Summary of the concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah
The method
Among the Sufis, it is
to follow a specific shaykh in the manner of remembrance and worship.
This is what distinguishes the Sufis from others.
This is an innovation that contradicts the methodology of the salaf,
who had no one to follow except the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
And the Rightly Guided Caliphs after him,
whom the Messenger himself, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
commanded to follow their Sunnah.
The Sufis rely for their chain of transmission to the shaykh
on the khirqah (robe) which they boast about,
as one of them says:
"If they confront us with the knowledge of al-Waraqi [a scholar],
we will confront them with the knowledge of al-Kharaqi [a Sufi shaykh]."
Summary of the concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah