you worship besides Allah are fuel for Hell; you will enter it.”

But the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Allah Most High says: ‘I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me within himself, I remember him within Myself. If he remembers Me in an assembly, I remember him in an assembly better than theirs. If he draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near to him by an arm’s length. If he draws near to Me by an arm’s length, I draw near to him by an armspan. If he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.’”

Whoever can find guidance without affiliating himself with a particular spiritual master has no need to do so. Such affiliation is not recommended for him; rather, it is discouraged. But if he cannot worship Allah as He has commanded except through such affiliation—for example, if he lives somewhere where guidance, knowledge, faith, and religious practice are weak, and those who would teach and discipline him will do so only if he affiliates himself with their master—or if affiliation with a master would increase his religious commitment and knowledge, then he should do whatever is best for his religion. Such a situation generally arises only through his own negligence; otherwise, if he sought guidance in the proper way, he would find it.

As for affiliation that divides Muslims, abandoning communal unity and concord for division, following the path of innovation, and departing from the Sunnah and adherence to it, this is prohibited. Whoever does so incurs sin and thereby departs from obedience to Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.