Sufi Groups and Their Hierarchy
16-1-2002 | IslamWeb
Question:
I have questions about the Sufis, their groups and the hierarchy within their groups.1) Are these Sufi groups included in Islam - Dessoekya, Badawya, Rifaya, and Shadhelya?2) Is Sheikh Abdul Qadr the supreme authority (Qutub)?3) How many Sufis have this high rank - one or up to four?4) If there are four, who is the leader?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
As a rule, the standard criterion by which we can recognize authenticity of someone's behaviour or some sect or group is only the Prophetic guidance.
Allah Says (what means): {…And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path.} [Quran 42:52]
The Prophet left to all Muslims the straight path (the Sharee’ah as explained in the Quran and the Sunnah) without which everybody will face his/her destruction.
Allah Says (what means): {And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)…} [Quran 59:7]
So, all forms of worship are Tawqeefiyyah (i.e. no one can add or omit any practice or rite since they are clearly and definitely stated in the Quran and the Sunnah). But Sufis concentrate mainly in this field and introduce numerous deeds that contradict the Prophetic guidance. This leads us to say that there are no approved Sufi groups, and following the Prophetic guidance is the only authorized approach.
As for the so-called Qutub (supreme authority), there is absolutely no evidence in the Sharee’ah concerning this point.
In addition, recent Sufi groups follow so many deviations such as: over-honoring Shaykhs and righteous persons, worshipping those in graves via supplicating them and calling them for help, making sacrifice and vows to them as well as making Tawaf around those graves. This practice, in fact, constitutes unpardonable polytheism (major Shirk).
Sufis also say while chanting: “O Allah's Messenger! Help us, we depend on you to relieve our sorrows, which vanish at your presence.”
All such prayers and similar supplications are to be addressed only to Allah, the Great and Almighty. He Says (what means):
• {Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember.} [Quran 27:62]
• {And do not invoke besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.} [Quran 10:106]
This clarifies that although Muhammad is the best among creatures and their leader, he (or any human being on earth) cannot harm or do good to others. Allah Says (what means): {Say: “It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the Right Path.”} [Quran 72:21]
The Prophet also said: “O 'Abbas! You are my uncle, but I cannot prevent harm or do good on your behalf if Allah has decreed any. So, seek forgiveness and safety from your Lord for the present life and for the Hereafter.” [Ahmad]
No doubt that seeking help from any creature to relieve sorrows, to conceal defects or to restore to health is major polytheism, incompatible with Tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and sound human nature, as well as a channel to paganism.
Sufis also believe in pantheism. They claim that they are the followers of Truth and inner secrets of the Sharee’ah while others follow the exterior aspects of Islam. Sufis follow innovations that contradict the Prophetic guidance and depend on fabricated Hadeeth and dreams.
In general, a Muslim should not follow any Sufi group.
For more details on this subject you may read the following books which are in Arabic:
1- Talbees Iblees, written by Imam Ibn al-Jawzi.
2- Hathihi Hiya As-Sufiyyah, written by ‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-Wakeel.
3- As-Sufiyyah fi Al-Kitaab was-Sunnah, written by ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Abdul Khaaliq.
For more benefit on Sufism, please refer to Fataawa 82017, 31043, 31031, 83615 and 29243.
Allah knows best.