The response is:

Ahl al-Sunnah do not say that any one of these men was the particular person who had to be placed in authority to the exclusion of everyone else, nor do they say that he must be obeyed in everything he commands. Rather, Ahl al-Sunnah report what actually occurred and enjoin what is obligatory: they testify to what took place (1), and they command what Allah (2) and His Messenger commanded.

They therefore say: These are the men who assumed power and possessed the authority and capacity to fulfil the purposes of governance, such as enforcing the prescribed penalties, distributing public funds, appointing officials to positions of authority (3), waging jihad against the enemy, overseeing the Hajj, the two Eid prayers, and Friday prayers, and fulfilling the other purposes of governance (4).

They also say: It is not permissible to obey any of these rulers, their deputies, or anyone else in disobedience to Allah. Rather, one should join him in whatever obedience to Allah he undertakes: the disbelievers are fought alongside him; Friday and Eid prayers are performed with him; Hajj is performed with him; and he is assisted in enforcing the prescribed penalties, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and similar matters. Thus, they are assisted in righteousness and piety, but not in sin and transgression.

They also say: Others besides these men assumed power. In the West, a branch of the Umayyads and a branch of Ali’s descendants ruled (5). It is well known that people cannot prosper without rulers, and that if rulers inferior to these—even oppressive kings—were to assume power, that would be better than—