Is it permissible to describe Muslims as deputies of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions in bearing and conveying the trust of religion?

Muslims are the Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, representatives in bearing the trust of religion and calling to it, and the most deserving among Muslims for this are the scholars. Al-Shatibi stated that the Mufti acts in the stead of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, basing his argument on three points:

1. Religious Texts: The Hadiths that describe scholars as heirs of the Prophets, and that they inherited knowledge. 2. Conveying Rulings: The Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: "Let the present one among you convey to the absent one" and "Convey from me, even if it is a single verse," which makes the Mufti his representative in conveying. 3. Establishing Rulings: The Mufti is considered a legislator in a sense, because he conveys transmitted rulings or deduces them. The latter gives him a role in establishing rulings, making him act in the stead of the Legislator in this aspect. For this reason, scholars were called "those in authority" and their obedience was linked to the obedience of Allah and His Messenger.