order that, O people, you may believe in Allah and His Messenger, and honour and revere the Messenger (Prophet Muhammad), and you should glorify Allah, in the morning and evening. (Part 26, Surah Al-Fath, Ayah 8, 9)

Summary of what A’la Hadrat, Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Imam Ahmad Raza  Khan عَـلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الـرَّحْمٰن has said regarding this blessed Ayah is as follows: ‘O Muslims! Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ mentioned three purposes of sending the religion of Islam and revealing the Holy Quran: Firstly, to embrace faith upon Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم; secondly, to have reverence for the Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم; thirdly, to worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Have a look at the beautiful order of all these three things. First of all, faith has been mentioned and His own worship has been mentioned last, whilst reverence for His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has been stated in the middle as reverence for the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will not benefit without faith.’

Dear Islamic brothers! From the abovementioned blessed Ayahs and the blessed sayings of A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, it has become clear that reverence to Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the very essence of the faith. If a person without honouring the greatness of Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم makes efforts to perform other good deeds, none of his deeds will be acceptable. A small defect in the reverence of Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم can become the cause of destroying all his good deeds. As it has been stated in the 2^nd Ayah of Surah Al-Hujurat, part 26:

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَرْفَعُوْۤا اَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِیِّ وَ لَا تَجْهَرُوْا لَهٗ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ اَنْ تَحْبَطَ اَعْمَالُكُمْ وَ اَنْتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُوْنَ(۲)

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: O believers! Do not raise your voices higher than the voice of this Conveyor of the unseen (Prophet Muhammad), and nor speak aloud in his august court just like you speak aloud to one another amongst yourselves. In case your deeds go to waste whilst you are unaware.

(Part 26, Surah Al-Hujurat, Ayah 2)