Q 4: Is there any harm if a Muslim follows the Tariqah (Sufi order) ascribed to shaykh `Abdul-Qadir or Abu Al-Hasan Al-Shadhly? Is it a Sunnah (a commendable act) or a Bid`ah (innovation in religion)?

A: It is narrated by Abu Dawud and other Compilers of the Sunan on the authority of (Part No. 2; Page No. 292)  Al-`Irbad Ibn Sariyah who said: One day the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) led us in prayer, then turned to us delivering a very eloquent sermon, on account of which eyes shed tears and hearts were filled with awe. A man said: "O, Prophet of Allah! It seems as if it is a farewell sermon, so advise us." He (peace be upon him) said, "I enjoin you to fear Allah and to listen and obey even if an Abyssinian slave is appointed as your leader. Those among you who shall live after me, will see much discord, so hold fast to my Sunnah and the examples of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who will come after me. But beware of novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error, and those who are led astray by their acts would enter the Hell-fire. .Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) mentioned that great disorder where many orders, sects, and rejected innovations would appear among the Muslims. He also enjoined the Muslims to adhere to Allah's Book (the Qur'an) and stick to his Sunnah and hold fast to it. He warned the Muslims against division, disagreement, and religious innovations because they are misleading and delusive, thus deviating people from Allah's Way. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) advised the Muslims with what Allah (Glorified be He) advises His servants in His Saying: And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur’ân), and be not divided among yourselves Also Allah says: "And verily, this (i.e. Allâh’s Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is My Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2)." So we enjoin you to follow the same advice of Allah and His Messenger that is, to follow the way of Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream) and we warn you against the rejected innovations of the people following Tariqahs (Sufi orders). (Part No. 2; Page No. 293) We warn you against insincere mysticism, innovated and impermissible supplications, and invocations involving Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) or Istighathah (Seeking succor) from anyone other than Allah. We warn you against mentioning just Allah's Names (without invoking Allah) or meaningless words like 'Ah' which are not among Allah's Names, invoking Allah with shaykhs, and believing that shaykhs know what is in the hearts. We also warn you against the collective remembrance of Allah where a group of people raise their voice with words at a time and form circles of whirling and singing people. Such practices are not mentioned in Allah's Book (the Qur'an) nor in the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.