The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

Chapter Five: Devil's Deception in Matters of Creed (al- 'aqd>id) and Religion
ters let him sharpen his knife in order to comfort the slaughtered
animal."101
Ihe sixth doubt:
They say: perhaps Prophets knew of some material qualities (to
enable them to perform miracles) that others did not.
The response is that there isn't a drug except that its qualities have
become known. Scientists would have exposed false Prophets if
they attempted to use material qualities to convince others of themselves.
Also, miracles are of many types. In one case there was a she camel
that came out of a rock. In another case there was a cane that turned
into a snake. In a third case there was a rock from which water gushed.
And this Qur'an that was revealed six hundred years ago. People
listen to it, and minds comprehend it. It is a continuous challenge,
yet no one was able to produce verses that come close to it. So where
is this from magic and sorcery?
Section One:
[Devil's Deception of Brahmans]
lb!Is has deceived some Indian Brahmans to burn themselves as a
form of getting closer to god. What they do is that they dig a trench,
and people gather around it. Then the man who is about to burn
himself arrives wearing a lot of perfume. They beat on their drums
chanting: "glad tidings to this soul that has been attached to paradise."
He responds: "let this sacrifice be accepted and let my reward be
paradise." Then he sits inside the burning trench. Afterwards, if he
attempts to escape they shun him until he returns to the fire again.
101
Muslim 3/1548/1955.
131