Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “He who obeys me has obeyed God and he who disobeys me has disobeyed God; he who obeys the commander has obeyed me and he who disobeys the commander has disobeyed me. The imam is only a shield behind whom fighting is engaged in and by whom protection is sought; so if he commands piety and acts justly he will have a reward for that, but if he holds another view he will on that account be held guilty.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umm al-Husain reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If a slave who has been mutilated is made your commander and leads you in accordance with God’s Book, listen to him and obey.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Listen and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave with a head like a raisin* is made governor over you.” Bukhari transmitted it.* This is said to refer to the head being small, or to the hair being crisp and curly, or short.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Hearing and obeying are the duty of a Muslim man both regarding what he likes and what he dislikes, as long as he is not commanded to perform an act of disobedience to God, in which case he must neither hear nor obey.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Ali reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No obedience is to be given in the case of an act of disobedience to God, obedience is to be given only regarding what is reputable.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We swore allegiance to God’s Messenger agreeing to hear and obey in time of difficulty and time of ease, in what we liked and what we disliked, to give way to others’ interests, not to dispute about government with those in power, and to say what was right wherever we were, not fearing for God’s sake what anyone who blamed us might say. A version has, “Not to dispute about government with those in power unless you see evident infidelity regarding which you have a proof from God.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar told that when they swore allegiance to God’s Messenger to hear and obey he was saying to them, “In what you are able.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone sees in his commander what he dislikes he should show patience, for no one separates a span's distance from the community and dies without dying like those of pre-Islamic times.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “He who abandons obedience and separates from the community and then dies, will die like those of pre-Islamic times; he who fights under a banner of ignorance* showing anger in support of party spirit, or summoning people to party spirit, or helping party spirit, and then is killed will be killed like those of pre-Islamic times; and he who goes out against my people with his sword smiting the virtuous and the reprobate, not keeping away from those who are believers or observing covenants which have been made, has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him.” Muslim transmitted it.*'Immiya, or 'ummiya, meaning either pride or error. I have translated it as ‘‘ignorance, for it is explained as being here used of people who fight without considering whether they are in the right or not.

‘Auf b. Malik al-Ashja‘i reported God's Messenger as saying, “Your best imams are those whom you like and who like you, on whom you invoke blessings and who invoke blessings on you; and your worst imams are those whom you hate and who hate you, whom you curse and who curse you.” They asked God's Messenger whether in that event they should not depose them, but he replied, “No, as long as they observe the prayer among you; no, as long as they observe the prayer among you. If anyone has a governor whom he sees doing anything which is an act of disobedience to God, he must disapprove of the disobedience to God which he commits, but must never withdraw from obedience.” Muslim transmitted it.

Umm Salama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “You will have commanders some of whom you will approve and some of whom you will disapprove. He who expresses disapproval is guiltless and he who feels disapproval is safe, but he who is pleased and follows them ...” His hearers interrupted, “Shall we not fight with them?” but he replied, “No, as long as they pray; no, as long as they pray.” It means one who feels disapproval in his heart and expresses disapproval in his heart. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told that God’s Messenger said to them, “After my death you will see [rulers] appropriating the best things for themselves and other matters which you will disapprove.” He was asked what he commanded them to do and replied, “Give them what is due to them and ask God for what is due to you.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Wa’il b. Hujr told that Salama b. Yazid al-Ju‘fi questioned God’s Messenger saying, “Prophet of God, tell us what you command us to do if commanders arise over us who demand of us what is due to them and refuse us what is due to us.” He replied, “Listen and obey, for they are responsible only for what has been laid on them (cf. Al-Qur’an, 24:54) and you for what has been laid on you.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar told that he heard God's Messenger say, “He who throws off obedience will meet God on the day of resurrection without possessing any plea, and he who dies without having taken an oath of allegiance will die like a pagan.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “The B. Isra’il were governed by the prophets, as often as one died another taking his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be numerous caliphs.” He was asked what command he had to give and replied, “Fulfil the oath of allegiance to each and give them their due for God will question them about what He asked them to guard.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When allegiance is sworn to two caliphs kill the second of them.* Muslim transmitted it.* Some interpret ‘kill’ here as meaning to fight with. The tradition is directed against the possibility of two Caliphs holding power at the same time, even though the areas might be quite distinct.

‘Arfaja told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “Various corruptions will arise, so strike with the sword him who tries to cause separation in this people when they are united, whoever he be.” Muslim transmitted it.

He told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone comes to you when you are united under one man desiring to split you or cause parties in your community, kill him.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone swears allegiance to an imam, giving him his hand in ratification and sincere agreement in his heart, he must obey him if he can. Then if another comes and contends with him, cut off that other one’s head.” Muslim transmitted it.