The Ruling on Acrobatic Performances and Whether They Are a Form of Sorcery

Question:
There are people who are called sorcerers, and they perform acrobatic acts and practice the shirk (associating partners with Allah) of illusion...?

Answer:
If they are known, a report should be made to the authority regarding them. If they are in this kingdom, a report should be made to the authority regarding them so that they are executed.
Q: How does one distinguish between acrobatic performances and sorcery?
The Shaykh: It is known, it is known. Some people deceive people; they produce eggs or birds from their mouths, or something like that. This is the sorcery of illusion. Many people have informed us that when they perform, they see them produce a bird or an egg from their mouth, though they have nothing, and they see them walk on a rope, though no one has ever walked on a rope. All of this is illusion, like the work of the sorcerers of Pharaoh; they placed ropes and sticks on the ground and people thought they were snakes.