Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
It is clearly evident from this hadith that love for the Noble Messenger ﷺ, following him, and obedience to him are the highest and most exalted matters.
Whether it is a teacher, a spiritual guide (pir-murshid), or a mujtahid imam, the personality of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ takes precedence over all.
This is the true meaning of love: it is not merely to call out “O Messenger of Allah” with the tongue, or to kiss one’s fingers upon hearing his blessed name, or to compose creedal treatises based on association. All these are formal and innovative (bid‘ah) practices that will not be accepted by Allah.
The Holy Qur’an clearly states:
﴿قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ﴾
If you claim to love Allah, then follow me step by step; in this case, Allah will also make you His beloved.
That is why it has been said: “All claims are mere words before the words of Muhammad.” That is, whenever the statement of any mujtahid imam or spiritual guide, whoever he may be, conflicts with the statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then give precedence to the blessed statement of the Prophet ﷺ and abandon all opposing statements.
This is the only matter that the rigid followers (muqallidin jamidin) do not like: that Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, who is a very great and noble imam, himself clearly stated: “If a hadith is authentic, then that is my madhhab.” When an authentic hadith is found and my statement is contrary to it, then leave my statement and act upon the authentic hadith, because my madhhab is also that which is established by an authentic hadith. But upon hearing this, the followers (muqallidin) label the Ahl al-Hadith as disrespectful, without a madhhab, and non-followers, thereby proving their own misguidance. Such people, according to Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi rahimahullah, what face will they show to Allah on the Day of Judgment?
When Allah the Exalted will ask: “Why did you make the statement of your mujtahid imam your religion in opposition to My and My Messenger’s clear command?”
That is why the people of Allah have written in clear words that Allah has made it obligatory upon every person to be a Muslim; it is not obligatory that he be Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Maliki, or Hanbali, but only that he be a Muslim and a believer.
But seeing the state of the followers (muqallidin), one is compelled to say: “What is the matter with these people? They hardly understand a hadith.”