And Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

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Allah Most High has condemned in the Quran those who turn away from following the messengers to follow the religion of their forefathers in which they were raised. This is the imitation that Allah and His Messenger have forbidden: following someone other than the Messenger in matters in which that person opposes the Messenger. By the consensus of the Muslims, this is forbidden for everyone, for no created being may be obeyed in disobedience to the Creator. Obeying the Messenger is obligatory upon everyone, elite and common people alike, at every time and in every place, privately and publicly, and in all circumstances.

This is part of faith. Allah Most High says:

“But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves, then find within themselves no discomfort over what you have decided, and submit fully.”

He also says:

“The only response of the believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger for him to judge between them, is to say, ‘We hear and we obey.’”

He also says:

“It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have any choice in their affair.”

He also says:

“So let those who oppose his command beware lest a trial befall them