Reference: Fataawa Noorun ‘alad-Darb v2 p522 q414
Question: How can one actualise [their] love for the Messenger ﷺ?
Response: Love of the Messenger ﷺ and love of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى is actualised by following the Messenger ﷺ, and everyone who follows the Messenger ﷺ is more eligible for the love of Allaah and the love of His Messenger. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says:
And the sign of the love of the Messenger ﷺ is that a person inquires about his Sunnah and then follows it and does not add nor take anything away from that. Based upon this, then those who innovate in anything related to the Prophet ﷺ and state that this is from their love and honouring of him (the Prophet) then in reality they do not love him and nor honour him. And that is because true love and honouring of him is to follow his sayings and not to add to his Sharee’ah and nor to take away from it.
And indeed whoever desires to innovate in the Sharee’ah of Allaah that which is not from it, then his love of Allaah and His Messenger is limited without doubt, because completeness of manners and honouring is not to extend oneself before Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى said:
