Relationship between the Shaykh and Murid

"You must also know that the relationship between the Sheikh and follower is a very delicate one and needs to be preserved with great care.  It is a serious agreement between Sheikh and follower and involves responsibility on both sides.  Yes, at the beginning it is easy to say: "Oh my Sheikh, I am accepting you and making my will subservient to yours."  Then the Sheikh says; "Yes, I accept you".  That is the easy part; but Grandsheikhs have been ordered to try their followers in order to ascertain whether they are trustworthy or not.

For forty years I have been following my Grandsheikh, trying to submit my will to his-but it was so difficult! So many times he tried me, but through his spiritual powers he extended insight to me and kept me from falling.  I remember one of the biggest tests of all.  One day, near the beginning of my training, I was with Grandsheikh when he said to me: "Oh Sheikh Nazim, if you notice in my actions anything that conflicts with the outward Law (Shariat) or established practices of Islam, please inform me of it in private as soon as you get the chance.  This is necessary as I am an unlettered person and you are a learned religious scholar.  Therefore, I would appreciate if you would do me this service, as I wish to conform completely to all the laws and practices."

Quickly Divine Help reached out to me to prevent me from failing this difficult test, and I said: "Oh my Master, I am asking Allah to forgive me.  He knows best that I have come here to learn, not to teach.  You are my Sheikh, I am not your Sheikh." Grandsheikh was very pleased with this reply.  That was his first trial for me, and an important one.

Are you looking down at your Sheikh, thinking that you can judge his actions? Are you appointing yourself the role of "Inspector of Sheikhs"? As of yet you are all "Inspectors of Sheikhs".  What is the result? You remain at your station and the Sheikh continues on towards the Divine Presence.  This train is moving on: whoever has boarded it may be in connection with the Sheikh, may accompany him through every rank in the Divine Presence.  

Source: Mercy Oceans: Pink Pearls. Selected lectures of Sheikh Nazim Al-Qubrusi, p.78.