When may a seeker leave his shaykh?

The seeker who does not stay steadfast in his commitment to his own shaykh and goes elsewhere without any justification is called Murtid fil Tariqa. There are conditions under which a seeker can leave his shaykh and perform bay'ah with another.

For instance, where the shaykh deviates from the path of Tasawwuf, or where the seeker, even though following all the instructions of the shaykh, is not getting any improvement in his state, then the seeker may find another shaykh. If the seeker is unable to get any Fayd or benefit from his own shaykh, then he can discuss the issue with his shaykh and, with his permission, find another shaykh. In case the shaykh passes away, or the seeker finds out that the shaykh does not follow the Shariah, then the seeker is to find another shaykh.

The rule these conditions set aside is Tauheed e Matlab, the principle that a seeker's progress comes through one shaykh and that moving between them retards it.