بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِِ
In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful
Allah says,
یٰۤاَیُّہَا
O you who believe! Obey Allah, obey the Apostle and those in authority among you
(Surah 4, Ayah 59)
Some of the astray sects of innovation and heresy, notably the Imamiyyah Shi'ah, say what is meant by "those in authority among you" refers exclusively to the Twelve Imams.
However, "those in authority among them" occurs in another Ayah that makes it plain that it refers to fallible Muslim rulers and deputies:
If they were to refer it to the Apostle and to those in authority among them
(Surah 4, Ayah 83)
"Those in authority among them" is in the plural, indicating that at least three individuals are intended in addition to the Apostle of Allah, peace be upon him. The Twelver Shi'ah interpretation, that it refers exclusively to Hadrat Ali, radi Allahu anhu, is therefore falsified.
Concerning "those in authority among them" it is explained in Tafsir al-Khazin (v.1, p.403):
يعني ذوي العقول والرأي والبصيرة بالأمور منهم وهم كبار الصحابة كأبي بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي
"This refers to those among them who possess intellect, sound judgment, and insight into matters, namely the senior companions such as Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali."
