Is One Disobedient to His Shaykh Entitled to Become the Successor-Custodian of a Sufi Lodge?

Question

Among the khalifas and heirs of a shaykh, every such person who is disobedient to his spiritual guide, and moreover, contrary to the will (wasiyya), has stretched out his hand of disposal [over the estate] and, having usurped others’ rights, has made himself the self-appointed owner and administrator of everything — is he, in the true sense, entitled to be called the successor-custodian of a Sufi lodge or not? And is taking bay‘ah from such a person valid or not?

Answer

The one entitled to give khilafa and take bay‘ah is he whose base morals have been reformed, who is firmly rooted in noble character and righteous deeds, who follows the sunna and adheres to the rulings of the Sacred Law, and in whom his own genuine shaykh has confidence that he possesses [spiritual] connection, such that connection with him leads to the reform of character…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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