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.
The Greatest Love for the Messenger of Allah is a Condition for Faith
Obedience to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is in reality obedience to Allah Almighty, and it is obligatory upon us to love the Messenger of Allah more than our own lives, our forefathers, our children, our family, and our wealth and possessions, as according to a narration in Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
والذي نفسي بيده لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى أكون أحب إليه من والده وولده والناس أجمعين
"By the One in Whose hand is my soul! None of you can be a true believer until I am more beloved to him than his father, his children, and all mankind."
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Faith: Chapter on Love of the Prophet from Faith, Hadith: 14, 15 Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith: Chapter on the Obligation of Loving the Prophet, Hadith: 44)
If you are not dearer than your own life, then you are nothing. In Sahih Bukhari, narrated from Abdullah bin Hisham, may Allah be pleased with them both, he relates that we were with the Messenger of Allah and he was holding the hand of Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him. Umar said: O Messenger of Allah! You are more beloved to me than everything except my own life. The Prophet, peace be upon him, replied:
لا والذي نفسي بيده حتى أكون أحب إليك من نفسك
"By Allah! No, not until I become more beloved to you than your own life."
فقال له عمر فإنه الآن والله لأنت أحب إلى من نفسي
Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: By Allah! Now you are more beloved to me than my own life.
فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم الآن يا عمر
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "O Umar! Now it is correct."
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Oaths and Vows: Chapter on How the Prophet's Oath Was, Hadith: 6632)
قُلْ إِن كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُوا حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾
"O Prophet! Say, if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, the wealth you have earned, the trade you fear may decline, and the houses you love are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings His decision. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people."
Reference: (9-At-Tawbah:24)
He also said:
النَّبِيُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ
"Indeed, the Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves."
Reference: (33-Al-Ahzab:6)
According to a narration in the two Sahihs, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
أنا أولى بكل مؤمن من نفسه
"I am more beloved to every believer than his own soul."
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Inheritance: Chapter on the Prophet's Saying About One Who Leaves Property, Hadith: 6731 Sahih Muslim, Book of Inheritance: Chapter on One Who Leaves Property to His Heirs, Hadith: 1619 Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of Inheritance: Chapter on the Inheritance of Relatives, Hadith: 2900, and the wording is his)
Therefore, without following the Messenger of Allah, neither can one be saved from the punishment of Allah nor can one attain His mercy, while we believe in the Messenger of Allah, love him, establish friendship with him, and make following him our goal. This is the rare gem that can lead to salvation from the punishment of Allah in this world and the Hereafter. From it comes the good and welfare of this world and the Hereafter. Among all the blessings of Allah Almighty, the greatest blessing is faith, and it cannot be attained without obedience to the Messenger of Allah. The Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, is far more sincere than our own selves and possessions. The Generous Lord brings people out of darkness to guidance only because of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. It is not possible to find the path of Allah without him, peace be upon him.
