What is the ruling on some Islamic groups compelling their followers to obey the group's leader?

The questioner : The honorable Shaykh, some Islamic groups that call to the Salafi creed appoint a general leader and subordinate leaders, and they oblige their followers to obey these leaders. They say that this leadership is a Shari'ah obligation that must be obeyed, and that disobeying it is disobedience to Allah and His Messenger. They cite the hadith What is your response?

The Shaykh : It is clear that this argument is weak, because his statement (peace be upon him) refers to the leader who appointed himself over a group of people numbering in the thousands or millions. Who gave him the order?
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger sent generally to all people. So if he appointed a leader, there is no doubt that obeying this leader is obligatory. The Caliph who comes after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) has the same ruling as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in that he must be obeyed. First, because Allah says So obeying the Messenger is obligatory, just as obeying Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is obligatory. Therefore, the Exalted repeated the verb in Then, when He mentioned those in authority, He did not say "and obey those in authority," because their obedience is not independent like the obedience to the Messenger. Rather, obeying those in authority is contingent upon their obedience to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So his statement (peace and blessings be upon him) is not valid in any way as evidence that it is permissible for every group that has a methodology and a specific path, even if it is in accordance with the Shari'ah, to appoint a leader. Because that increases division, separation, and discord among the Muslims. The only leader who must be obeyed is the one appointed by the first Imam, namely the Caliph of the Muslims. Therefore, I always say, and I will always say, that the hadiths that came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that are absolute or general must be interpreted in light of the application of the righteous Salaf. There was only one Imam among the righteous Salaf, and under this Imam were leaders, without a doubt, to manage the affairs of the state according to what that Imam deemed appropriate. It is correct for me to say that he has no partner in this great authority, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, as in Sahih Muslim, This is an explicit text that it is not permissible for there to be two Caliphs, i.e., two leaders, each commanding his own group. This increases, as we said, division and misguidance among people. The Muslims have maintained the unity of the Imam who has the authority to appoint leaders, as we mentioned, according to what the interest of the Muslims requires. As for what has happened in this time, it is in reality a phenomenon that should be observed and not taken for granted, because the consequence of that is that the Muslims will become sects and parties. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says in the explicit text of the Noble Book I do not deny that there can be multiple groups with different objectives. I do not deny that there can be a group, for example, that takes charge of correcting the beliefs, concepts, and worship of the Muslims, and does not engage, for example, in sports. Nor do I deny that there can be a group specialized in dealing with sports means with the intention of strengthening the bodies of the Muslims, based on the known statement of his (peace be upon him) I do not deny that there can be a group that works, for example, in what is called today economics, and another group that works in politics, and so on. But I impose one condition: that all of them work within the circle of Islam and in light of the Book and the Sunnah. As for approving the gatherings with their various specializations, some of which we mentioned earlier, without linking them to the methodology of the Book and the Sunnah, this means approving the division of the Ummah and casting the color of legitimacy on such division. This is contrary to the explicit text of the Book and the explicit text of the Sunnah. So it is not befitting for us to have leaders who are pledged allegiance to, as the first Caliph was pledged allegiance to. However, there is no harm, of course, in each group having a system, because this system is what leads the group to its legitimate objectives. But we do not attribute to it those rulings that were specific to the Caliphs and then to those they appointed, as mentioned in the question, that they cite this hadith, and consequently some of them apply to their leaders, whom they pledge allegiance to, such as his statement (peace and blessings be upon him) And so they command a leader and pledge allegiance to him. This leader is not the one who must be pledged allegiance to. Rather, the Muslims must work with all the strength and knowledge they have been given to restore the Islamic society, which requires that one man, the Caliph, be established, whom all Muslims must pledge allegiance to. As for this group appointing a leader and obliging individuals to pledge allegiance, and saying that if they do not pledge allegiance they will die the death of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, this is distorting words from their places. And this is something that is not permissible for a Muslim to fall into. Please.