The ruling on one who says: “The people are the servants of the Messenger,” citing His saying (Glory and Exalted is He): “Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves”

Question:
(peace and blessings be upon him). The questioner says: In the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic): , in this verse, Allah commanded His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) by saying “Say,” then followed it with “O My servants.” The apparent meaning of the verse is that the servants in the context are attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Answer:
The only ones who say this are the grave worshippers. As for the Muslims, they do not say this. They do not say that people are servants of the Messenger; rather, the Messenger is a servant, (peace and blessings be upon him). He said, "I am the servant of Allah; I am only a servant, so say, 'The servant of Allah and His Messenger.'" Allah the Exalted says: Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His servant. And if you are in doubt about what We sent down to Our servant, meaning Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), then he is a servant. So how can people be servants to him when he is a servant? This statement is false and a distortion of the words of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes. "O My servants" is for Allah (Mighty and Majestic); "O servants of Allah" is for Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He). Yes. May Allah send prayers upon you. Your Eminence, the father, says: Allah and His Messenger commanded him to convey (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.