came after them, especially among the devout worshippers of Basra. Some of them died upon hearing the Quran, such as Zurāra ibn Awfā, Abū Juhayr the blind, and others. As for the Companions, their spiritual state was too perfect for any of them to become insane or fall unconscious.

Among these people are also those so overwhelmed by remembrance of Allah, affirmation of His oneness, and love for Him that, absorbed in the One they remember, witness, love and worship, they lose awareness of everything else. Something similar happens to a lover who becomes oblivious to everything but his beloved. In this state, one of them may say, “I am the Truth,” “Glory be to me,” or “There is nothing in this robe but Allah.” Others are so overwhelmed by hope and mercy that they say, “I shall spread my prayer rug over Hell.” Whoever says this while deprived of his reason, so that he resembles someone drunk or distraught, incurs no sin, provided that the cause of his condition was not prohibited by Islamic law.

An example of the “second” case is what may happen to many who attend listening sessions when they hear whistling and clapping. Someone may recite poetry containing things contrary to Islamic law, using vocal sounds that also contravene it. If a listener is predisposed to such reactions, this may cause mental confusion and loss of reason, to the point that some kill others, either outwardly or inwardly through their wills and hearts. It also leads to neglect of the obligations of Islamic law and aggression against believers in their religious and worldly affairs, to an extent known to Allah.