then he is no shaykh at all.

The devils can lure such people astray, just as they misled the worshippers of idols—as occurred among the pre-Islamic Arabs with their idols—and the devotees of the stars and their talismans through mixtures of polytheism and sorcery. The same satanic deception, whisperings, and conversations afflict the Tatars, the Indians, the peoples of the Sudan (sub-Saharan Africans), and other classes of idolaters. Many of these claimants experience some of that, especially when they hear wailing and rhythmic clapping, for at such moments the devils may descend upon them.

One of them may be struck just as an epileptic is struck: foaming and frothing at the mouth, emitting hideous cries, while a devil speaks through him utterances that neither he nor the onlookers understand— and the like of such occurrences can indeed befall these misguided folk.

[Supplicating by another’s rank or sanctity]

As for (the third category), it is when someone says: “O Allah…”