Love of Prophet (Sallalahu Alaihy Wassalam)

Hazrat Hakeem ul Ummah Mujaddid ul Millah, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Saheb (Rahmatullah alaihi) has said, “The only reliable and accepted path for attaining the love of Allah Ta’ala and the love of Rasulullah(Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is the path of Sunnat. If, for example, this love is acquired through a way that opposes the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wasallam) such as expressing one’s love through drums, guitar, Qawale, music, etc., then this expression of love is unacceptable. (Because it is not in accordance to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihe wasallam). Allah Ta’ala has commanded His Messenger to announce:

قل ان كنتم تحبون الله فاتبعوني

“If you love Allah, then follow (obey) me.. then Allah will love you”

يحببكم الله

“Then Allah will love you.”

Hazrat Maulana Fadhle Rahman Ganj Muradabadi (rahmatullah alaihe) would translate it in the following manner, “Allah has announced through His Beloved Messenger that if you want to become the beloved of Allah, then walk my walk. My Messenger is so beloved and dear to Me, that whoever even walks his walk will also become beloved and dear to Me.” Understand this through a worldly love. A person only has one son. If he sees anyone resemble his son or even walk like his son, then his father will also have love for that person. Therefore, Rasulullah (salallahu alaihe wasallam) is so beloved in the sight of Allah Ta’ala that anyone who adopts his lifestyle will also become the beloved of Allah Ta’ala.
Unfortunately, what is our condition today? We have forsaken the Sunnah and yet claim to have love for the Messenger!
The companions of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihe wasallam) lead their entire life in following the footsteps ofRasulullah (sallallahu alaihe wasallam). How reliable was their path that they were bestowed with the crown of
“Allah Ta’ala is pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah Ta’ala”
From this we can understand that the claim of love contrary to the method of the Sahabah is unreliable and unauthentic. A poet says so beautifully,

مستند رستے وہی مانے گئے

جن سے ہو کر تیرے دیوانے گئے

Only those paths have been accepted as authentic
Upon which Your extreme lovers have gone
All have returned who were those possessed by intellect
Only extreme lovers have reached their destination

Source: Ishq e Risalat ka sahi Mafuum by

Arif Billah Hazrat maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar saheb (Damat Barakatuhum)