Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "I am Muhammad, the son of Abdullah. I am the servant of Allah and His Messenger. I do not want you to exaggerate my status beyond the rank which Allah, the Exalted, has granted me."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man said: "O Muhammad! O our master! Son of our master! The best among us and the son of the best among us!" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "People! Adopt Taqwa (piety), lest the devil should seize your hearts. (In another narration: Remain firm upon your correct statement, lest you become followers of the devil.) I am Muhammad bin Abdullah, the servant and Messenger of Allah. By Allah! I do not want you to raise me above the status which Allah, the Exalted, has granted me."

Yahya bin Saeed says that we were sitting with Ali bin Hussain when a group of people from Kufa came. Ali said: O Iraqis! Love us for the sake of Islam. I heard from my father, who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "O people! Do not elevate me above my status. (Remember that) Allah made me a servant before He made me a prophet." I mentioned this hadith before Saeed bin Musayyib, and he said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a servant even after becoming a prophet.