Thus He made obedience due to Allah and the Messenger, for whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah. He reserved reverent fear and mindfulness for Allah alone: one should fear none but Allah and be mindful of none but Him.

And He, exalted is He, has said:

“So do not fear people, but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price.”

And He, exalted is He, has said:

“So do not fear them, but fear Me, if you are believers.”

And He, exalted is He, has said:

“If only they had been content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them and had said, ‘Allah is sufficient for us. Allah will give us of His bounty, and so will His Messenger. To Allah alone we turn with longing.’”

He, glorified is He, thus attributed giving to both Allah and the Messenger at the beginning and the end of this passage, as in His words, exalted is He:

“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it.”

Yet He attributed bounty to Allah alone and directed longing to Allah alone. He, exalted is He, alone is sufficient for them; He has no partner in that.

Al-Bukhārī narrated that Ibn ʿAbbās said concerning the words, “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best to entrust with our affairs”:

“Abraham said these words when he was cast into the fire, and Muhammad said them when ‘People said to them, “The people have gathered against you, so fear them.” But this increased them in faith, and they said, “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best to entrust with our affairs.”’”

And He, exalted is He, has said:

“O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for you and for those believers who follow you.”

According to the majority of the early and later scholars, this means that Allah alone is sufficient for you and sufficient for those believers who follow you, as has been explained at length with supporting evidence. This is because the messengers, blessings and peace be upon them, are the intermediaries between us and Allah in conveying His commands and prohibitions, His promises and warnings. Thus, what is lawful is what Allah and His Messenger have made lawful; what is forbidden is what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden; and the religion is what Allah and His Messenger have prescribed.