So whoever follows someone other than the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—and maintains that this is lawful has set up a false deity, for he has chosen to follow other than the very Messenger we were commanded to follow. Unqualified following belongs to the Messenger alone. As for other scholars and preachers, they are to be followed only when they themselves follow the way of the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him. He is the one to be followed without reservation, whereas those scholars are merely conveyors of the message: they are followed only for the truth they transmit when it accords with following the Messenger. Anything of theirs that contradicts the Messenger must never be followed.

A case in point is the shaykhs of the Sufi orders. Their disciples and devotees follow them in matters that do not constitute obedience to the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him. Indeed, they even say, “We have no need of the Messenger; we take from the same source he took from and receive directly from Allah. The Messenger receives from Allah through an intermediary—Gabriel—whereas we receive from Allah directly. You report your religion from a dead man, while we report ours from the Ever-Living Lord.” They allege that their shaykhs are connected to Allah and receive revelation directly from Him.

They have reached such a degree of overreach—Allah’s refuge is sought. This is their method, and there is no doubt that they are the very leaders of the false deities—may Allah protect us—because there is no path to Allah, majestic and exalted, except by following His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. He said