Barelwi and Sufi leader Ghaus Ali Shah Qalandar Paanipati wrote "one day two people came to take an oath of allegiance to Shaykh Abu Bakr Shibli, who told one of them to declare
لاَ الَـهَ اِلَّا اللهُ شِبْلِى رَسُوْلُ الله
Translation: "There is none worthy of worship except Allah. Shibli is the Messenger of Allah". (Reference: Tazkirah Ghausiya Page #324)
In explaining such a shocking statement of infidelity, Ghaus Ali Shah writes, "Baat yeh thi keh jo shakhs ta'leem-o-talqeen aur hidayat-o-irshad karta hey taleb key leye wohi Rasoul aur Risalat Elahi ka kaam anjam deta hey" (The person who provides spiritual knowledge and guidance is a Messenger (Rasoul) for his student)