In all sufi orders the Mashaa'kh entitle Ijaazat-o-Khilaafat to some or many persons from their Mureeds to promote the work of silsilah. By this system, the blessings of the four Salaasil (Naqshbandiyah, Chishtiyah, Qaadriyah and Suharwardiyah) have reached to the present era.
Khilaafat from a Shaykh-e-Kaamil is a conditional responsibility handed over to the Khaleefah by his shaykh who has struggled for rectification and Islaah of this Khaleefah.
To build and maintain a thing is difficult however to demolish and spoil it is very easy. The Khaleefah has not only to strive for the Islaah of his disciples but more importantly he has also to check and control his own Nafs, so that he can remain under the bounties of Allah.
Khilaafat from a Shaykh-e-Kaamil does not grant a permanent certificate of piousness; it is a trust of that Shaykh upon the Khaleefah to serve the silsilah. The "Trust of Shaykh" entails that this Khaleefah will serve the silsilah with honesty and sincerity without any greed of worldly things. He will tie the link of people with Allah, whilst marinating himself upon the righteous path of Sunnah; and will protect himself and the followers of the silsilah from the lust of desires.
He has to maintain a strong Raabitah (communication) with his shaykh as he teaches his own disciples to maintain Raabitah (communication) with shaykh. This Raabitah-e-Shaykh, not only will increase his spiritual status but he can also get further instructions about the Path of Treeqat.
Why is the Khilaafat not a permanent certificate of piousness? The reason for this is that Shaitaan is a permanent enemy of Eimaan and Aa'maal-e-Saaliha, who had sworn that he will kidnap and capture all the humans and will misguide them from the righteous path of Allah. Shaitaan does not spare anyone; he strives to misguide all till the death. No one can say that he is safe from Shaitaan. If someone thinks that he is safe from Shaitaan, it is sure that Shaitaan is playing with him through his desires.
Khilaafat does not provide any guaranty about the status of Eimaan, Aa'maal, ethical values and attributes - that they will always remain safe and brilliant; it depends upon the attitude of the Khaleefah that how he maintains the responsibilities of the Khilaafat. He has to do the habitual practice of opposing the Nafs (man's lowly desire).
Aa'maal-e-Saaliha (righteous deeds) are always accompanied by labor, toil and difficulty because such Aa'maal-e-Saaliha are in conflict with the desires of the Nafs. There will always be some form of opposition, sometimes great, sometimes slight by the Nafs against the Aa'maal-e-Saaliha. Striving against the Nafs is therefore a life-long process.
Striving against the Nafs for the pleasure of Allah can increase his piousness and spiritual power. He may be included in the list of prominent Auliyaa-Allah (The Friends of Allah).
If that Khaleefah becomes trustworthy and maintain the Trust of his Shaykh with his sincere efforts, the spiritual waves (Fuyoodh-o-Barakaat) of his Shaykh and of the Silsilah remain descending upon him all the time; but if he does not do so those spiritual waves automatically cut down.
He who indulges into the desires of the Nafs will surely become the puppet in the hands of Nafs and Shaitaan and he will not be able to benefit others. In this position he will be a Khaleefah by title - all Fuyoodh-o-Barakaat leave him alone. Such Khaleefah will be dangerous not only his own Eimaan but also for the Eimaan and Aa'maal of others. He will be considered as a selfish one struggling for the pleasure of his own Nafs, though he may deliver very effective and heart touching speeches.
Remember that a sleeping person can not awake the other sleeping person.
One deviated from the righteous path can not bring the others on the righteous path.