as part of the tricks known to them. I do not coat my skin with anything. Once they and I have washed with vinegar and hot water, the trick will be nullified and the truth will become clear.”

The emir was astonished at my willingness to plunge into the fire and asked, “Would you do that?”

I replied:

“Yes. I have sought Allah’s guidance concerning this, and He has placed it in my heart to do so. We do not, however, approve of initiating this or similar acts. Extraordinary occurrences are granted to those of Muhammad’s community who follow him inwardly and outwardly—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—only to establish a proof or meet a need. The proof serves to uphold Allah’s religion, while the need concerns indispensable victory and provision through which Allah’s religion is sustained.

“If these people display what they call their signs and proofs, which they claim invalidate Allah’s religion and His revealed law, we must support Allah and His Messenger—may Allah Most High bless him and grant him peace—and strive to defend Allah’s religion and His law with whatever we can offer of our lives, our bodies, and our wealth. We may then counter these tricks they display with whatever signs Allah grants us in support. Let it be known that this is like Moses confronting the sorcerers: when they displayed their sorcery, Allah supported Moses with the staff that swallowed up their sorcery.”

The emir began telling the other emirs dining with him about this, and he was delighted. It seemed that they had led him to believe that these people possessed a spiritual state that no one could counter. While I was sitting between him and the senior emir who had arrived from Egypt, al-Hājj Bahādir, at the head of the dining spread, I heard him speaking to him in Turkish. All I understood was his statement, “Today you will see a great battle.” Perhaps that was