Another group focuses on divine power and will, and on the fact that Allah Most High is the One who gives and withholds, lowers and raises. Their predominant concern is therefore to turn to Him in this respect, seeking His help and expressing their need of Him to obtain what they desire. Such a person may acquire a measure of authority and power, outward or inward, overcome his enemy—even kill him—and achieve his aims. Yet no good end awaits them, for the good end belongs to piety; rather, their fate in the Hereafter is evil. We are not speaking here of disbelievers and wrongdoers who turn away from Allah, for these fall within the first category: those who neither worship Him nor seek His help.

Rather, we are speaking of people who turn towards Allah with worshipful devotion and possess some measure of fear, remembrance and asceticism. Yet their turning towards Him is governed predominantly by their own desires, spiritual experiences and ecstasies, and by what they find pleasing and desirable, rather than by the commands of the revealed Law. They fall into several groups:

Among them are those who turn away from observing the prescribed acts of worship, while receiving from devils disclosures of hidden matters or powers of influence. Many of these people die outside Islam. Others perform the outward acts of worship prescribed by the revealed Law, such as prayer, fasting and pilgrimage, and refrain from forbidden things. Yet in the deeds of the heart they do not adhere to the commands of the revealed Law; instead, they pursue what they themselves love and desire. Allah Most High says:

“To all We give aid—to these and to those