In the Sharīʿa, abandoning isticmār (ritual cleansing with stones) is among the degrees of cem (spiritual gathering). Creation is based upon the distinction between odd and even, cessation and continuation, prevention and perpetuation, or interruption and maintenance. The one who performs isticmār distinguishes between ḥudūth (origination) and qidam (eternity), and also understands the difference between qidam and qadam (pre-existence and precedence). When there is no water, and tayammum (dry ablution) is performed, there is no need for isticmār. If this is done secretly, the ruling regarding this matter is even stronger. For the one who performs isticmār, the secret of stoning the jamarāt (stone pillars) during the ḥajj is unveiled. Whoever performs isticmār an odd number of times has done well, but whoever does so an even number of times has erred. The one who is said to be saʿīd (felicitous), perhaps out of fear that his sleep may last until the Resurrection (ḥashr) due to death, does not sleep without performing the witr prayer. (Letāʾif, 71)
istidlāl-i shāhid ʿalā al-ghāʾib (inference of the unseen by means of the seen): Ibn Sāʾigh was asked about the matter of inferring the unseen (i.e., the Real, al-Ḥaqq) by means of the seen (the witness), and he replied: "How can one infer the One who has no equal or likeness by means of the attributes of something that has an equal or likeness?" (Kushayrī, 27)