and when they disagree. If referring the matter back to that command is not obligatory when there is consensus, this indicates that the consensus accords with it rather than contradicting it. Since someone who relies on consensus as evidence is, in fact, following that command, he has no need to refer the matter back to it.

Further evidence is His statement, Exalted is He:

“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.”

[Surah Āl ʿImrān: 103]

He commanded them to unite and forbade them to divide. If, when united, they could sometimes be obedient to Allah and at other times disobedient to Him, He could only have commanded unity when it was unity in obedience. Yet Allah commanded it without qualification. Moreover, were that the case, there would be no distinction between unity and division, since division would itself be commanded if it involved obedience. For example, if people fell into two groups—one obeying Allah and His Messenger, and the other disobeying Him—one would have to stand with the obedient, even if this entailed division. Thus, His command that they unite indicates that their unity necessarily entails obedience to Allah.

He also said:

“Your ally is none but Allah and His Messenger.”

[Surah al-Mā’idah: 55]

He thus made loyalty to the believers like loyalty to Allah and His Messenger. Loyalty to Allah and His Messenger is only complete through obedience to His command. Likewise, loyalty to the believers is only complete through obedience to their command. This is possible only when their command is one upon which they agree. If some of them command one thing and another (1) commands its opposite, loyalty to one is no more warranted than loyalty to the other. Hence, when there is disagreement, loyalty is expressed by referring the matter to Allah and the Messenger.

Furthermore, it has (2) been established from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—in many hadiths