And there is no doubt that sorcerers may be mistaken for prophets and allies of Allah, and perform feats thought to rival those of the prophets, just as Pharaoh’s sorcerers sought to rival the miracle of Moses:

“Then Moses threw down his staff, and behold, it swallowed what they had fabricated”—through to His words—“prostrate.”

As for “alchemy,” its product is an imitation of naturally created gold and silver. Alchemy is not confined to these two; imitations are also made of gems, such as pearls and peridot; fragrant substances, such as musk, ambergris and roses; and foodstuffs.

Alchemy is invalid on natural grounds and forbidden by religious law. It is established in an authentic report that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever deceives us is not one of us.”

Alchemy is a form of deception. Allah has created nothing except according to a determined measure, and creatures cannot manufacture the like of what Allah Most High has created. Allah Most High says:

“Or have they assigned to Allah partners who created the like of His creation?”

In an authentic hadith, Allah Most High says:

“Who is more unjust than someone who sets out to create as I create? Let them create a tiny ant, or let them create a grain of barley.”

The philosophers say, “Artifice cannot do what nature does.” This means that manufactured gold, silver and other substances cannot be like their natural counterparts, which are created by the natural force permeating physical bodies. Thus, among created things, there is nothing whose like creatures have manufactured; and He has not created for them anything like what they manufacture. Thus, they grind