s right over them; the believer therefore upholds the Messenger’s right and follows him in compliance with Allah’s command and as an act of worship to Him.

It is labelled “the right of the Messenger” only because it is connected to him; otherwise, everything Allah has commanded and urged—observing the rights of His Messenger, of parents, children, spouses, relatives, neighbours, scholars, governors and rulers, the elder over the younger and the younger toward the elder, and others—is ultimately a right owed to Allah. The servant fulfils it in obedience to Allah and in devotion to Him, while also giving each person his due and treating him with kindness. The exception is the Messenger, for every kindness flows from him to his nation; no good has ever reached them except through his hands—peace and blessings be upon him.