The following would always apply to genuine Sufi Naqshbandi teachers or Sheikhs: They comply with Sharia. They must be a Aalim. There is no sufism without Ilm. They regularly acknowledge the silsilah to which they give allegiance. They openly and regularly defer to the current leader of the silsilah. Bay'at (allegiance) is given to the leader of the silsilah, not the local teacher or Sheikh. They accept interaction with other murids of the order. They dont accept ijazah from dead persons, or in dreams, or through special spiritual experience (rawhani) They accept only written ijazah in live, in presence of witnesses.