Etiqutte with respect to Prophet Mohammed(SAW)

A Muslim realizes in the depths of his soul the obligation of complete and proper etiquette with respect to the Allah’s Messenger (SAWS). This is due to the following reasons:

1. Allah has obligated upon every believing man and woman proper manners with respect to Allah’s Messenger (SAWS).

   This is explicitly mentioned in Allah’s speech in the following verses:

   “O you who believe! Make not (a decision) in advance before Allah and His Messenger (SAWS).” (49:1)

   “O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet (SAWS), nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds may be rendered fruitless while you perceive it not.” (49:2)

   “Verily! Those who lower their voices in the presence of Allah’s Messenger, they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for piety. For them is Forgiveness and a great reward.” (49:3)

   “Verily! Those who call you from behind the dwellings, most of the have no sense. And if they had patience till you could come to them, it would have been better for them.” (49:4-5)

   “Make not he calling of the Messenger (SAWS) among you as your calling of one another.” (24:63)

   “The true believers are only those who believe in (the oneness of) Allah and His Messenger (SAWS), and when they are with him on some common matter, they go not away until they have asked his permission.” (24:62)

   “Verily! Those who ask your permission, those are they who (really) believe in Allah and His Messenger. So if they ask your permission for some affairs of theirs, give permission to whom you will of them.” (24:62)

   “O you who believe! When you want to consult the Messenger (SAWS) in private, spend something in charity before your private consultation. That will be better and purer for you. But if you find not (the means for it), then verily, Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (58:12)

2. Allah has made it obligatory upon the believers to obey him and He has also made it obligatory to love him.

   Allah has said:

   “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (SAWS).” (49:1)

   Allah has also said:

   “And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (SAWS) commandment (i.e. Sunnah – legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) (among the sects) beware lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trial afflictions, earthquakes, killings, over powered by a tyrant) should befall them or a painful torment be infected on them.” (24:63)

   Another verse stated:

   “Whatsoever the Messenger (SAWS) gives you, take it. And whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from it.” (59:7)

   And yet another verse states:

   “Say (O Muhammad to mankind), If you (really) love Allah then follow me. Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins.” (3:31)

   If a person is obliged to be obeyed and one may not go against what he states, then one must also continually behave in the proper way towards him under all circumstances.

3. Allah has declared him to be a leader and judge for the people.

   Allah had stated:

   “Surely, We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the book (this Qur’an) in truth that you might judge between men by that which Allah has shown you.” (4:105)

   Allah also says:

   “And so judge (you O Muhammad) among them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires….” (5:49)

   Another verse states:

   “But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept them with full submission.” (4:65)

   Finally Allah also says:

   “Indeed, in Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” (33:21)

   To have the proper behavior towards the ruler and judge is something that the Shari’ah obliges, sound reasoning approves of and logic decrees.

4. Allah has also made the love for the Prophet (SAWS) obligatory, as been stated by the Prophet(SAW)

   “By the One in whose hand is my soul, none of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, child and all of mankind.”(Al Bukhari and Muslim)

   If one is required to love him, one is also required to behave properly with respect to him and towards him.

5. His Lord has given the Prophet (SAWS) special characteristics of beauty in both his physical appearance as well as his behavior.

   Allah has also bestowed upon him, concerning his soul and being, what made him the most beautiful and complete creation whatsoever. If this is the case with someone, then, obviously it is obligatory to have the proper etiquette with respect to such a being.

   These are some of the evidences that make it obligatory to behave in the proper manner with respect to the Prophet (SAWS). There are also numerous other aspects. However, how is one supposed to behave towards him? Everyone must know these manners. The proper behavior towards the Prophet (SAWS) consists of the following aspects.

   • One must have complete obedience to him, following in his footsteps, and following his example in every matter related to the Hereafter and this life.
   • One cannot love, give love, respect and honour to anyone more than one does for the Prophet (SAWS), regardless of who that other one might be.
   • One must have love and loyalty for whoever has given his love and loyalty to the Prophet (SAWS). Similarly, he must oppose anyone who opposes him.
   • One must also be pleased with whatever the Prophet (SAWS) is pleased with and be displeased with whatever displeases the Prophet (SAWS)
   • One must show due honor and respect to the Prophet (SAWS)’s name whenever it is mentioned. One should make prayers and ask for blessings upon him. One should also consider the greatness of his manners and merits.
   • One must believe everything that the Prophet (SAWS) has stated, whether related to the matters of the religion or of this world, including the unseen of both this world and the Hereafter.
   • One should revive his Sunnah, openly practice his law, convey his message and fulfill his bequeaths or advice.
   • One should lower one’s voice at his grave and in his mosque, for the one whom Allah has honored to visit them. One should respect to him by stopping at his grave (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family and companions).
   • One should love the righteous people and demonstrate loyalty to them due to the Prophet (SAWS)’s love for them. And should hate the evildoers and oppose them due to his hate for them.

   These are some of the prominent aspects related to having the proper manners towards the Prophet (SAWS).

A Muslim should always strive to fulfill them as completely as possible and to guard them completely. His own completeness is resting upon them and his happiness will be fulfilled by them. Allah is the One Who we ask to guide us to having the proper behavior toward our Prophet (SAWS) and to make us from those who follow him, support him and are of his party. We also ask Allah to provide us with obedience to him. We also ask Allah not to prevent us from receiving his intercession, O Allah, Ameen (accept it).