The ruling on one who does not pledge allegiance to the imam and the people of authority and decision

The questioner:
There is a man who says, “I did not abandon the Imam of the Believers, the Arabs, because I did not pledge allegiance to him with my hand. How can I abandon their children?”

The Shaykh:
The pledge of allegiance is not required of every single person. If the people of authority and decision pledge allegiance, the pledge is complete and obedience becomes binding. It is not required of every person to pledge allegiance to him; that is difficult and is not required by the Shari'ah. Rather, the people of authority and decision are those who stand in the place of the rest. So if they pledge allegiance to the one in authority, his pledge is established.

The questioner:
And the Shaykh, may Allah bless you.

The Shaykh:
The Muslims are one hand and one community. The weakest among them strives for their safety, so how much more so if the best among them and the people of authority and decision pledge allegiance?! So obedience is obligatory for all of them. Yes. Yes.