A Response to Those Who Claim That the Prophet Shook Hands with al-Rifai

The questioner:
We say: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. If someone says that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) shook hands with al-Rifai, do we respond by saying that Satan assumed the form of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? Does Satan do that? Is this hand the hand of the Messenger?

The Shaykh:
So that we can say that Satan assumes a form and says, "This is the image of the Prophet," and he is lying. He may come to a person in his sleep and say, "I am the Messenger," and he is lying. He may lie about the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and say, "This is the hand of the Messenger." Yes.

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. What is the validity of this phrase: "My intermediary is Allah," when a person asks about what he wants?

The Shaykh:
This, if this is true—if it is true that the hand extended and shook hands with al-Rifai—we say that this is certainly not the hand of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). But if it is not true, the matter is ended. We say this is a lie. Prove this. Yes.