The Ruling on a Secret Pledge of Allegiance to Other Than the One in Authority

Question:
Now, Shaykh, what is the ruling on one who makes a secret pledge of allegiance upon himself if the faith of the Muslims is sold?

Answer:
A secret pledge of allegiance to whom? It is not permissible to pledge allegiance except to the one in authority of the Muslims. No one pledges allegiance to anyone other than the one in authority of the Muslims. The second pledge is an error.
So, to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he says: If two pledges are made, meaning the pledge to the one in authority is made, and then a second pledge is made by a second person, because he wants to split the unity of the Muslims. There is no pledge of allegiance to the Muslims.
What some groups do, who claim to be calling to Islam and pledge allegiance to one of them, this pledge is not by deception, it has no basis, it has no basis in Islam. The pledge of allegiance is only for the one in authority. However, if they are in a non-Islamic country, and they gather and choose one of them, they choose one of them to lead them, to execute and manage affairs, then this is not a pledge of allegiance, this is a choice, this is like the leader in travel. The travelers choose one, a choice, not a pledge of allegiance, to assist him, that he is the one to whom they delegate the changing of travel matters. Similarly, if Muslims are in a disbeliever's land, and they become a group and a minority, they appoint one of them to take charge of their affairs without a pledge of allegiance, only by their choice, yes. But his actions must be like the actions of the one in authority, and it is obligatory to execute them, yes.