This report that you are asking about is nothing new, but it has become more widely disseminated nowadays because of the ease and speed of communication via e-mail, combined with the ignorance of many who love their religion. 

There may be some variation in the details of these stories, but they are all based on the same idea and all have the same bad effect on people’s minds. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) warned against them. There follows the text of his statement: 

A note concerning a false report that is being disseminated by some ignorant people:

Praise be to Allaah, and blessings and peace be upon the slave and Messenger of Allaah, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.   

I have come across a false report that is being disseminated by some ignorant people and people who have little understanding of the religion of Allaah. The text of this report is as follows: 

“In the name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Blessings and peace be upon the noblest of the Messengers, our Master Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and upon his family and companions.  

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

‘No doubt! Verily, the Awliya’ [close friends] of Allaah, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve’

[Yoonus 10:62]

Allaah the Almighty has spoken the truth. 

My Muslim brother, my Muslim sister. 

A thirteen-year-old girl became very ill and the doctor was unable to treat her. One night her sickness grew worse and she wept until sleep overtook her. In her dream she saw Sayyidah Zaynab (may Allaah be pleased with her). She put some drops in her mouth, and when she woke up from her sleep she was completely healed from her sickness. Sayyidah Zaynab (may Allaah be pleased with her) asked her to write this story thirteen times and distribute it to the Muslims, to demonstrate the power of the Creator, may He be exalted, and how it is manifested in His signs and His creation, exalted be He above all that they associate with Him. The girl did what was asked of her, and this is what happened: 

1 – The first copy fell into the hands of a poor man, who wrote it out and distributed it. Thirteen days later the Lord willed that this poor man should become rich. 

2 – The second copy fell into the hands of a worker who ignored it. Thirteen days later he lost his job. 

3 – The third copy fell into the hands of a rich man who refused to write it out. Thirteen days later he lost all the riches that he possessed. 

Hasten, O Muslim brother or sister, after reading this story, to copy it out thirteen times and distribute it to people, so that you may get what you wish for from the Most Generous Lord, may He be glorified and exalted. 

May Allaah send blessings upon our Master Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.” 

When I read this false report I thought it essential to point out that the benefits and good things that its author claims will come to those who copy it and distribute it, and the bad things that will happen to those who ignore it and do not disseminate it further, are all lies that have no solid basis. Rather they are fabrications of the liars and charlatans who want to divert the Muslims from putting their trust in their Lord alone, with no partner or associate, to bring them benefits and ward off harm from them, as well as taking the permissible means as prescribed in sharee’ah, and who want to make them put their trust in someone or something other than Allaah to bring benefits and ward off harm, and to take false means that are not permitted or prescribed in sharee’ah, which leads them to become attached to something other than Allaah and to worship someone other than Him.  

Undoubtedly this is one of the plots of the enemies of the Muslims, who want to divert them away from their true religion by any means possible. The Muslims should beware of these plots and not be deceived by them. The Muslim should pay no attention to this false report and similar reports which appear from time to time. Warnings have been issued about several of them in the past. It is not permissible for a Muslim to copy out this and similar reports, or to distribute them under any circumstances. Rather doing that is an evil action and the one who does that is committing a sin; there is the fear that he will be punished in this world and in the Hereafter, because this is a bid’ah (innovation) whose evil is great and whose punishment is severe. 

This report is a kind of reprehensible innovation, and is one of the means that lead to shirk and exaggeration concerning the Ahl al-Bayt (members of the Prophet’s household) and others among the dead, and calling upon them instead of Allaah and seeking their help and thinking that they can bring benefit to or ward off harm from those who call upon them and seek their help. It is also a kind of telling lies about Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“It is only those who believe not in the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allaah, who fabricate falsehood, and it is they who are liars”

[al-Nahl 16:105]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” Saheeh – agreed upon. 

All the Muslims into whose hands this letter falls should tear it up and destroy it, and warn people against it, and not pay any attention to any promises or warnings that it may contain, because these are false reports that have no sound basis and nothing good or bad will result from that. But the one who invented it, those who copy it out and distribute it, and those who promote it and disseminate it among the Muslims are all sinning, because all of that comes under the heading of cooperating in sin and transgression which Allaah has forbidden in His Book, where He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”

[al-Maa'idah 5:2]

 We ask Allaah to keep us and all the Muslims safe and sound from all evil. Allaah is Sufficient for us and He is the best to deal with those who fabricated this report and similar reports, and introduced into the religion of Allaah things that have nothing to do with it. We ask Allaah to deal with them as they deserve, for telling lies about Allaah and disseminating falsehood, and for calling people to the means that lead to shirk and exaggeration about the dead, and distracting them with something that will harm them and will not benefit them. Sincerity towards Allaah and His slaves demands that we point this out. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon His slave and Messenger our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 8/346-348. 

And Allaah knows best.