What is the ruling on a disciple submitting to the words and actions of his shaykh, as is the case with the Sufis?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: You mentioned in the lesson that submitting to anyone other than the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in word and deed is disbelief, and that this is a principle among the Sufis regarding the disciple's submission to the words and actions of his shaykh. The question is: Is it permissible to declare all the Sufis disbelievers?

Answer:
You know that a person is not declared a disbeliever until he is clarified, because he may be ignorant and not know. He may be interpreting the text. He may be following someone he thinks is on the right path. In that case, he has an excuse. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify it to him. The excuse prevents the declaration of disbelief until it is clarified to him. If he persists after the clarification, he is declared a disbeliever.