Sahih al-Bukhari 3445
Sahih
Sahih al-Bukhari — Hadith 3445
Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab
لاَ تُطْرُونِي كَمَا أَطْرَتِ النَّصَارَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُهُ، فَقُولُوا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ
Translation
The Prophet said: '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.'
Commentary
This hadith demonstrates how Islam guards against the deification of prophets. The Prophet Muhammad explicitly warned his followers not to elevate him beyond his status as a human messenger — using the excessive veneration of Jesus by Christians as a cautionary example. It reinforces monotheism (tawhid) by ensuring that worship remains directed to Allah alone.