Belying those who claim to know Ghayb and going to them

Q: In our neighborhood there is a man that people think he is a righteous person. They frequently visit him to know the place of things they lost and he tells them where to find such things. What is the Islamic ruling on those who visit and believe in what he says? What is their destiny if they die believing in such matters? Is this a form of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) that renders its doer out of the fold of Islam? There is an educated man living in our neighborhood who does not do anything to deny this man's acts; rather he praises him before people but he did not visit him. What is the Islamic ruling concerning anyone who dies believing in what this man says? What is your advice to him, because I will read your answer to him, as whenever I tell him that going to this man is not permissible and believing in what he says is Shirk, he replies that the man knows the place of lost things and helps people. I told him that he conjures up Jinn, but still he does not believe me. (Part No. 1; Page No. 216) What is the Islamic ruling on using Jinn in useful matters, and how should I reply to him?

A: A person who tells the place of lost things or claims the knowledge of the Ghayb (the Unseen) is a soothsayer that seeks the help of the Jinn, and as such, he should not be believed or visited. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Anyone who visits a diviner and asks him about anything, his Salahs (Prayers) extending to forty nights will not be accepted. He also said, If anyone resorts to a diviner or a soothsayer and believes in what he says, then he disbelieves in what was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him). Furthermore, the person who praises the acts of a soothsayer commits a greater sin than the person who goes to the soothsayer, because praising this person implies agreement on what he does and encouraging people to seek his help.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.