The Ruling on the One Who Says, "I Did Not Pledge Allegiance to the Ruler, So His Obedience Is Not Binding on Me"

Question:
Another questioner says: What is your view of the one who says, “I have not given the pledge of allegiance to the ruler, and therefore obedience to him is not obligatory for me”?

Answer:
If he is not among the Muslims, then yes. But if he is among the Muslims, then obedience to the one in authority of the Muslims is obligatory for him. It is not a condition of the pledge of allegiance that every single person gives it. If the people of decision and binding, and the people of knowledge, give the pledge, then the rest follow them, because they are one hand. The Muslims are one hand. It has not been the custom that all people give the pledge to the Caliph. Rather, the scholars, those of concern, the leaders, and the people of decision and binding give the pledge to the Caliph, and that suffices for the rest of the Muslims. The Muslims are one body and one hand. It has not been the custom that it is obligatory for every person to give the pledge; it suffices that the people of decision and binding among the princes and scholars give it. Yes.