and other practices of that kind; and about the one who seeks his shaykh’s help, asking him to steady his heart in the face of whatever has befallen him; and the one who comes to his shaykh’s grave, touches it, rubs his face against it, wipes the grave with his hands and then wipes his face with those same hands, and the like; and the one who approaches the shaykh for some need and says, “O So-and-so, by your blessing,” or says, “My need has been met by the blessing of Allah and the blessing of the shaykh”; and the one who holds a session of samāʿ (audition), comes to the grave, uncovers it and places his face upon the ground before his shaykh in prostration; and the person who says, “There exists a single quṭb, a universal ghawth (supreme helper), in all creation.” Provide us with a ruling—may you be rewarded—and explain the matter thoroughly.

[Beginning of the answer]

(1) He replied: All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The religion with which Allah sent His messengers and by which He revealed His scriptures is worship