al-Mukhtār claimed to receive revelation, he replied, “Allah Most High says:

‘Indeed, the devils inspire their allies to dispute with you.’”

The spirit from which the author of al-Futūhāt claims to have received that book is one of these satanic spirits. Thus, he describes various forms of seclusion involving particular foods and other specified things. Such practices open the way for those who undertake them to communicate with the jinn and devils. They imagine this to be among the miraculous gifts granted to Allah’s righteous servants, whereas it is nothing but satanic states. I know a number of these people. Some would be carried through the air to distant places and brought back. Others would receive stolen property, which the devils stole and brought to them. Others would be shown where stolen property was, in return for a fee they received from people or a gift people gave them when they directed them to their stolen possessions, and similar things.

Since these people’s states were satanic, they opposed the messengers—may Allah Most High bless them and grant them peace—as can be seen in the writings of the author of al-Futūhāt al-Makkiyya and al-Fusūs, and similar works. He praises disbelievers such as the peoples of Noah and Hūd, Pharaoh, and others, while disparaging prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Aaron. He censures Muslim shaykhs whom Muslims hold in esteem, such as al-Junayd ibn Muhammad and Sahl ibn Abd Allāh al-Tustarī, while praising those whom Muslims condemn, such as al-Hallāj and others like him, as he recounts in his imaginary, satanic visions. Al-Junayd—may Allah sanctify his soul—was indeed one of the leading guides to the truth. He was asked about Allah’s oneness