Thus, the attainment of an objective through certain means does not entail that those means are permissible, even if the objective itself is permissible. The act may involve harm that outweighs its benefit. The sacred law came to secure and perfect benefits, and to eliminate and minimize harms. Otherwise, all forbidden things—including polytheism, wine, gambling, sexual immorality, and injustice—may bring those who engage in them certain benefits and fulfill certain aims. Yet because their harms outweigh their benefits, Allah and His Messenger prohibited them. Likewise, many things, such as acts of worship, jihad, and spending wealth, may entail harm; but because their benefit outweighs their harm, the Lawgiver has commanded them. This is a principle that must be taken into consideration.”1

Moreover, such effects may come from Satan. He may appear to some of these people in the guise of someone they venerate, believe in, or claim affiliation with. He may speak to them or, by Allah’s permission, fulfill some of their needs, thereby becoming a trial for them. They then imagine this to be a miraculous favor granted to those whom they invoke, whereas in reality it is nothing but a trial. They do not realize that this is akin to what devils do with idolaters: they sometimes appear to those who worship idols, tell them certain matters of the unseen, and fulfill some of their requests. This became one of the greatest causes of idol worship and attachment to idols.

In conclusion, such tales cannot properly be cited as evidence or relied upon. Nothing in Allah’s religion is founded upon them. It is founded only upon what has come in the Quran and the sunnah—not upon conjecture and speculation, stories and tales, experiences and dreams. May Allah protect us from error and guide us to sound speech and righteous deeds.