showing this respect is permissible, but it actually makes it critically necessary upon us. Every Muslim must thus show   absolute reverence towards the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and respect him in all permissible ways, The command to respect him as found in this verse is mutlaq (unconditional). No particular or restricted method was specified for showing respect to the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . This means all permissible and possible ways of showing this respect can be displayed, and it is imperatively vital to do so.

However, it is shirk (polytheism) and kufr (disbelief) to say the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is God or son of God, or to say he possesses the same attributes as Allah. Moreover, prostrating before the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in reverence is haram and impermissible.

This verse has a unique order. Īmān (faith) was mentioned first, then the command of showing respect to the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , and then an order was issued for people to worship Allah. This sequence gives a clear indication that īmān takes precedence over all. Without īmān, the act of showing respect to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is not accepted by Allah. After embracing Islam, the deed of showing respect to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the highest in rank and above every worship. Without respecting the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , all acts of worship, be it salah, fasting, zakah, or charity, are unacceptable.^[1]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد