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Muslim75 wrote: Abu Bakr said "Honor Muhammad by honoring the members of his family." Hadith 347 in Riyadh Salihin.

Another beautiful hadith, but it also does not excuse the extreme acts of devotion that some Muslims indulge in.  The Sahabah would not have done such things.  We can honor the Prophet and his family by loving and respecting them, but not by over-praising them. 

Muslim75 wrote: "Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect." (Surah 33, V 56)   Allah and His angels do this all the time, non-stop. As to humans, in this case, no show of respect to Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family is enough.   Umar, Amir Al Muminin use to give to Usama more than he gave to his own son, Abdullah. He said to Abdullah (more or less): Muhammad loved your father more than he loved me.

Again, I am not denying that we should send blessings on the Prophet.  That's why we recite Durood Sharif during the prayer. 

This is what Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said in the Holy Quran:

"Muhammad is no more than a messenger: many Were the messenger that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will ye then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve Him) with gratitude" (Al-Imran, 3:144).

And this is what the Prophet himself said:

"Narrated `Umar:

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle.""

sunnah.com/bukhari/60/115

Those who exaggerate in praising the Prophet are in fact disobeying him.  How can you love someone when you don't obey them?

Edited by Muslim75 - 21 December 2014 at 5:38am