The same applies to anyone who calls for following a religious shaykh in every way, without qualification or exception, singling him out from his peers—such as Shaykh ‘Adī, Shaykh Ahmad, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir, Shaykh Haywah, and others like them. It likewise applies to anyone who calls for unconditionally following a leading scholar, such as one of the four imams, in everything he says, commands, and forbids. The same applies to anyone who commands obedience to kings, commanders, judges, and governors in everything they command and forbid, without qualification or exception.

These people, however, do not claim infallibility for their leaders, except for extremists among the followers of shaykhs such as Shaykh ‘Adī, Sa‘d al-Madīnī ibn Hamawayh, and others like them. They make claims about them resembling those made by extremists concerning the imams of Banū Hāshim: first infallibility, then superiority to prophethood, and finally divinity.

As for many followers of leading scholars and religious shaykhs, their conduct and inclinations resemble those of someone who considers following his leader obligatory, yet neither expresses this in words nor consciously holds it as a belief. His conduct thus contradicts his beliefs, like sinners driven by their desires. Such people are in a better state than those who consider this obligatory and hold it as a conviction.

Likewise, the followers of kings and leaders are as Allah describes them when He says:

“Indeed, we obeyed our masters and our great men, and they led us astray from the way.”

They obey in their conduct and actions, submitting to their leaders. Most do so without any religious conviction, while among them are