The aspect of the Messenger of Allah’s (peace and blessings be upon him) personality that stands out most among Muslims is his eminence and love. His eminence is an undeniable fact, and his love is an indispensable part of faith. However, one might wonder why something so widely accepted, about which there is little disagreement among Muslims, is the subject of regular extensive discussions. The simplest answer is that proclaiming the Messenger of Allah’s (peace and blessings be upon him) eminence satisfies the pride of Muslims, while the claim of his love instills confidence in their salvation, making the arduous journey of morality seem less necessary.
Conversely, the aspects least discussed among Muslims are those that were the core of his message and upon which the salvation of Muslims depends: faith and righteous deeds. Faith means making Allah the central focus of one’s life, and qualification for Paradise when appearing before Him the purpose of one’s life. Righteous deeds refer to aligning our lives with Allah’s commands about morality regarding the Creator and creation. All of this must be done precisely as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) explained and intended. No other path is acceptable.
This is obviously a tough endeavor. It is a battle against the nafs and the devil, akin to a war against desires and emotions. Consequently, many Muslims today have chosen an alternative path. However, they remain unaware that there is no way to salvation except by following and obeying the Prophet’s original message about faith and morality.
Translated by Ali Zafar