‘We believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to you. Our God and your God is One, and to Him we submit.’”

If, concerning what the People of the Book tell us, we are commanded to believe only what we know to be true, just as we are to reject only what we know to be false, how can it be permissible to believe these people concerning what they claim was transmitted from Idrīs, peace be upon him, when they are even further removed from reliable knowledge in this matter than the People of the Book?

A fourth response is: the study of the stars undoubtedly has two branches: calculation and astrological judgments. Calculation concerns knowledge of the dimensions and properties of the celestial spheres and heavenly bodies, the measurements of their movements, and related matters. In principle, this is undoubtedly sound knowledge, like knowledge of the earth and its properties and similar subjects. Yet most of its minute calculations involve much toil and little benefit—as with someone who knows, for example, the precise minutes, seconds, and thirds in the movements of the seven wandering celestial bodies, described as “those that recede,” “which run their courses and disappear.” If the foundations of this knowledge were taken from Idrīs, that is possible; Allah knows best the truth of the matter. Similarly, some people say that the foundations of medicine were taken from one of the prophets.

As for astrological judgments that belong to the category of sorcery, it is impossible that any prophet should have been a sorcerer. These people describe various kinds of sorcery and say, “This is suitable for instituting codes”—meaning “laws and established practices.” Some of these involve invoking the heavenly bodies and worshipping them, and various forms of associating partners with Allah. Everyone who believes in Allah and His Messenger knows as a self-evident certainty that no prophet would command such things