by their shaykhs. When forbidden to do any of these things, one of them replies, “You are a follower of the religious law.” Will someone who censures them be rewarded, or not? Does taking the cloak at the hands of shaykhs have any basis in the religious law? Is each group rewarded for affiliating itself with a particular shaykh? Is someone who abandons this affiliation sinful?

They say that Allah is pleased because the shaykhs are pleased, and is angry because they are angry. They cite the Prophet’s words—may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“A person will be with those whom he loves.”

And:

“The firmest bond of Islam is loving for Allah’s sake and hating for Allah’s sake.”

Does this support their position, or does it mean something else? Is it permissible to give zakat to someone whose condition is as described?

He replied—may Allah sanctify his soul:

As for uncovering their heads, twisting their hair, and carrying snakes, these are not distinguishing practices of any of the righteous: neither the Companions, nor their successors, nor the shaykhs of the Muslims, early or late, nor Shaykh Ahmad ibn al-Rifā'ī, nor anyone else. These practices were only introduced long after Shaykh Ahmad’s death by a group that affiliated itself with him. They opposed the way of the Muslims, departed from the realities of the religion, and abandoned the path of Allah’s righteous servants.

They are of two kinds: those who experience satanic states, and those who practise deceptive trickery. As for those who experience “states”