The Ruling on Sufi Orders and the Supernatural 'Miracles' and Satanic Rituals practiced by Some of Them

Question :

There is a Dervish sect near us and with them is a man from our kin who takes a drink of water from the leader of the sect and he is an illiterate man without knowledge or experience, which would enable him to demonstrate such falseness and trickery as is practiced on the people nevertheless, he strikes his stomach with all kinds of harmful objects, such as a dagger, a sword, wood, metal rods etc. Bear in mind that he does not adhere to Islam, nor does he practise the obligations which our Lord, the Most Glorified, Most High has imposed upon us, such as prayer, fasting and so on.

We appeal to Your Excellency to elucidate for us the Islamic position on this and what is the secret of such infliction of pain - we request a written reply, so that it may be available in our country and other Islamic countries.

Answer :

Allah finalized Messengership with Muhammad according to the (revealed) texts and the agreement of all the scholars. Allah, the Most High says:

Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Last of the Prophets.

The Hadiths of the Messenger of Allah which are Mutawatir make it clear that he is the Last of the Prophets and the Muslims are in agreement on this.

The Awliya' may be divided into two categories: Those who are the Awliya' of the Most Beneficent and those who are the Awliya' of Satan. In His Book and in the Sunnah of His Messenger, Allah, the Most Glorified has clarified that He has Awliya' people, and that the devils (also) have Awliya', and He makes a distinction between the Awliya' of the Most Beneficent and the Awliya' of Satan saying:

No doubt! Verily the Awliya' of Allah, no fear shall come

upon them, nor shall they grieve. Those who believed and used to fear (Allah much by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds). For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world and in the Hereafter.

No change can there be in the Words of Allah, this is indeed, the supreme success.

And Allah, the Most High says:
Allah is the Waliy (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Awliya' (supporters and helpers) are Taghut (false deities and false leaders etc.), they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire and they will abide therein forever.

It is reported in the authentic Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and others, on the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: Allah says:

"Whoever is hostile to My Waliy, I declare war on him."

Thus, the Prophet made clear, on the authority of Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, that He declares war on those who oppose His Awliya'. And Allah, the Most Glorified has mentioned the Awliya' of Satan, saying:
So when you want to recite the Qur'an, seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the outcast (the cursed one). Verily, he has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord (Allah). His power is only over those who obey and follow him (Satan) and those who join partners with Him (Allah i.e. those who are Mushrikun - polytheists).

And He, the Most High says:
And whoever takes Shaytan as a Waliy (protector or helper) instead of Allah has surely suffered a manifest loss.

And He, the Most High says:
Verily, We made the devils Awliya' (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not. And when they commit a Fahishah they say: "We found our fathers doing it."

up to the Words of Him, the Most High:
Surely, they took the devils as Awliya' (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah and they consider that they are guided.

And He, the Most High says:
And certainly, the devils do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you and if you obey them, then you would indeed be Mushrikun (polytheists).

Khalil (i.e. Ibrahim) said:
40 my father! Verily, I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (Allah) overtake you, so that you become a companion of Satan (in the Hell-Fire).

And He, the Most High says:
O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists etc.) as friends, showing affection towards them.

- up to the Words of Him, the Most High:
Verily You, only You are the Almighty, Most Wise."

In view of this knowledge, the person mentioned is from the Awliya' of Satan and the deeds mentioned are Satanic rituals. They are from deception and fraud practiced against the people, none of what is seen really occurs, it is purely an illusion for people to see by the help of the devils, as Allah says concerning the magicians of Pharaoh in Surah Al-A'raf:

So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic.

And He says in Surah Ta-Ha:
They said: "O Musa! Either you throw first or shall we throw first?" He said: "Nay, throw you (first)!" Then behold, their ropes and their sticks by their magic appeared to him as though they moved fast.

And may peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.