has obeyed Allah. When the Messenger commands something, no one is entitled to consider whether Allah has commanded it or not. Those in authority are different: they may command disobedience to Allah, so not everyone who obeys them is obeying Allah. Rather, what they command must be known not to constitute disobedience to Allah, and one must consider whether Allah has commanded it or not. This applies whether those in authority are scholars or rulers. It includes following scholars’ judgments, obeying the commanders of military detachments, and other such matters. In this way, religion is entirely for Allah. The Exalted said:

“And fight them until there is no more persecution and religion is entirely for Allah.”

When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, a man fights to display bravery, another out of partisan zeal, and another to show off. Which of these is fighting in Allah’s cause?” he replied:

“Whoever fights so that Allah’s word is supreme is fighting in Allah’s cause.”

Many people love a caliph, a scholar, a religious teacher, or a ruler and make him a rival to Allah, even though they may say that they love him for Allah’s sake. Whoever regards obedience to anyone other than the Messenger as obligatory in everything he commands and forbids, even when it conflicts with the command of Allah and His Messenger, has made him a rival to Allah. He may even treat him as the Christians treat the Messiah: calling upon him, seeking his aid, allying himself with his allies, and showing enmity to his enemies, while insisting that he must be obeyed in everything he commands and forbids, and in whatever he declares lawful or forbidden. He thus puts him in the place of Allah and His Messenger. This is a form of associating partners with Allah, and those who practise it fall within the words of the Exalted:

“Yet among people are those who take others as rivals to Allah, loving them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah.”