To know our duties towards our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) first we must understand the meaning of the second part of the Shahada “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and his slave” which means obeying him in what he commanded, believing in what he told, avoiding what he forbade, and not worshiping Allah except by what he legislated.
The evidence of obeying him from the Qur’an is what Allah said in chapter 4:64
(We did not send a Messenger except that he should be obeyed, by the permission of Allah.). And in chapter 4:80 ( He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah. ). And from Sunnah, the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA): Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Everyone of my Ummah will enter Jannah except those who refuse”. He was asked: “Who will refuse?” He (ﷺ) said, “Whoever obeys me, shall enter Jannah, and whosoever disobeys me, refuses to (enter Jannah)”. [Al- Bukhari].
In this Hadith we understand the importance of obeying the prophet by following his orders and his Sunnah and how it is the only way to Jannah, Allah said in chapter 6:153 (And (the Lord says,) `This is My right path, so follow it, and follow not (diverse) ways, lest they should deviate you away from His way.
The evidence of believing in what he said is what Allah said in chapters 53:2-4
(Your companion is neither astray, neither errs, (2) nor does he speak out of desire. (3) Indeed it is not except a Revelation which is revealed.). And from Sunnah, the Hadith narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As (RA): I used to write everything which I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I intended (by it) to memorize it. The Quraysh prohibited me from saying: Do you write everything that you hear from him while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is a human being: he speaks in anger and pleasure? So I stopped writing and mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He signaled with his finger to his mouth and said: Write, by Him in Whose hand my soul lies, only right comes out from it. [ Sunan Abi Dawud].
The prophet has told the Sahaba many things about Allah, the afterlife, and unseen matters which were transferred to us in chains of narrations of authentic Hadiths which we must take on by faith without questioning or doubts. Allah said in chapter 49:15 (The believers are only those who (truly) believe in Allâh and His Messenger, and then doubt not).
The evidence of avoiding what he forbade is what Allah said in chapter 59:7
(And whatever the Messenger has given you – take, and what he has forbidden you – refrain from. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.) And from Sunnah, the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA): I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “What I have forbidden for you, avoid. What I have ordered you [to do], do as much of it as you can). [Bukhari & Muslim].
Complete obedience to Allah and his prophet can only be achieved if we avoid what the prophet forbade us to do, and we must believe that anything was forbidden by Allah and his prophet is harmful to us, just like everything Allah and his prophet ordered us to do is good for us. Allah said in chapter 7:157 (Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the Torah and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil).
The evidence of not worshiping Allah except by what he legislated what Allah said in chapter 24:63
(Do not make the calling of the Messenger among yourselves like your calling to one another. Allah knows those of you who slip away surreptitiously, so let those who disobey His command beware, lest they are struck by sedition, or, they are stricken with a painful punishment.)
And from Sunnah the Hadith narrated by Ā’ishah (RA): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (meaning Islam) something that does not belong to it shall have it rejected.” Another narration reads: “Whoever does something that is not in accordance with this matter of ours shall have it rejected.” [Bukhari & Muslim].
We have to believe that the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has already taught us everything we need to get us closer to Allah, every act from obligations like prayers and fasting to the simplest things like what to say before and after we eat, when we take off our clothes or when we enter the rest room. Allah said in chapter 5:67 (O Messenger, deliver what is sent down to you from your Lord; if you do not, you have not (at all) conveyed His message).
Imam Malik said “He who innovates something in Islam while deeming it to be a good innovation has claimed that Muhammad has betrayed his trust to deliver the message,” Allah said in chapter 5:3 (This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.)
It is also our duty toward the Prophet to love him more than we love ourselves or our families, and loving him is by following his Sunnah and obeying his orders, and loving his companions and his family. The evidence of that from the Qur’an is what Allah said in chapter 9:24 (Say: ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your tribes, the property you have acquired, the merchandise you fear will not be sold, and the homes you love, are dearer to you than Allah, His Messenger and the struggling for His Way, then wait until Allah shall bring His command. Allah does not guide the evildoers.’ )
Chapter 59:10 (Those who came after they say: ‘Forgive us our Lord, and forgive our brothers who were believers before us. Do not put in our hearts any spite towards those who believe. Lord, You are the Gentle, the Most Merciful.)
And from Sunnah, the Hadith narrated by Anas and Abu Hurayrah, (RA) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “None of you will attain perfect faith until I am more beloved to him than his child, his parent, and all people.” [Bukhari]. And the Hadith narrated by Abbas (RA): (By the One in whose Hand is my soul, you will not have faith until you love them, for the sake of Allah and for the sake of relationship to me.). [ At- Tirmidhi].
And the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA): “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Do not revile my Companions, for by The One in Whose Hand is my soul! If any one of you were to spend the equivalent of Mount Uhud in gold, it would not equal a Mudd spent by any one of them, nor even half a Mudd.” [Sunan Ibn Maja].
Supplicating Allah to Exalt His Mention and its Excellence, and its Manner also our duty toward our Prophet whenever his name is mentioned around us, Allah said in chapter 33:65 (Allah and His angels send blessings to the Prophet. O you who believe, call for blessings on him, and for greetings of peace.). And from Sunnah, the Hadith narrated by Ali (RA): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned but he does not supplicate for me.” [At- Tirmidhi].
