Love of the Prophet (s) is a requirement on every believer. This is mentioned in Qur'an: "Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you" (Ali `Imran, 31).

The celebration of the Holy Prophet's birth (s) is motivated by this obligation to love the Prophet, peace be upon him, to obey him, to remember him, to follow his example, and to be proud of him as Allah is proud of him, since Allah has boasted about him in His Holy Book by saying:

"Truly you are of a magnificent character" (al-Qalam, 4).

Love of the Prophet (s) is what differentiates the believers in the perfection of their Iman. In an authentic hadith related in Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (s) said:

"None of you believes until he loves me more than he loves his children, his parents, and all of mankind."

Perfection of faith is dependent on love of the Prophet (s) because Allah and His angels are constantly praising his honor, as is meant by the verse:
"Allah and His angels are praying on the Prophet."
The divine order that immediately follows in the verse,
"O Believers, pray on him..."
makes it clear that the quality of being a believer is dependent on and manifested by praying on the Prophet. O Allah! Send peace and blessings on the Prophet, his family and his Companions.