How to Ascertain the Soundness and Permissibility of Means:
The only sound method for knowing whether a given worldly or religious means is legislatively valid is to return to the Quran and the Sunnah, verify what they contain on the matter, and reflect on the implications of their texts; there is absolutely no other way.

Two conditions must be met for the lawful use of any worldly cause. First, it must be permitted by the Sharia. Second, its ability to achieve the desired result must be proven, or at least overwhelmingly probable.

As for a religious means, nothing is required beyond its being established in the Sharia.

Thus, taking an animal—as in the earlier example—as a purported means to uncover the unseen is, from the worldly standpoint, invalid, refuted by experiment and reason; and from the religious standpoint