We say we love the Prophet ﷺ. We feel it sincerely. But love, in Islam, is not primarily a feeling. It’s an orientation — something that shows up in what you do, what you value, and who you’re becoming.
Before exploring what that means, it’s worth sitting with who he was. Because the more you know him, the more natural love becomes.
Who he was
He was the kindest man his Companions had ever encountered. He never raised his voice in anger without cause. He gave every person he spoke to his full attention — to the extent that each one felt they were the most important person to him. He visited the sick, attended funerals, helped with housework, mended his own clothes, and milked the goat.
He buried six of his seven children in his lifetime. He was betrayed, mocked, stoned, and poisoned. His closest companions were tortured. His beloved Khadijah ؓ and his uncle Abu Talib died in the same year, leaving him bereft. And through all of it, he remained the most grateful, the most composed, and the most loving of men. When reminded that Allah ﷻ had already forgiven all his sins, he replied: “Should I not then be a grateful servant?” (Bukhari · 1130)
He missed us. He longed for us. He once said, “I wish I could meet my brothers.” His Companions asked — weren’t they his brothers? He said: “You are my companions. My brothers are those who have not yet come into the world.” He was talking about you and me.
What loving him requires
The Prophet ﷺ said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all of mankind.” (Bukhari · 15). That’s not about emotional intensity — it’s about priority. When his sunnah conflicts with habit, comfort, or what others expect — which way do you lean?
Allah ﷻ says in Surah Al-Imran (Quran 3:31): “Say: If you love Allah ﷻ, then follow me — and Allah ﷻ will love you and forgive your sins.” Love of the Prophet ﷺ and obedience to his sunnah are not two separate things. Love expresses itself through the following. The following deepens the love.
Sending salawat — and what it means.
Allah ﷻ says: “Indeed, Allah ﷻ and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and salute him with worthy greetings.” (Quran 33:56). When you send salawat — “Allahumma salli ala Muhammad” — the Prophet ﷺ receives it, wherever you are, in whatever state. He responds. The connection is real and active, not historical.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah ﷻ sends ten blessings upon him.” (Muslim · 408). Ten blessings of Allah ﷻ in exchange for one salawat. This is perhaps the most effortless and most rewarding practice available to us.
Three ways to build your love for him
- Read his sira. You can’t love someone you don’t know. Read about his life — his character, his struggles, his humour, his tenderness. The more concrete he becomes in your mind, the more the love deepens naturally.
- Send abundant salawat. Make it a daily practice. In the car, after prayer, while walking. Let it become a reflex — and notice what it does to your heart over time.
- Embody one sunnah at a time. Don’t try to adopt everything at once. Pick one — his eating habits, his greeting, his manner of speaking — and live it. You’ll find that practising a sunnah teaches you something about the man who gave it.
More useful resource
Mawaddah is an online resource dedicated to a single, essential truth: that love for the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ and his noble family — the Ahl al-Bayt — is not optional, not sectarian, and not secondary. It is a Qur’ānic obligation, a prophetic command, and a pillar of the faith that every Muslim must understand and embrace.
Visit the website to learn more about its importance at mawaddah.today
Frequently Asked Questions
Why must we love the Prophet ﷺ more than ourselves?
Because the Prophet ﷺ is the vessel through which guidance reached us. Loving him above all else (Bukhari · 15) isn’t arbitrary — it’s a recognition that his guidance, his example, and his intercession are the most significant gifts we’ve received. Loving him is inseparable from loving what he brought.
What is the reward for sending salawat?
For every single salawat sent, Allah ﷻ sends ten blessings upon the person (Muslim · 408). Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ will intercede for those who send salawat abundantly. It’s considered one of the highest-return practices in terms of spiritual reward per unit of effort.
Does the Prophet ﷺ know when we send salawat?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: “My life is good for you and my death is good for you. Your deeds are presented to me — if I see good, I praise Allah ﷻ, and if I see other than that, I seek forgiveness for you.” This connection is in place till the end of time.
He reserved his special dua — the one every Prophet is granted — for us on the Day of Judgement. He longed to see us before we even arrived. The least we can offer in return is to really know him. Start there.