Warning Against the Practices of Fortune-Tellers and Diviners

A sister also asks and says: There are some people in our city who use a basket to seek knowledge of the unseen. The method is that they bring a pure basket and place a Qur'an inside it, then close its opening with a prayer mat. They place a key on top of the mat, and put a pen and a piece of paper beside the basket. Two people come and carry the basket and move it, while another person recites Surat al-Jinn. When he recites it, the spirit of a deceased person comes, and they ask it some questions, and it answers using the pen and paper. For questions regarding the unseen, it says: "Allah knows best." For questions it cannot answer by writing on the paper, it also says: "Allah knows best." The point is: Is this really the spirit of a deceased person, or is it a jinn? And what is the ruling on such a practice?
Answer: This is a reprehensible practice and is not permissible; it is part of the forbidden practice of fortune-telling. Therefore, it is not permissible to do this at all. This practice is one of the deeds of the devils, not of the spirits of the dead, but rather one of the deeds of the devils by which they confuse people and take their money unjustly. This practice is not permissible; rather, it is reprehensible and part of the practice of fortune-telling. It is obligatory for those in authority to prevent this and to punish whoever does it so that he does not return to it. It is not permissible for a Muslim to participate in this or to ask them about anything. Yes, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): , and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . This is of the same kind as the diviners and fortune-tellers. These spirits that are sought are from the spirits of the jinn and devils, not the spirits of the dead. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.