he is a devil who has assumed that person’s appearance, or who has said, “I am he,” to someone who does not know what the person he invoked looks like. This frequently happens to those who invoke created beings, whether Christians or those who profess Islam: they invoke them at their graves or in their absence and seek their aid.

Someone then appears to them in human form, either riding or on foot, claiming to be the one whose aid they sought. The person seeking aid believes that this is that prophet or righteous person, or his inner secret, his spiritual presence, or his raqīqa, or that a meaning has taken form. Alternatively, he says that it is an angel who has appeared in that person’s likeness. Yet it is only a devil leading him astray, because he has associated others with Allah and invoked someone other than Him—the dead or those beneath them. Through that association, Satan has gained authority over him. He imagines that he is invoking the prophet, righteous person or angel, and that this is the one who interceded for him or answered his supplication. In reality, it is only Satan, seeking to drive him further into disbelief and misguidance.

Thus, whoever does not worship Allah with sincere devotion to Him alone must be associating others with Him and worshipping something other than Allah. In reality, he is worshipping Satan. Every descendant of Adam is therefore either a worshipper of the Most Merciful or a worshipper of Satan. Allah Most High says:

“Whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Merciful, We appoint for him a devil who becomes his companion.”

“Indeed, they turn them away from the path, while they think they are rightly guided.”

“Until, when he comes to Us, he says, ‘If only there were between me and you the distance between east and west! What an evil companion!’”

“And never