actually, i believe shaykh hamza said they are not 'for our times rather than 'valid in our times' - although i personally can't confirm he said this. in anycase he is entitled to his opinion on this, and he undoubtedly has respect for shaykhs of tariqa in modern times e.g. shaykh muhammad al-yaqoubi. as for the apparent mauritaninan position, which is the position of Shaykh Murbit al-Hajj - it was explained by Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi at an event in Hounslow this year. he said that in Shaykh Murabit al-Hajj's tribe, all members of the tribe take their deen and all matters from the tribe leader who is Shaykh Murabit al-Hajj. i.e. in effect he is the murshid/spiritual guide. there is no need for tariqa, because they are living it - or at least the concept of it.