In the Old Testament, the concept of pledging allegiance to the Messenger is reflected in the relationship between God and various Prophets, including Abraham (PBUH), Moses (PBUH), and others. Pledging allegiance in Judaism involves honoring the Covenant between God and the Jewish people, as mediated by these Prophets, and adhering to the commandments and teachings found in the Torah.
“When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
- The Holy Bible, Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 17, Verses 14-20
Also we find people pledging allegiance to Saul when he was appointed by Samuel (PBUH).
When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.” They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes.
- The Holy Bible, Book of 1 Samuel, Chapter 10, Verses 20-25
In Christianity, followers pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ (PBUH) as the Son of God and the ultimate mediator between humanity and God. Pledging allegiance to Jesus (PBUH) involves accepting him as Lord and Savior, following his teachings as recorded in the Gospels, and living in accordance with his principles, and redemption and most importantly denying oneself and willing to sacrifice one's life for his cause.
As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.” Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
- The Holy Bible, Book of Luke, Chapter 9, Verses 57-62
We find another instance in the Gospels where Jesus (PBUH) relays the cost of being one of his disciples.
Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’ Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
- The Holy Bible, Book of Luke, Chapter 14, Verses 25-33
In all Abrahamic faiths, pledging allegiance to the Messenger signifies a deep spiritual commitment and adherence to the teachings, guidance, and example set forth by these revered figures. It represents a fundamental aspect of religious identity and devotion for believers in these traditions.