When the rulers were commanded to deliver trusts to their rightful owners and to judge with justice, the people were commanded to obey them and to accept their rulings. The intended meaning of 'those in authority among you' refers to the rightful leaders, for Allah and His Messenger are free from the unjust rulers. They are not included in the obligation of obedience to Allah and His Messenger. Rather, the connection is between Allah, His Messenger, and the leaders who align with them in prioritizing justice and choosing the truth, commanding it and forbidding its opposites, such as the rightly guided caliphs and those who follow them in goodness. The caliphs used to say: 'Obey me as long as I am just among you; if I deviate, then there is no obedience for you to me.' Abu Hazim reported that Muslima ibn Abd al-Malik said to him: 'Did you not command us to obey you in His saying: (And those in authority among you)?' He replied: 'Is it not that you have been removed from this when you oppose the truth by His saying: (And if you disagree in anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger)?' It was said: They are the commanders of the expeditions. And the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, said: 'Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah. And whoever obeys my commander has obeyed me, and whoever disobeys my commander has disobeyed me.' [Agreed upon from the hadith of Abu Huraira. Al-Bukhari narrated it from the report of Al-A'raj. And Muslim narrated it from the report of Al-A'raj and Abu Salama, both from him.] It was said: They are the knowledgeable scholars who teach the people the religion and command them to do good and forbid them from wrongdoing. (And if you disagree in anything) means if you differ with those in authority among you in any matter of religion, refer it back to Allah and His Messenger, meaning: return to the Book and the Sunnah. How can obedience to the unjust rulers be obligatory when Allah has made the command of obedience to those in authority clear beyond doubt? Their first command was to deliver trusts and to judge justly, and their last command was to return to the Book and the Sunnah in matters of ambiguity. The unjust rulers do not deliver trusts nor do they judge justly, nor do they refer anything to the Book or the Sunnah; they merely follow their desires wherever they lead them. They are stripped of the qualities of those who are truly in authority with Allah and His Messenger. The most appropriate name for them is: the usurping thieves. This is a reference to returning to the Book and the Sunnah, which is better for you and more righteous and has a better outcome. It was said: It has a better interpretation than your interpretation.