The Ruling on Taking a Secret Pledge of Allegiance

Question:
It was said: O Shaykh, what is the ruling on one who takes a secret pledge of allegiance upon himself when he has taken the pledge of faith of the Muslims?

Answer:
A Sunnah pledge for whom? It is not permissible to take a pledge except from the ruler of the Muslims. No one pledges allegiance to anyone other than the ruler of the Muslims. The second pledge is wrong. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If two pledges are taken—meaning, the pledge of the ruler is taken, and then a second pledge is taken by another—the second one is killed. The second one is killed because he seeks to split the unity of the Muslims. There is no pledge except for the ruler of the Muslims. What some groups do, who claim to be calling to Islam and pledge allegiance to one of their members, this pledge has no basis. It has no basis in Islam. The pledge is only for the ruler. However, if they are in a non-Muslim country and they gather and choose one of them to lead them and manage their affairs, this is not a pledge. This is a selection. This is like the leader chosen by travelers. Travelers choose one person; this is a selection, not a pledge.
They choose him because he is the one to whom they delegate the management of travel matters. Similarly, if Muslims are in a weak country and they form a group and a minority, they appoint one of them to handle their affairs without a pledge, only by selection. Yes. But his actions must be like the actions of the ruler. How should they be applied? Yes.