and the performance of fraudulent feats, the wrongful consumption of people’s wealth, and hindering others from the path of Allah.

I had already had several encounters with them, during which I explained to those whom I addressed, both among them and others, some of the truth and falsehood found among them, as well as the nature of their states, which they call “signs.” A number of them repented, and several of their shaykhs were disciplined. I also explained how they performed their fraudulent feats, such as handling fire and snakes and producing blood, labdanum, saffron, rosewater, honey, sugar, and other things. Most of this is accomplished through familiar tricks and contrived means.

On more than one occasion, some of them intended to demonstrate these things, but when they saw me challenging them, they withdrew and approached me asking that I conceal their doings. I agreed on condition that they repent. One of their shaykhs even spoke to me at a public gathering attended by many people in a garden, when I challenged them by saying, “I will enter the fire with you after we have washed ourselves with something that removes the means of trickery. Whoever is burned will be the loser.” When they saw that I was serious, they refrained.

That shaykh related that he had once been with one of the Tatar rulers in the East, who had an idol that he worshipped. He said:

“He told me, ‘This idol eats some of this food every day, leaving clear, visible signs of eating in it.’ I denied this, so he said to me, ‘If it does eat, will you agree to die?’ I replied, ‘Yes.’” He continued, “I stayed with him until midday, but no sign of eating appeared in the food. This greatly astonished