Is it a condition that every member of the Ummah pledges allegiance to the Imam?

Question : And is it a condition that every individual of the Ummah pledges allegiance to him?

Answer : The answer is that it is not a condition, and this is something that is not possible. For this reason, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was not pledged allegiance to by everyone, but only by the people of authority and decision (ahl al-hall wa al-'aqd). No one was sent to every adolescent, every old woman, every young man, or every man to pledge allegiance to him. No one was sent to Makkah, nor to al-Ta'if, nor to any other land, and not even to the people of al-Madinah. It was sufficient to have the pledge of the people of authority and decision. Therefore, we know that if one of the ignorant and naive people says, "I did not pledge allegiance to you," we say: Who said that it is a condition that you pledge allegiance? Pledging allegiance is not for every person; it is for the people of authority and decision. When they agree upon him and pledge allegiance to him, he becomes the Imam, and it becomes obligatory for everyone to abide by the rulings of the Imam in this man upon whom the people of authority and decision have agreed. This is one example, like whom? Like Uthman. Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was pledged allegiance to by the consensus of the people of consultation whom 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed.