36:21
Follow those who ask of you no fee.

I am uncertain as to his specific position at the time or even now, but its very clear that at least in this text, he is speaking very clearly to Sharia, mentioning it personally twice and in quotation twice.

-Yursil

Yeah, even when the actual word cult is not mentioned, it is the underlying attitude. I think this is cultural conditioning; to alot of Americans, Islam in general is a “cult”. I have heard/read it referred that way many times. Of course these people also consider “deviant” forms of Christianity (Mormonism, Rastafarian, etc.) cults. And yet no one sees the real cult of personality that is present in how Catholics view the Pope and how Protestants practically worship the words of Paul (who was not a prophet) as akin to the words of God Himself. So, to some with a Western upbringing, steeped in a belief that Christianity is the only way and only begrudgingly “accepting” Jews, pretty much anything else is considered cultish. Then, when they finally get past that to accept Islam, their limited knowledge and understanding of this deen and its depth leads them to continue the same thought patterns. Perhaps for those raised “in Islam” that see tasawuff that way it is a different reason; difficulty separating their culture practices from Islam and genuinely wanting to be able to do so (throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak), still being unknowlegeable, and sometimes being ashamed of these traditions continuing to exist in the “modern” world where they feel pressured to propagate a “rational” belief system.

Ultimately, it all comes down to a simple case of self-centered belief that “I know what is right” and not being willing to admit to still being a student and needing a teacher. Modern life is so much about independence, free will, personal validation etc. Tasawuff recognizes inter-dependence, submission to Allah, and the breaking down of selfishness and self-centered desires. So to those who view their own desires as the most important, they will not be able to understand why others would choose self-denial and admission of our limitations. They are not able to understand needing a teacher because they think there is nothing they need to be taught. In this way, to them, “following” someone else is a huge taboo. But as Umm Layth says, for those of us who recognize the work of scholars and teachers on the path, we owe them much for their work and ability to impart some of their knowledge to us so that inshaAllah we can also draw closer to Allah.