Satan misguides those who reject the concept of a sheikh altogether

It is mentioned in Fatāwā Razawiyyah, volume 26, page 575 (summarised):

A narration states, مَنْ لَاشَیْخَ لَہٗ فَشَیْخُہُ الشَّیْطٰن (Whoever has no shaykh, Satan is his shaykh). This specifically refers to those who reject the concept of having a sheikh altogether.^[1]

Look for a pious murshid

Dear Islamic brothers, some people fall prey to the Satanic whispering of not needing a spiritual guide. They think, “I pray, fast, perform nafl worship and avoid sins of the heart.” Thinking this way leaves them deprived of benefitting from a spiritual guide.

The advice for such people is that firstly, considering oneself to be pious is not appropriate. It is egotistic to think this way. Secondly, regardless of how accomplished a person is, he should look for a true spiritual guide, give oath of allegiance and form a spiritual connection. Without this, enhancing one’s spirituality is extremely difficult. Observe how in the Quran, Allah has commanded the people of taqwā to make use of wasīlah:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَ ابۡتَغُوۡۤا اِلَیۡہِ الۡوَسِیۡلَۃَ

Translation from Kanz al-Īmān: “O believers! Fear Allah, and seek wasīlah (the medium of good deeds or of pious people) towards Him.”^[2]

Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān NaꜤīmī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه comments on this verse by saying: