The truth of Islam, the universal mission of the Messenger ﷺ, finality of prophethood, and the Qurʾan's inimitability are connected beliefs. Following the Messenger is more than claiming a label: it entails accepting and practicing his teaching.
Respect for the path of the believers and qualified scholarly consensus guards against arbitrary individualism and unprincipled division. This does not remove the need for evidence; learning, transmission, and responsible reasoning belong together.