and scorpions, and it is the devil who actually performs these acts. The same is done by their brethren whom devils accompany—those whom people regard as the worst of creatures, belonging to the group whom people seek out to treat the possessed, although people regard them as among the worst of creatures. When summoned, they dress as warriors, and jinn enter them and fight their counterparts inhabiting the possessed. People hear voices and see stones being thrown, but do not see who is doing this. They see the human standing on the tip of a long spear, whereas it is actually the devil who stands there. People see a fire being stoked, into which he places axes and hoes. The human then licks them with his tongue, whereas it is actually the devil who has entered him that does this.
People see these individuals handling snakes, vipers, and other creatures, and performing feats more remarkable than those performed by these misguided innovators who deny the truth and deceive others. They claim to be Allah’s allies, whereas they are among His enemies, neglecting His obligations and transgressing His limits. Because of these satanic and naturally produced phenomena, the ignorant suppose them to be Allah’s allies. Yet these phenomena are of the same kind as those experienced by Allah’s enemies among the disbelievers and evildoers.
None of these people may be assisted in neglecting what is commanded, doing what is forbidden, or establishing spiritual leadership contrary to the Quran and Sunnah. Nor may anyone give such a person his stipend for serving as a shaykh in a manner that takes him outside obedience to Allah and His Messenger. Rather, stipends are to support those who obey Allah and His Messenger and call others to obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah knows best.