Allah has given the Messenger (PBUH) some rights over his nation because He chose him as a devout and beloved servant and entrusted him with the mission of conveying the message to the whole of mankind.
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Allah the Almighty has given the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) some rights over his nation because He chose him as a devout and beloved servant and entrusted him with the mission of conveying the message to the whole of mankind.
The eminent Muslim scholar and renowned Da`iyah Sheikh `Abdel Khaliq Hasan Ash-Shareef mentions some of these rights of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
* To be believed in.
Allah the Almighty says: (So believe in Allah and His Apostle, the unlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His Words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided) (Al-A`raf 7:158). (O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His Apostle, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Apostle) (An-Nisaa’ 4:136). (Believe, therefore, in Allah and His Apostle, and in the Light which We have sent down) (At-Taghabun 64:8). So to believe in the Messenger is a condition of faith and one of its pillars. Believing in him means to believe in his message and behave accordingly.
* To be taken as an example.
Allah the Most Compassionate says: (You have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah) (Al-Ahzab 33:21).
* To be obeyed.
Allah the Almighty says: (He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah) (An-Nisaa’ 4:80). (O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!) (Muhammad 47:33).
* To be followed.
Allah the Most High says: (Say: If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful) (Aal-`Imran 3:31). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “People will be divided into seventy-three groups. All of them will be in the Hellfire except one: those who follow me and my Companions.”
* To have his decision abided by.
Allah the Almighty says: (But no, by thy Lord, they can have no (real) faith until they make thee judge in all disputes between them) (An-Nisaa’ 4:65).
* To have his rules followed.
Allah the Most High says: (It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Apostle, to have any option about their decision: if anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path) (Al-Ahzab 33:36).
* To be consulted in every matter.
Allah the Most High says: (When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they divulge it. If they had only referred it to the Apostle…) (An-Nisaa’ 4:83).
* To be honored and assisted.
Allah the Almighty says: (In order that ye (O men) may believe in Allah and His Messenger, that ye may assist and honor Him, and celebrate His praises morning and evening) (Al-Fath 48:9).
* Not to be contended with.
Allah the Most High says: (If anyone contends with the Messenger, even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen) (An-Nisaa’ 4:115).
* Not to have anyone put himself forward before him.
Allah the Almighty says: (O ye who believe! Put not yourselves forward before Allah and His Messenger) (Al-Hujurat 49:1).
* Not to have anyone raise his voice above his even after his death.
[That is, one should not raise one’s voice at the Prophet’s grave or while another person is conveying a hadith of the Prophet.] Allah the Almighty says: (O ye who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet) (Al-Hujurat 49:2).
* To have people be loyal to him and to Allah.
Allah the Almighty says: (Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah and His Messenger) (Al-Ma’idah 5:55).
* To have blessings sent on him.
Allah the Almighty says: (Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect) (Al-Ahzab 33:56).
* To be loved more than anything else, even one’s self.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No one of you has perfect faith unless I become dearer to him than his son and father and all mankind.”
* To have his advice sought.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “Religion is advice.” It was said, “For whom?” He said, “For Allah, His Scriptures, His Messengers, the leaders of Muslims, and their folk in general.
