people in their religious and worldly affairs, concerning both the fundamentals and the subsidiary matters of their religion. Whenever he gives a judgment, they must all find within themselves no discomfort at what he has decided and submit completely.
Allah Most High says:
“Have you not seen those who claim to believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you? They wish to seek judgment from false authorities, although they have been commanded to reject them. Satan wishes to lead them far astray.”
“And when they are told, ‘Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger,’ you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion.”
As for His words, “to what Allah has revealed,” Allah has revealed the Book and wisdom, which is the Sunnah. Allah Most High says:
“Remember Allah’s favor upon you and what He has revealed to you of the Book and wisdom, with which He admonishes you.”
Allah Most High also says:
“Allah has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and taught you what you did not know. Allah’s favor upon you has been immense.”
Calling people to what Allah has revealed necessarily entails calling them to the Messenger, and calling them to the Messenger necessarily entails calling them to what Allah has revealed. This is like obedience to Allah and obedience to the Messenger: the two are inseparable. Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah, and whoever obeys Allah has obeyed the Messenger. The same applies to His saying, Most High:
“And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows a path other than that of the believers”.
These two things are inseparable. Everyone who opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him has followed a path other than that of the believers, and everyone who follows a path other than that of the believers has opposed the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him. If someone thinks that he is following the path of the believers but is mistaken, he is like someone who thinks that he is following the Messenger but is mistaken.
This “verse” indicates that the consensus of the believers constitutes authoritative proof, in that opposing them