overcome by it as a man may sometimes be overcome by a cry or by weeping, during prayer or otherwise. When they professed adherence to the Quran and Sunnah, while their crowds in the square were displaying their states through their satanic cries and movements, I asked him, “Is this in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah?”

He replied, “This is from Allah—a state that comes upon them.”

I said, “This is from Satan, the accursed. Neither Allah nor His Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—commanded it, nor does Allah or His Messenger love it.”

He said, “No movement, nor this or that, occurs in the heavens or the earth except by His will and volition.”

I replied, “That concerns divine decree and predestination. Likewise, all the disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience in the world occur by His will and volition. That gives no one any justification for committing them. Rather, these are things Satan has made alluring and the Most Merciful abhors.”

He asked, “Then what will put an end to these states?”

I replied, “These whips sanctioned by the Sacred Law.”

The emir was delighted and laughed, saying, “Yes, by Allah! Whips sanctioned by the Sacred Law will put an end to these satanic states—as has happened to more than one person. Whoever will not submit to the religion through whips sanctioned by the Sacred Law must face the swords of Muhammad.”

I took hold of the emir’s sword and said, “This man is the deputy and servant of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and this sword is the sword of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Whoever departs from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, we shall strike with the sword of Allah.” The emir repeated