This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Love for the Messenger of Allah is obligatory:
It is obligatory upon us to love the Mercy to the Worlds, صلى الله عليه وسلم, so much that
➊ The noble person of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم becomes more beloved to us than our own lives, our ancestors, children, family, and wealth.
➋ We honor and respect the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
➌ We obey the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم outwardly and inwardly.
➍ We befriend those who are friends of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
➎ And we consider those who are enemies of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم as our enemies.
The importance of following the Messenger:
We should know that the only way to reach Allah Almighty is by following the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and without obeying him, no person:
➊ can be a friend of Allah,
➋ nor can become a believer,
➌ nor can attain the status of happiness and prosperity,
➍ and there is no way for him to be saved from Allah's punishment, except that he believes in the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, and follows him both outwardly and inwardly.
Virtues of the Messenger of Allah:
➊ The means to reach the Merciful Lord is also faith in the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and obedience to him because:
➋ He, peace be upon him, is superior and higher than the first and the last.
➌ He, peace be upon him, holds the exalted rank of the Seal of the Prophets.
➍ The greatest intercession on the Day of Resurrection is exclusively for him, peace be upon him.
➎ He, peace be upon him, has been granted this special distinction over all the noble prophets.
➏ The Praiseworthy Station belongs only to him, peace be upon him.
➐ لواء الحمد will be in his blessed hand, peace be upon him.
➑ All the prophets from Sayyiduna Adam, peace be upon him, to Sayyiduna Isa, peace be upon him, will gather under his banner, peace be upon him.
➒ He, peace be upon him, will be the first to knock on the gate of Paradise. When he, peace be upon him, approaches the gate, the gatekeeper will ask:
من أنت؟
"Who are you?"
فيقول أنا محمد فيقول بك أمرت أن لا أفتح لأحد قبلك
He, peace be upon him, will say: "I am Muhammad (peace be upon him)." The gatekeeper will say: "I was commanded not to open the gate for anyone before you, peace be upon him."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith: Chapter on the Prophet's Saying, 'I am the first to intercede in Paradise' (Hadith: 197)
The Merciful Lord has made some acts obligatory for the Ummah of Muhammad, some Sunnah, and some recommended. Among these is the Hajj to the House of Allah, which is obligatory for the Muslim Ummah to perform.
