Al-Buni argued that the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet possess distinct spiritual and physical energies. By manipulating these letters and pairing them with specific numeric values, a practitioner could tap into cosmic forces. 2. Magic Squares (Wafq)
Its sheer breadth and detail have led to it being compared favorably to the famous European grimoire, the Picatrix , with some considering it even more influential in its hemisphere.
The text is attributed to Sharaf al-Din Ahmad ibn Ali al-Buni (died c. 1225). Al-Buni was a well-known Sufi scholar, mystic, and mathematician born in Algeria. He spent much of his life travelling through major Islamic intellectual centres, including Cairo, Tunis, and Damascus. What is Lettersism (Ilm al-Huruf)? Shams Al Maarif Al Kubra.pdf
Shams al-Ma'arif al-Kubra (The Greater Sun of Knowledge), commonly referred to as Shams al Maarif Al Kubra.pdf in digital formats, is perhaps the most famous, controversial, and misunderstood occult book in the Islamic world. Often described as an Arabic grimoire, it is a text that blends theology, Sufi mysticism, astrology, and talismanic magic.
If you still need a neutral or informational about the PDF (e.g., for a book discussion forum, academic context, or historical study), here are a few options: Al-Buni argued that the 28 letters of the
The Shams al-Maarif is essentially an encyclopedia of Islamic esotericism. It covers a vast array of topics, including:
There are two main texts:
Legitimate scholars of religion, anthropologists, and historians of the Middle East seek the for critical analysis. They want to study al-Buni’s influence on later Western occultism (particularly the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Aleister Crowley, who borrowed heavily from Islamic letter magic).
Shams al-Ma'arif al-Kubra (often shortened to Shams al-Ma'arif ) is a 13th-century Arabic text on letter magic, astrology, numerology, and spirit conjuration. Authored by Ahmad bin Ali al-Buni, it is considered one of the most powerful and dangerous works in the Islamic esoteric tradition, known as ‘ilm al-huruf (the science of letters) and sīmiyā' (spiritual alchemy). Magic Squares (Wafq) Its sheer breadth and detail
Instructions on how to make contact with spirits or angels (usually for protection) and, controversially, how to control or interact with Jinn. 3. The Controversies Surrounding the Text