Furthermore, all the children of Adam can secure neither their worldly nor their other-worldly welfare unless they gather, cooperate, and support one another: they cooperate to bring about benefits and they stand together to repel harms. Hence the saying, “Man is, by nature, a social creature.” Once people come together, they must adopt certain actions that attract advantage and avoid other actions that entail disadvantage, all the while obeying whoever commands those aims and forbids those harms. In short, every human community must submit to someone who issues commands and prohibitions.
Those who possess no revealed scripture and follow no religion simply obey their kings in whatever they believe will advance their worldly interests, sometimes getting it right and at other times going astray.
As for the adherents of unsound religions—whether the polytheists or the People of the Scripture who cling to it after it has been altered, or after it has been both abrogated and altered¹—they obey in whatever they think will serve the interests of their religion and their worldly life. Among those who are not People of the Book, some believe in recompense after death while others deny it; the People of the Book, however, unanimously affirm recompense after death. Worldly requital, though, is acknowledged by all mankind, for no one disputes that oppression ends in ruin whereas justice ends in honor. For this reason it is related, “Allah supports the just state even if it is unbelieving, and He does not support the oppressive state even if it is believing.”
Since obedience to one who commands and forbids is indispensable, it is evident that entering into obedience to Allah and His Messenger is best for a person. He is the unlettered Prophet mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins what is right, forbids what is wrong, makes lawful for them all that is wholesome, and prohibits all that is foul. This obedience is obligatory upon all creation. Allah the Exalted says:
“We sent no messenger save that he should be obeyed by Allah’s leave. If, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you and sought Allah’s forgiveness, and the Messenger had sought forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Ever-Relenting, Merciful. But no—by your Lord—they will not believe until they make you judge in all matters of dispute between them, then find in themselves no discomfort over what you have decided and submit in full submission.” ⦗4:64⦘
He also says:
“Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed favor—the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. What excellent companions they are!” ⦗4:69⦘
And He says:
“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow…”