Following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in matters other than worship is permissible.
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The Shaykh : So we say: What he did coincidentally, or merely for the sake of personal desire, is not a Sunnah. But as for one who loves the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) completely and loves to follow his example in this, not as an act of worship, but out of the strength of his love, what is that? There is nothing wrong with it, and he is rewarded for the love, not for the following. Yes.
The questioner : Even in the issue of following him (peace and blessings be upon him) in prayer, as Ibn 'Umar did, does he not distinguish between them?
The Shaykh : Meaning there is no difference, meaning in the place where he prays, there is no difference. Yes, Salim.
The questioner : May Allah forgive you, O Shaykh. What appears from the action of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) is that it is not... that he did not do it, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not strive for what he strove for... not from the perspective of the Sunnah...?
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good. But the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) explicitly stated that Ibn 'Umar contradicted the majority of the Companions in this. It is possible to say, as you mentioned, that Ibn 'Umar does not do it as an act of worship, but out of the strength of his love and increased love he does this. It can be said that he is not more loving of the Messenger than Abu Bakr. In any case, there is a possibility in it, there is a possibility. Yes.
The questioner : Even in the issue of following him (peace and blessings be upon him) in prayer, as Ibn 'Umar did, does he not distinguish between them?
The Shaykh : Meaning there is no difference, meaning in the place where he prays, there is no difference. Yes, Salim.
The questioner : May Allah forgive you, O Shaykh. What appears from the action of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) is that it is not... that he did not do it, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not strive for what he strove for... not from the perspective of the Sunnah...?
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good. But the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) explicitly stated that Ibn 'Umar contradicted the majority of the Companions in this. It is possible to say, as you mentioned, that Ibn 'Umar does not do it as an act of worship, but out of the strength of his love and increased love he does this. It can be said that he is not more loving of the Messenger than Abu Bakr. In any case, there is a possibility in it, there is a possibility. Yes.