through the explanation of the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This was a further favor bestowed by Allah—glorious and mighty—upon His Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—among the virtues with which He honored him. He then made obedience to him obligatory upon all creation and forbade them to disobey him. In numerous places in His Book, He linked obedience to His Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—with obedience to Himself—glorious and mighty—and informed them that whoever disobeys His Messenger has disobeyed Him.

Allah—glorious and mighty—said: “Say, ‘Obey Allah and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away, then Allah does not love the disbelievers.” [Āl Imrān: 32]

And He—glorious and mighty—said: “Protect yourselves from the Fire prepared for the disbelievers, and obey Allah and the Messenger, so that you may receive mercy.” [Āl Imrān: 131]

And He—glorious and mighty—said: “These are the limits set by Allah. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. That is the supreme triumph. But whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits, He will admit him into a Fire in which he will abide forever, and he will suffer a humiliating punishment.” [Al-Nisāʾ: 13]

And the Exalted said: “O you who believe, obey Allah, obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you. If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe