The Virtues Of Following Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Know, may Allah have mercy upon you, that Ittibaa an-Nabee (following the Prophet Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is from the major causes that bring about Allaah's Love and Forgiveness for the servant, and the proof is His saying, Exalted is He:

Say (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Aali Imran (3):31

And Ittibaa of the Prophet (PBUH) and adhering to his Sunnah is from the biggest proof's for the servant of Allah's truthfulness and sincerity, and the piety of his heart.

Allaah, Azza wa Jal, said:
Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. Al-Ahzab (33):21

And the Exalted, the Most High, said:
Say (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." Aali Imran (3):31

And obeying him (alayhis-Salaatu was-Salaam) is an obligation, and the proof is the saying of Allaah, Sublime is He, regarding it:
Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)." An-Nur (24):54

And His saying:
What Allah gave as booty (Fai') to His Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) from the people of the townships, - it is for Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)), the kindred (of Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)), the orphans, Al ­Masakin (the poor), and the wayfarer, in order that it may not become a fortune used by the rich among you. And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment. Al-Hashr (59):7

And this order and it's foundation means that it is obligatory upon us. And know that obeying him (alayhis-Salaatu was-Salaam) is from the major reasons that the servant enters Jannah, and the proof for this is the saying of the Exalted, Most High:
These are the limits (set by) Allah (or ordainments as regards laws of inheritance), and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success.
An-Nisa (4):13

And the saying of the Exalted, Most High:
He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and made to enter Paradise). Al-Ahzab (33):71

And on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) who narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: All of my Ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse. So it was asked: And who would refuse, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys me will enter the Fire (of Hell). al-Bukhaaree (2780)

And obeying him (alayhis-Salaatu was-Salaam) is from obedience to Allaah, Azza wa Jal, and the evidence is the saying of the Exalted, Most High:
He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) as a watcher over them. An-Nisa (4):80

And the saying of the Messenger (alayhis-Salaatu was-Salaam):Whoever obeys me has indeed obeyed Allaah and whoever disobeys me has indeed disobeyed Allaah.
al-Bukhaaree (2957) and Muslim (1835) and others from Aboo Hurairah. See Saheeh al-Jaami (6044) and al-Irwaa (394)

And obeying him (alayhis-Salaatu was-Salaam) is from the attributes of Eemaan. Allaah, Azza wa Jal, said:
It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error. Al-Ahzab (33):36

And the Mighty and Sublime said regarding this:
The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah (His Words, the Qur'an) and His Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) , to judge between them, is that they say: "We hear and we obey." And such are the prosperous ones (who will live forever in Paradise). An-Nur (24):51

And obeying him (alayhis-Salaatu was-Salaam) is from the causes for one to be raised in rank and raised in the levels of Paradise, the proof is His saying, Exalted is He:
And whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqen (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As­Siddiq), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are! An-Nisa (4):69

And obeying him (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is from the major reasons that you earn the rahmah (mercy) of Allaahu Taaalaa:
And obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) that you may obtain mercy. Aali Imran (3):132

And Allaah the Most High said:
The believers, men and women, are Auliya' (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. At-Tawbah (9):71

And obeying him (alayhis-Salaatu was-Salaam) is the way of hidaayah (guidance).Rather, it is itself guidance, as Allaah, Azza wa Jal, said:
Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)." An-Nur (24):54

Therefore, this should be clear to you, so know that whoever contradicts the order of the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is in severe danger, and the proof of this is the saying of Allaah Most High:
Make not the calling of the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) among you as your calling of one another. Allah knows those of you who slip away under shelter (of some excuse without taking the permission to leave, from the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)). And let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.
An-Nur (24):63

And whenever someone separates himself from the Sunnah, he separates himself from the Haqq and the path of salvation, as Allaah, Exalted is He, said:
"And verily, this (i.e. Allah's Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqoon? (the pious)."
Al-An'am (6):153

And the Exalted said:
And when it is said to them: "Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam))," you (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) see the hypocrites turn away from you (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) with aversion. An-Nisa (4):61

and His saying:
They (hypocrites) say: "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)), and we obey," then a party of them turn away thereafter, such are not believers. An-Nur (24):47

And whoever opposes the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is treading in error and misguidance, and Allaah has threatened him with a humiliating, despicable punishment in this life and in the Hereafter. The Exalted, Most High said:
It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error. Al-Ahzab (33):36

And the Exalted, Most High said:
"(Mine is) but conveyance (of the truth) from Allah and His Messages (of Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the Fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever." Al-Jinn (72):23

And Allaah the Most High said:
And (remember) the Day when the Zalim (wrong-doer, oppressor, polytheist, etc.) will bite at his hands, he will say: "Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger ( Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam). Al-Furqan (25):27

And the Most High said:
On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: "Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam))." Al-Ahzab (33):66

And know that whoever abandons the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) and fanatically and blindly follows something else, or rejects the Sunnah because it differs with his Aql (intellect) or his hawaa (desires) or his inclinations, or adds some principles for which Allaah has not sent down any authority, verily he has wronged and annoyed Allaah, Tabaraka wa Taaalaa, and His Messenger (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) and he is one who is in extreme danger. Allaah, Azza wa Jal, said:
Verily, those who annoy Allah and His Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) Allah has cursed them in this world, and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating torment. Al-Ahzab (33):57

And from this annoyance is that they don't obey his commands and that they abandon His (Allaah's) sayings and follow the sayings of someone else fanatically and imitating someone else (other than His Messenger), shunning his sayings (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), and comparing his sayings to those principles which they have invented for themselves. And if there is any similarity between them (their principles and the sayings of the Messenger), they accept it, but if what the Messenger (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) brought differs with these principles which they have invented for themselves, they either change it (the saying of the Prophet) [to fit their desires], or reject it with the most foul and ugly of rejections. And from the things with which they harm and annoy him (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is abusing his Companions and withholding the rights of his wives (radyallaahu anhum). So can there be any harm or annoyance greater than this?!

And in short, whoever harms and annoys the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), then the threat of Allaah's la'nah (curse) and severe punishment [mentioned in these ayaat] is over him.

And Allaah Knows Best.