and performing extraordinary feats—things they regard as miraculous gifts granted to Allah’s pious allies. Some of them consequently abandon Islam and turn back on their heels, believing that someone who does not pray, does not even believe in the messengers, and indeed insults and disparages them, is among the greatest of Allah’s pious allies. Others remain bewildered, wavering, doubtful, and suspicious, with one foot directed towards disbelief and the other towards Islam. They may even be closer to disbelief than to faith.

This happens because they take as evidence of being Allah’s allies things that do not establish that status. Disbelievers, polytheists, sorcerers, and soothsayers have devils with them who accomplish through them many times more than this. Allah, exalted is He, says:

“Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend?”

“They descend upon every sinful liar.”

These people inevitably engage in falsehood and violate the revealed law. Their sin and falsehood are commensurate with their departure from the commands and prohibitions of Allah with which He sent His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Those satanic manifestations result from their misguidance, polytheism, innovation, ignorance, and disbelief, and are evidence and signs of these things. Yet the ignorant, misguided person supposes that they result from their faith and their being allies of Allah, exalted is He, and that they are signs and evidence of their faith and their being allies of Allah, glorified is He.

This is because he has no criterion by which to distinguish the allies of the Most Merciful from the allies of Satan, as we have discussed in our treatment of “The Distinction between the Allies of the Most Merciful and the Allies of Satan.” He does not realize that these manifestations, which he takes as evidence of being Allah’s allies, occur among disbelievers—both polytheists and the People of the Book—to a greater extent than among those who profess Islam. Evidence necessarily entails what it establishes, is exclusive to it, and cannot exist without it. Thus, if