this respect, but when the issue of performing prostration out of respect arose, he forbade them from doing such.

Let us now discuss further accounts about this practice of respecting the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم displayed by the honourable Companions  رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُم , as well as saints and elders of this ummah. Let us look at how our righteous elders would show this respect with their words and actions. In this regard, there is a great deal to learn from them.

After īmān, respect of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is above everything

Dear Islamic brothers, after imān, one should give most importance to respecting the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم above everything else. This respect outweighs the importance given to even farḍ and wājib acts.  The scholar Mufti Muhammad Amjad ‘Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explains this in his work Bahar-i-Shari’at, by saying:

Respecting and revering the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is part of īmān, as well being its pillar. 

After īmān, actions of respect and reverence for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم hold higher importance than every farḍ. The significance of this can be gauged from this hadith that describes an event which occurred when the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was returning from the Battle of Khyber. He offered ‘Asr salah at a place named Ṣahbā. After this, he placed his blessed head on the knee of Sayyidunā ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم and began to sleep. 

Sayyidunā ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم had not yet offered ‘Asr salah. Time for salah was drawing to a close, yet he did not move an inch, as he did not want to interrupt the sleep of the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . Eventually, the sun set, and the time for ‘Asr salah had elapsed.  When the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم  awoke, Sayyidunā ‘Ali کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم explained the situation