Shaikh Mawlana Shah Wasiullah Allahabadi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘The most difficult task is to follow (itiba’) someone.

This is not possible without,

1. Cognizance of the knowledge and Gnosis (ma’arifa) held by the one who is being followed,

2. Annihilation (fana) of the self (nafs), moreover absolute annihilation (fana e taam). (That is, abrogation of self direction, opinion, assumptions and expectations.)

Nowadays this type of following is becoming extinct.

Individuals feel repugnance and humiliation in following someone.’

Halaat e Muslih al-Ummat ra, volume 4, page 103