for obedience to them is obedience to Allah, as He Most High says:

“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.” [al-Nisā’ 80]

This is because they conveyed Allah’s commands to His servants. Whoever obeys them obeys Allah’s command, since he does what Allah has commanded him to do. How different is a messenger conveying another’s commands from a deputy acting in his place and exercising authority as the one who appointed him does! There is a vast distinction between the two. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, as narrated by al-Bukhārī:

“By Allah, I neither give to anyone nor withhold from anyone. I am only a distributor, allocating where I have been commanded.”

As for someone who exercises authority over Allah’s servants according to his own will and desires, giving to whomever he wishes, withholding from whomever he wishes, allying himself with whomever he wishes, and showing enmity to whomever he wishes