Is bay’ah obligatory, or is it Sunnah?

The Prophet took the pledge from his Companions on various occasions: at Hudaybiyyah, where Allah approved of it, and on other occasions for matters other than war, with pledges both for performing good deeds and for forbiddance. That is why taking the pledge is a Sunnah. Because the pledge in Tasawwuf is a pledge to follow the Shariah, one must find someone who is fully adherent to the Shariah and capable of leading.

What is a silsila, the unbroken chain of teachers in Sufism?

As with any other discipline of the religion, Tasawwuf is learnt from someone who has an unbroken line of teachers extending back through the Companions to the Prophet, the source of all religious knowledge. Those who claim to be Sufis without such a lineage are pretenders. University degrees, acclaim and published work are great achievements, but they cannot replace learning from that unbroken line.

Can you learn Tasawwuf from the internet or YouTube?

Information gathered over the internet on matters relating to Iman can be incorrect and unreliable, and thus misguiding. A person would not perform heart surgery on himself from a YouTube video; he would seek a medical specialist. Commitment to someone who has been through the process and holds the criteria of a true guide is how Tasawwuf is realised, and its true state needs a connection with a living teacher over a prolonged period of time.

What does a shaykh actually do for a seeker?

The shaykh is the spiritual father for the seeker: he takes the seeker to follow the Prophet, adjoins him to Allah, and always ensures that he follows the way of the Shariah and the Prophetic Sunnah. He guides his disciples with his own example and through the classical works of the scholars of the lineage.

How does someone become a shaykh? Is a formal degree required?

Among the basic conditions of a true shaykh are that he has been publicly authorised by a true shaykh, through an unbroken chain of authorisation back to the Prophet, and that he has travelled the path of Tasawwuf under the guidance of his shaykh. He is not required to hold a formal degree from a religious school; it suffices that he has studied Qur'anic exegesis. University qualifications or research cannot be substituted for ilm, true knowledge, as they are not authenticated by the unbroken chain.

Must a shaykh perform miracles or supernatural feats?

Supernatural feats can be manifested by disbelievers as well, and they are not among the prerequisites of a shaykh. Bayazid al-Bustami said not to be deceived by a man who can fly in the air until his state with regard to observance of the Shariah is seen, and Junayd al-Baghdadi said that all paths are closed on the entire creation except the one that follows the Prophet in totality. Mujaddid Alf Thani described Allah's friends as people whose associates are never wretched and whose company is light and effulgence.

When may a seeker leave his shaykh?

There are conditions under which a seeker may leave his shaykh and perform the pledge with another: the shaykh deviates from the path of Tasawwuf, or the seeker gets no improvement in his state despite following every instruction, or the shaykh passes away, or the shaykh is found not to follow the Shariah. Where the seeker is simply getting no benefit, he discusses it with his shaykh and finds another with his permission. Leaving without any justification is a different matter, and the seeker who does that is called Murtid fil Tariqa.

Can a disciple follow more than one shaykh?

Going from one shaykh to another retards the progress of the seeker, and the rule that keeps a disciple with one guide is called Tauheed e Matlab. Usually there are many doctors in a town, but a sick person would only consult one. All the Mashaikh are honoured and respected, but training and purification are taken from one guide, and another shaykh is visited only with the permission of one's own.

Should a seeker consult his shaykh about marriage, travel and work?

A seeker brings his major decisions to his shaykh, marriage, travel and profession among them, and follows the advice given in worldly matters as well as spiritual ones. A seeker cannot reach his destination on his own accord, and it is the duty of the shaykh to connect him with Allah. One major hindrance on the way is the seeker who weighs his shaykh's judgement against his own.

What is adab with a shaykh?

Adab means respect, and in Tasawwuf it covers every aspect of a seeker's life: respect for the Word of Allah, respect for the Sunnah of the Messenger, and respect for one's shaykh. It matters because the benefit of a shaykh passes through a connection between hearts, and a doubtful heart restricts the flow of knowledge. What follows are the etiquettes the seeker abides by, from consulting the shaykh on major decisions to praying for him.