to make the manufactured material resemble the natural one, then spend it and use it in their dealings with people. This is among the gravest forms of fraud. It is established in the Sahīh that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by a man selling food. He put his hand into it and found it wet. He asked:

“What is this, O seller of food?”

The man replied: “O Messenger of Allah, it was exposed to the elements”—meaning rain.

He said: “Why did you not put this on top? Whoever cheats us is not one of us.”

His statement, “Whoever cheats us is not one of us,” is comprehensive, encompassing everyone who cheats. Alchemists are among the worst perpetrators of fraud. Hence, when dealing with people, they do not disclose that their product is made through alchemy. Were they to disclose this, no one would buy it from them except someone intending to use it to defraud people.

The imams have stated that it is impermissible to sell adulterated goods whose degree of adulteration is unknown, even if the buyer is told that they are adulterated. It has also been reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “forbade mixing milk with water for sale, but permitted doing so for drinking.” Selling adulterated goods to someone who is unaware of their adulteration is forbidden by consensus. The degree of adulteration in alchemical products is unknown, so neither making nor selling them is permissible under any circumstances.

Moreover, if people knew that gold and silver were produced through alchemy, they would not buy them, even if they were told that they would remain unchanged on the rūbās or the like. Indeed, hearts are naturally disposed to reject this. The authorities condemn anyone they find practising it. Even if one of them were to practise it secretly, he would still have to condemn it publicly;