[The Necessity of People Going to the Prophet of Allah]

From here, it is understood that going to the Prophet is obligatory for all those living in his time; because knowing Allah’s rulings and their subjects is not possible without going to him, and it is impossible for him to go to all those living in his time. Moreover, nature requires that the needy go to the one who can fulfill their need, not that the self-sufficient go to those in need of them; because the needy perish if they do not go to the self-sufficient, whereas the self-sufficient suffer no harm if they do not go to the needy. Therefore, it is obligatory for all people to go to the Prophet, and it is not obligatory for the Prophet to go to all people; rather, it is sufficient for him to inform them of his Prophethood. Yes, it is not rational that all of them go to him at the same time, since this necessitates hardship and disorder. Therefore, it is sufficient for them to go to him in turn, or to send a number from among themselves—whose report is considered mutawatir—to go to him and bring his report back to them; as Allah Almighty has said: ﴿وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنْفِرُوا كَافَّةً ۚ فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ﴾[1]; “And it was not for the believers to go forth all together. So why did not a number from each group of them go forth to gain understanding of the religion and to warn their people upon returning to them, so that they might beware?”

[The Necessity of People Accepting from the Prophet of Allah]

It is clear that the necessity of going to the Prophet entails the necessity of accepting from him; because the necessity of going to him without the necessity of accepting from him is of no benefit. Moreover, his role as an intermediary in conveying and applying the rulings only makes sense if obedience to him in the rulings he conveys and applies is obligatory. Therefore, Allah Almighty has said: ﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ﴾[2]; “And We did not send any Prophet except to be obeyed by Allah’s permission,” considering that obedience to a Messenger is obedience to the One Who has sent him;