This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Worship of Allah According to the Method of the Messenger of Allah
All the scholars of the Ummah agree on the following points:
● Worship is for Allah alone.
● Reliance is on none but Allah.
And no person in the Ummah shares or participates in the rights of the Messenger of Allah, such as the mandatory obedience and compliance with his commands.
Allah Almighty says:
مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ
"Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah."
Reference: (4-An-Nisa:80)
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ
"And We sent not any messenger except to be obeyed by Allah's permission."
Reference: (4-An-Nisa:64)
Obedience to the Messenger of Allah is obedience to Allah Almighty. The Divine command is:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ
"O Prophet! Those who pledge allegiance to you, they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah."
Reference: (48-Al-Fath:10)
At the time of the Pledge of Ridwan, the Companions made a covenant that they would obey and comply with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in jihad, and in the event of battle, they would prefer martyrdom rather than fleeing.
