such as his conceiving of control over birds and locusts in the air. Whenever he thinks of the birds or locusts moving right or left, they go where he wishes. Whenever he thinks of some livestock standing, sleeping, or moving away, what he wishes occurs without any outward movement on his part. They carry him to Mecca and bring him back, and bring him figures of beautiful appearance, telling him, “These are the cherubic angels; they wished to visit you.” He thinks to himself, “How have they taken the form of beardless youths?” Then he raises his head and finds them bearded. He is told, “The sign that you are the Mahdī is that a mole will appear on your body.” It appears, and he sees it. Other things happen too, all of them part of Satan’s cunning.

This is a vast subject. Were I to recount what I know of it, it would require a large volume. Allah Most High has said:

“As for man, when his Lord tests him by honouring him and granting him blessings, he says, ‘My Lord has honoured me.’”

“But when He tests him by restricting his provision, he says, ‘My Lord has humiliated me.’”

Allah, Blessed and Most High, says:

“No!”

The word “No” conveys both rebuke and a call to attention: a rebuke against speaking in this way, and a call to heed the statements and commands that follow. Not everyone who receives worldly blessings regarded as marks of honour is thereby being honoured by Allah, Mighty and Majestic; nor is everyone whose share of them He restricts thereby being humiliated by Him. Rather, He—glory be to Him—tests His servant through prosperity and adversity. He may bestow worldly blessings upon someone whom He does not love and who holds no honour with Him, thereby leading him gradually towards ruin. And He may shield someone whom He loves and takes as His friend from such blessings, lest they diminish his rank with Him or cause him to fall into conduct that He dislikes.