The Sufi Orders in the Scale of the Shari'ah

This is a message from Ali Sayyid Mansur, from the New Valley, Dakhla, in the Arab Republic of Egypt. He says in his message: Is there any basis for the Sufi orders in Islam, such as the Rifa'i, Khalwati, Bayumi, and Shadhili orders? And what must we do regarding these orders, especially since some ignorant people say that worship is not valid unless a person has a shaykh?
Answer: As far as we know, the Sufi orders have no basis in the Shari'ah. Rather, they are innovations and reprehensible religious innovations. Whatever lawful dhikr or lawful deeds are found in them, what the Book and the Sunnah have brought is sufficient for them. It is obligatory for the people of Islam to receive their knowledge and deeds from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), not from the Sufi orders. If some of them contain good deeds or good sayings, that is only because they were received from Allah and His Messenger, not from so-and-so shaykh or the owner of so-and-so order. No, the truth found in any of the Sufi orders is only accepted because it came from Allah and His Messenger, not because it was taken from the Sufis or from so-and-so Sufi shaykh.
It is obligatory for the believer to worship in accordance with what Allah and His Messenger said and what Allah and His Messenger prescribed, and not to worship in accordance with what so-and-so shaykh or the owner of so-and-so order saw. This is because these orders are innovations. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning: it is rejected. And the Exalted and Majestic said: [Al-An'am: 153]. The path of Allah is what His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) brought in terms of speech, action, and creed. So no one has the right to innovate something and call it the path of so-and-so shaykh or the path of so-and-so shaykh, whether it is Naqshbandi, Khalwati, Qadiri, or otherwise. It is obligatory for all Muslims, including the Sufis, to receive the deeds of the Shari'ah and the worship of the Shari'ah from their Lord and their Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), not from the opinions of people.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified the acts of worship through his actions and words, and then his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) explained them. So it is upon us to follow and not to innovate, and it is upon us to call to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and to be content with them instead of what people have innovated from the Sufis and others.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.