[It is necessary for people to go to the Prophet]

It is hereby understood that going to the Prophet is obligatory for whoever is in his time; because knowing about the rulings of God and their subject matters is not possible without going to him, and his going to whoever is in his time is impossible. In addition, what is natural is that the needy person goes to the one who is able to fulfill his need, not that the rich person goes to the one who needs him; because the needy person will perish if he does not go to the rich person, but the rich person will not be harmed if he does not go to the needy person. 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, but rather it is sufficient for him to inform them about his Prophethood. Yes, it is not rational that all of them go to him at the same time; because it necessitates hardship and disorder. Therefore, it is sufficient for them to go to him in turn or to send to him a number of them whose report is considered mutawatir, in order to bring them his report; as God 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 necessary for believers to go forth altogether. Then why did a party from each group not go forth to learn about the religion and warn their people when they returned to them so that they would beware?!”

[It is necessary for people to accept from the Prophet]

It is clear that the necessity of going to the Prophet necessitates accepting from him; because the necessity of going to him is useless without the necessity of accepting from him. Moreover, his mediation in communicating and implementing the rulings will make sense if obeying him in the rulings that he communicates and implements is obligatory. Therefore, God Almighty has said: ﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ﴾[2]; “And We did not send any Prophet unless he was to be obeyed in accordance with the permission of God”; considering that obeying the Messenger is obeying the One Who has sent him;