In essence, their position is that of Pharaoh, who denied the Creator. He did not deny the reality we witness, but claimed that it exists of itself and has no maker. These people agreed with him on this, but claimed that it is Allah. They were therefore more astray than he was, even though the falsity of his position was more obvious than theirs. Accordingly, they maintained that idol worshippers worshipped none but Allah, saying:

“Since Pharaoh held the position of command and wielded the sword, even if he was unjust by the standards of religious law, he accordingly said, ‘I am your lord most high’—meaning: although all are lords in some respect, I am higher than you by virtue of the outward authority I have been given over you.”

They said:

“When the sorcerers recognized that Pharaoh had spoken truthfully, they acknowledged this and said, ‘So decree whatever you will decree; you can only decree concerning this worldly life.’ They said: Thus Pharaoh’s declaration, ‘I am your lord most high,’ was true, and Pharaoh was the Real Himself.”

They then denied the reality of the Last Day, claiming that the people of Hell enjoy bliss just as the people of Paradise do. Thus, they disbelieved in Allah, the Last Day, His angels, His Books, and His messengers, while claiming to be the very elite of the innermost circle of Allah’s friends. They also claimed to be superior to the prophets, and that the prophets derive their knowledge of Allah only from their light.

This is not the place to expound upon these people’s heresy. However, since the discussion concerns “the friends of Allah” and the distinction between “the friends of the Most Merciful and the friends of Satan,” and since these people are among the most emphatic in claiming friendship with Allah while being among Satan’s closest allies, we have drawn attention to this. For this reason, most of their discourse concerns states