Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: By "those in authority" are meant the people of jurisprudence and knowledge. And regarding the statement of Allah the Exalted: "If you disagree about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger," he said: "Allah" means the Book of Allah, and "Messenger" means the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he recited this verse: "And if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those who can draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it."
Hadith Referenceسنن سعید بن منصور / كتاب التفسير / 656
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:سنده ضعيف بهذا السياق لضعف الليث، وقوله: ((أولي الفقه والعلم))، تقدم في الحديث [٦٥٣] أنه صحيح عن مجاهد.