a dream has truly seen me, for Satan cannot take my form.”

This concerns seeing him in a dream, since dreams may be true or may come from Satan. Allah has therefore prevented Satan from assuming his form in dreams. As for wakefulness, no one sees him with his own eyes in this world. Whoever supposes that the figure he sees is the deceased person has been misled by his own ignorance. This is why nothing of this kind happened to any of the Companions or those who followed them faithfully.

Some who have seen such a thing—or believed someone who claimed to have seen it—have concluded that a single person can be in two places at the same time, thus contradicting plain reason. Some say, “This is the raqīqa of the person seen,” or, “This is his spiritual form,” or, “This is his essence taking shape.” They do not realize that it is a jinn that has assumed his appearance. Others suppose that it is an angel, although angels differ from jinn in many respects. Among the jinn are disbelievers, evildoers, and the ignorant; among them are also believers who follow Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him abundant peace. Thus many who do not realize that these beings are jinn and devils regard them as angels.

Likewise, those who invoke the stars and other idols may have a spirit descend upon them, which they describe as the spiritual form of the stars. Some suppose that it is an angel, whereas it is only one of the jinn and devils who lead those who associate partners with Allah astray.

The devils ally themselves with those who do what they love: associating partners with Allah, wickedness, and disobedience. Sometimes they tell such a person about certain hidden matters so that he may disclose them to others. At other times, they harm someone he wishes to harm, by killing him, making him ill, or the like.