In our country, there is a man who has fasted for four consecutive years, and they consider him a close friend of Allah. When the land becomes dry, he places soil on his head.

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, this is a question from outside this country. He says: In our country, there is a man who has fasted for four consecutive years, and they consider him a close friend of Allah. After that, when the land becomes dry, he places soil on his head and supplicates, and the rain comes down. The question is: Do the Shayatin (devils), O Honorable Shaykh, have the ability to bring water and cause it to descend as rain? Because this man is considered one of the greatest awliya (close friends of Allah) in our country.

Answer:
Placing soil on his head has no basis. As for his supplicating to Allah, there is nothing wrong with it; he supplicates to Allah, but there is no need to place soil on his head. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate for rain and did not place soil on his head. Al-Abbas supplicated for rain and did not place soil on his head. This is a bid'ah (religious innovation) on his part, so he should not do it. The one who sends down the rain is not the Shaytan; the one who sends down the rain is Allah. However, He may send it down as a trial for them. Allah may send it down for the sake of trial and gradual leading astray. You have heard and it has been repeated to you that the attainment of the desired outcome does not indicate the permissibility of the method or the action performed. Even if the desired outcome is achieved, that is not proof of permissibility. It may happen by way of divine decree and destiny, or it may happen by way of gradual leading astray. Yes.