and they argue in its support that Allah Most High appointed thirty nights for Moses, peace be upon him, and completed them with ten more. It is also reported that Moses, peace be upon him, fasted throughout them, and that the Messiah likewise fasted forty days for Allah Most High and was spoken to afterward. They therefore say that after this period one is spoken to and receives visitations, just as they say that revelation descended after the retreat in the Cave of Hirā’.

This too is mistaken, for this practice is not part of the religious law of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Rather, it was prescribed for Moses, peace be upon him, just as the Sabbath was prescribed for him, whereas Muslims do not observe the Sabbath. Likewise, certain things were forbidden under his law that were not forbidden under the law of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Thus, the former argument appeals to an abrogated law, while the latter appeals to a practice preceding prophethood.

Experience has shown that those who engage in these innovated acts of worship are visited by devils and receive demonic visitations and communications. Some are carried through the air by their devils. I know a number of these people who sought visitations of the kind received by the prophets, but devils descended upon them because they had departed from the law of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which they had been commanded to follow.

Allah Most High said:

“Then We set you upon a prescribed way in matters of religion, so follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who do not know.

“They will be of no help to you whatsoever against Allah. The wrongdoers are allies of one another, while Allah is the Protector of the righteous.”

Many of them prescribe neither a particular place nor a particular duration for seclusion, but simply instruct a person to withdraw into seclusion.