and in the Hereafter. There is no changing the words of Allah. That is the supreme triumph.”

Indeed, many of them suppose that lying claimants to prophethood, such as Musaylimah, al-Ansī, and their like, rank alongside the truthful prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad—may Allah’s blessings be upon them all.

Confusing truth with falsehood, a prophet with a pretender to prophethood, someone who speaks with knowledge with someone who speaks in ignorance, or a true friend of Allah with a lying hypocrite is like confusing naturally occurring gold with artificially produced gold. Allah has distinguished truth from falsehood, but only those endowed with knowledge and faith among Muhammad’s community—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—have been guided to distinguish fully between them. They are those of whom Allah says:

“Mankind was one community. Then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of glad tidings and as warners, and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between people concerning their differences. None differed over it except those who had been given it, after clear proofs had come to them, out of rivalry among themselves. Then Allah, by His permission, guided those who believed to the truth concerning which they had differed. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.”

They are the justly balanced community, Allah’s witnesses on earth who bear truthful witness concerning His creation. They are those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. May Allah, through His grace and bounty, make us and all our brethren their followers, enable us to follow their example, and gather us in their company.

Among the strongest arguments advanced by the “alchemists” is their appeal to glass as evidence. They say: