It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He is not of us who does not honour our elders, show mercy to our young, and recognise the right of our scholar." Malik bin Khayr al-Ziyadi is a trustworthy Egyptian narrator, and Abu Qabil is a senior Tabi'i.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both), explaining the saying of Allah Almighty: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you (rulers / people of knowledge)" [Surah al-Nisa: 59] , said: It refers to the people of fiqh (understanding of the religion) and of goodness. This hadith is sahih, and according to the two Shaykhs a Companion's tafsir (explanation of the Qur'an) has the status of a musnad (a report traced to the Prophet).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that "those in authority" (uli al-amr) means the people of fiqh and the people of religion, that is, the people of obedience who teach people the meanings of their religion, command them to do good and forbid them from evil; so Allah has made obedience to them obligatory.