The Quran

وَاعلَموا أَنَّ فيكُم رَسولَ اللَّهِ ۚ لَو يُطيعُكُم في كَثيرٍ مِنَ الأَمرِ لَعَنِتُّم وَلٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيكُمُ الإيمانَ وَزَيَّنَهُ في قُلوبِكُم وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيكُمُ الكُفرَ وَالفُسوقَ وَالعِصيانَ ۚ أُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الرّاشِدونَ

Ali Unal

Always bear in mind that God’s Messenger is among you (so that you have a duty to refer decisions to him).¹ If he were to follow you in many affairs of public concern, you would surely be in trouble (and suffer loss).² But God has endeared the faith to you (O believers) and made it appealing to your hearts, and He has made unbelief, transgression, and rebellion hateful to you. Those are they who are rightly guided (in belief, thought, and action),

Also, in particular, see 4: 59, 64-65, 83, note 13.
This does not mean that God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, should not consult with his Companions in the matters of government. Rather, consultation is essential to Islamic government and it was enjoined upon the Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, (3: 159). If we consider that this command was reiterated just after the Battle of Uhud, and that one of the reasons for the temporary setback in that battle followed from the Messenger’s (reluctant) acceptance of the decision to go out to face the enemy, which itself arose from consultation but which was opposed to his view, then the importance of consultation will become clearer (See 3: 159, note 31). However, if there is something contrary to the basic principles of faith and action, it cannot be put forward for discussion; and if the Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, has definitely decided on a subject, it should not be debated.