He, exalted is He, therefore enjoined obedience to Himself and to His Messenger, and He repeated the verb—namely, His words “and obey the Messenger”—to make it clear that obedience to him is obligatory in its own right, without first measuring what he commands against the Book. Once he commands, obedience to him becomes categorically binding, whether or not the command is expressly found in the Book, for he was given the Book and something of equal weight along with it. By contrast, He did not command independent obedience to those in authority; He omitted the verb and placed their obedience within the framework of obedience to the Messenger.

It is unanimously agreed among the scholars that “referring back to Allah” means referring back to His Book, while “referring back to the Messenger” means referring to him during his lifetime and to his Sunnah after his death, and that this constitutes one of the conditions of faith.

6 – Being satisfied to remain in dispute by refusing to return to the Sunnah for resolution is, in the eyes of the Law, a major cause of the Muslims’ failure in all their endeavors and of the loss of their power and prestige.

7 – A stern warning against disobeying the Messenger ﷺ, for such disobedience bears evil consequences in both this world and the Hereafter.

8 – Those who go against his command deserve to be tried with tribulation in this world and to suffer a painful punishment in the Hereafter.

9 – Responding to the call and command of the Messenger ﷺ is obligatory, and it is the very means to a wholesome life and true happiness in this world and the next.

10 – Obedience to the Prophet ﷺ is a cause for entering Paradise and attaining the supreme success, whereas disobeying him and transgressing his limits is a cause for entering the Fire and enduring a humiliating torment.