Lahore University of Management Sciences

HISTORY
The Occult in Islamic Material Culture
Spring 2018

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Horoscope of Timurid prince, Iskandar Sultan, 15 century

Course Outline
Instructor: Dr. Tehnyat Majeed
 Lahore University of Management Sciences
HIST – The Occult in Islamic Material Culture
Spring 2018

Magic Square from al-Buni’s Shams al-Ma’arif The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, Folio from a Falnama
(Book of Omens)

Instructor Dr. Tehnyat Majeed

Room No.
Office Hours
Email
Telephone
Secretary/TA
TA Office Hours
Course URL (if any)

Course Basics
Credit Hours
Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 (MW) Duration 1 hour 50 minutes
Recitation/Lab (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration
Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week Duration

Course Distribution
Core
Elective
Open for Student Category
Close for Student Category

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the use of occult and divinatory tools in early, medieval and pre-modern Islamic world. Amongst the various occult sciences
like astrology, geomancy, numerology, physiognomy, oneiromancy, the ‘science of the stars’ (‘ilm al-nujum) was most highly regarded as it
mediated between natural sciences and metaphysics. ‘Ilm al-nujum or astrology was the symbolic interpretation of celestial positions and
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movements that were calculated by observational methods and mathematical computations. Since as early as the 8 century, the chief
astronomer at the caliphal court was also the official astrologer (munajjim). His role appears to have been imperative. The munajjim was
consulted for determining the most auspicious time for significant events such as the foundation of cities, for electing the time for battles and
predicting their outcomes, for medical insights, and for presaging disease and calamity. Most importantly, he was given the paramount task of
 Lahore University of Management Sciences
portending the fate and destiny of the ruler.
In consequence, we see the emergence of a genre of literature dealing with occult sciences amongst which several in the form of instructional
guides address remedial measures. The practical manifestation of these texts is seen in a body of surviving apotropaic objects that were
employed to enhance power and protection, as well as, to subdue inauspicious and malefic forces. Cultural artefacts such as incantation bowls,
talismanic scrolls and shirts, and magical amulets fall into this category. On the issue of warding off misfortune, it is important to remember that
Muslim belief accepts the presence of supernatural forces, both benign and demonic – in the form of angels and jinns. From this belief emerges
the possibility of supernatural influences like demonic possession or elemental control. We find that this realm of the supernatural also intersects
with planetary and stellar spheres especially within Persian literary and poetic narratives that become replete with magical, mystical and celestial
references. Thus a sizeable number of illustrated and illuminated manuscripts and finely crafted metalwork carry representations that make
allusions to esoteric symbolism.
In this seminar based class we shall explore the relationship between the natural and the supernatural in Islamic material culture. We will trace
the development of occult practices through key historical figures, events, texts and cultural objects. There will be practical exercises to
understand the vocabulary of the occult, casting of horoscopes, the symbolic meanings of the planetary and fixed stars, the use of scientific
instruments in calculating astronomical data, and an understanding of the esoteric dimension in Islamic art.

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)

 Basic knowledge of early Islamic history

 Acquainted with the fundamentals of Islamic beliefs and practices
 Some familiarity with the Arabic and Persian script and language

COURSE OBJECTIVES

 To explore this rich, enigmatic and mysterious strand in Islamic cultural history
 To examine notions of the real, imaginary and supernatural planes of existence in Islamic intellectual, artistic and literary traditions
 To discuss the issue of fate and free will and inquire into parameters of human agency and action

Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of the course students will:
 Gain a historical and visual knowledge of major Islamic artefacts and texts of magical and astrological significance
 Have a practical understanding of some occult practices such as natal horoscopes and the science of numbers
 Gain insight into the prevalent cosmological world views of early, medieval and pre-modern Islamic times

Academic Honesty
The principles of truth and honesty are recognized as fundamental to a community of teachers and students. This means that all academic work
will be done by the student to whom it is assigned without unauthorized aid of any kind. Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic
dishonesty are prohibited. Any instances of academic dishonesty in this course (intentional or unintentional) will be dealt with swiftly and
severely. Potential penalties include receiving a failing grade on the assignment in question or in the course overall. For further information,
students should make themselves familiar with the relevant section of the LUMS student handbook.
Grading Breakup and Policy

Class Participation and Attendance: 15%

Response Papers: 30%
Mid-Term Exam: 20%
Final Essay Project: 35%
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This is a seminar cum discussion-based class, therefore it is expected that students will come prepared with their questions and observations on
the required readings. This entails not only a close reading of the intellectually challenging assigned material, but also requires advance
preparation of key concepts and historical contexts. Class sessions, most often, will begin with a set of questions related to the readings by means
of which students will be guided to carry out rigorous analysis and critical evaluation of the content. This is an essential exercise as the content
knowledge presented in the readings sets the framework for the study of artefacts and monuments covered in the lecture.

There is a strong emphasis on writing thoughtful response papers based on the reading material. Students must demonstrate the ability to
evaluate evidence, deconstruct arguments and clearly articulate their views in an essay form. This exercise will develop their capacity to manage
discrete sets of information, undertake systematic research and critical appraisal by examining inherent structures of arguments and use of
evidence. These abilities will then be focused on producing a 3000 word paper on a topic decided after consulting with the course instructor.

Examination Detail

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate:
Midterm
Duration: Objective
Exam
Preferred Date:
Exam Specifications: Objective/Visual Slide/ Quizzes

Yes/No: Yes
Combine
Final Exam
Duration: Take home
Exam Specifications: Short Essay Questions/Visual Slides

SESSION TOPICS REQUIRED READINGS

1-2 Introduction

Defining the Occult Saliba (), Role of the Astrologer in Medieval Islamic Society, pp.45-67.
- Distinction between occult science and
3-4 magic (sihr) Miller (2011), Occult Science and Fall of Khwarazm-Shah, pp.249-256.
- Permissability and acceptance Livingston (1992), Science and Occult in the thinking of Ibn Qayyim al-
- Fate versus Free Will Jawziyya, pp.598-610.
- Elements of a Horoscope

PART I: HOROSCOPES
Divining Time: The Astrology of a City Mingana (1922), Baghdad, pp.429-430.
- The Foundation of Baghdad
- Interpreting a Horoscope Beckwith (1984), Plan of the City of Peace, pp.143-164.
5-8 - Cultural and cosmopolitan centre Goodwin (2003), Glory that was Baghdad, pp.24-28.
- The Fate of madinat al-salam
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- Response Paper 1 due on 8 session Gilli-Elewy (2011), Mongol conquest of Baghdad, pp.353-371.
Roberts (2011), al-Mansur and the Critical Ambassador, pp.145-160.
Transmission of the Stars: Abu Mashar, al-Biruni Saliba (), Rise of the Hay’a Tradition, pp.25-46.
- From Ptolemy to the Indians th
Pingree & Madelung (1977), Political Horoscopes of 9 century Alids,
pp.247-275.
9-10
- Pingree (2001), Alexandria to Baghdad, pp.3-37.
Wright (1934) al-Biruni’s Kitab al-Tafhim [Elements of Art of
Astrology]
Carey (2010), Astrology in the Middle Ages, pp.888-902.
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Morrison (2009), Astrology in Early Tafsir, pp.49-71.

Imperial Destiny: The Nativity of a King Singhania (2009), Abu’l Fazl’s vision of Astronomy in historical
- Akbar’s Birth in Abu’l Fazl’s Akbarnama perspective, pp.81-97.
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11-14 - Response Paper 2 due on 14 session Beveridge (2005), Akbar Nama of Abu-l Fazl, pp.68-115.
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- Șen (), Astral Magic In 16 Century Ottoman Istanbul, pp.66-88.

Mid-term Exam
Session 15
Mid-Term Break
PART II: MAGICAL MANUSCRIPTS
Al-Buni’s Treatise Gardiner (?), Forbidden Knowledge?, pp.81-143.
16-18 - Magic Squares Al-Saleh (2014), Licit Magic, pp.179-208.
- Square Kufic Seals and inscriptions
- Talismans Witkam (2007), Egyptian Magician al-Buni, pp.183-199.

Nizami’s Haft Paykar and the mystical realm of the Matar (1990), Dreams and Dream Interpretations, pp.165-175.
Planets
Travis Zadeh (), Magic, Marvel and Miracle, pp.235-267.
- Bahram Gur’s Seven Portraits
th Sedighi (2012), Translating Persian metaphors, in Metaphor and
- Response Paper 3 due on 20 session
19-21 Imagery in Persian Poetry, pp.204-214.
Seyed-Gohrab (1999), Magic in Classical Persian Amatory Literature,
pp.71-97.
Meisami (1985), Allegorical Gardens in Persian Poetic Tradition,
pp.229-260.
PART III: THE ELEMENTAL WORLD
Supernatural Forces: Iconography of Mythological Travis Zadeh (2010), Wiles of Creation, pp.21-48.
Beasts
22-23 Travis Zadeh (2014), Commanding Demons, pp.131-160.
- Imaginary creatures and celestial signs
- Square Kufic Seals

Kitab al-Bulhan: The Book of Surprises Carboni (?), Kitab al-Bulhan, pp.22-34.

24-26 - Magic Squares Jalayrid period, Kitab al-Bulhan.

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- Response Paper 4 due on 26 session

27 - Revision
28 - FINAL EXAM

Textbook(s)/Required Readings
Reference Textbooks:
Al-Bīrūnī, Abi Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad, (1029) Kitab al-Tafhim li-Awa’il Sina’at al-Tanjim (The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art
of Astrology), trans. R. Ramsay Wright, (1934), London: Luzac & Co.
Beveridge, H (2005).The Akbar Nāma of Abul-l-Fazl, 3 Volumes in 2, Delhi: Low Price Publications.
Carboni, Stefano (1997). Following the Stars: Images of the Zodiac in Islamic Art, Exhibition Catalogue, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of
Art.
Majrīṭī, Maslamah ibn Aḥmad; Atallah, Hashem (2002). Picatrix: Ghayat al-Hakim: The Goal of the Wise, volume 1, translated from the Arabic
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Moin, A. Azfar (2012). The Millennial Sovereign: Sacred Kingship & Sainthood in Islam, New York: Columbia University Press.
Required Readings:
Beckwith (1984), The Plan of the City of Peace: Central Asian Iranian factors in early ‘Abbasid Design, Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum
Hungaricae, Vol.38, no.1/2, pp.143-164.
Berlekamp, Persis (2011). Wonder, Image, & Cosmos in Medieval Islam, New Haven: Yale University Press.
Carboni, Stefano (?), The ‘Book of Surprises’ (Kitab al-bulhan) of the Bodleian Library, La Trobe Journal, pp.22-34.
Carey, Hilary M. (2010). Astrology in the Middle Ages, History Compass, vol.8, no.8, pp.888-902.
Fahd,T. (1986). Ḥurūf (‘Ilm al-) in Encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition, eds. B. Lewis, V.L Ménage, J. Schacht, Ch.Pellat, Vol.3, Leiden: Brill, London:
Luzac & Co. pp.595-596.
Fahd, T. (1991). Fā’l in Encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition, eds. B. Lewis, J. Schacht, Ch.Pellat, Vol.2, Leiden: Brill, pp.758-760.
Gardiner, Noah (2012). Forbidden Knowledge? Notes on the Production, Transmission, and Reception of the major works of Ahmad al-Buni,
Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Vol. 12, pp.81-143.
Gilli-Elewy (2011), Al-ḥawādit al-ğāmi’a: A Contemporary account of the Mongol conquest of Baghdad 656/1258, pp.353-371.
Goodwin (2003), The Glory that was Baghdad, Wilson Quarterly, Vol.27, no.11, pp.24-28.
Hartner, W. (1991). Al-Djawazahar in Encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition, eds. B. Lewis, J. Schacht, Ch.Pellat, Vol.2, Leiden: Brill, pp.501-502.
Livingston, John W. (1992), Science and Occult in the thinking of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol.112, no.iv,
pp.598-610.
Massé, H. (1991). Fā’l-nāma in Encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition, eds. B. Lewis, J. Schacht, Ch.Pellat, Vol.2, Leiden: Brill, pp.760-761.
Massignon, L. (1993). Nawbakht in Encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition, eds. B. Lewis, V.L Ménage, J. Schacht, Ch.Pellat, Vol.7, Leiden: Brill,
London: Luzac & Co. pp.1043-1044.
Matar (1990), Dreams and Dream Interpretation in The Faraj al-Mahmum of Ibn Tawus, The Muslim World, Vol.80, July-October, no.3-4, pp.165-
175.
Meisami, Julie Scott (1985), Allegorical Gardens in Persian Epic Poetic Tradition: Nezami, Rumi, Hafez, International Journal of Middle East Studies,
Vol. 17, pp.229-260.
Meisami, Julie Scott (2015). Haft Paykar: A Medieval Persian Romance, Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company.
c
Millás, J.M. (1986). Abū Ma shar in Encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition, eds. B. Lewis, V.L Ménage, J. Schacht, Ch.Pellat, Vol.1, Leiden: Brill,
London: Luzac & Co. pp.139-140.
Miller, Isabel (2001), Occult Science and Fall of Khwārazm-Shāh Jalāl al-Dīn, Iran, Vol. 39, pp.249-256.
Mingana (1922), Baghdad, pp.429-430
Morrison, Robert G. (2009), Discussions of Astrology in Early Tafsīr, Journal of Qur’anic Studies, Vol.11, no.ii, pp.1465-3591.
Pingree, David (2001), From Alexandria to Baghdād to Byzantium: The Transmission of Astrology, International Journal of the Classical Tradition,
Vol. 8, no.1, pp.3-37.
Pingree, David & Madelung, W. (1977), Political Horoscopes relating to late Ninth Century ‘Alids, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol.36, pp.247-
275.
Roberts, Alexandre M. (2011), Al-Manṣūr and the Critical Ambassador, Bulletin d’Etudes Orientales, Vol.60, pp.145-160.
Al-Saleh, Yasmine F. (2014), “Licit Magic”: The Touch and Sight of Islamic Talismanic Scrolls, doctoral dissertation, Harvard University.
Saliba, George A. (2002). Islamic Astronomy in Context: Attacks on Astrology and the Rise of the Hay’a Tradition, Bulletin of the Royal Institute for
Inter-Faith Studies, Vol.4, no.1, Spring/Summer, pp.25-46.
Saliba, George A (2004). The role of the astrologer in medieval Islamic society in Magic and Divination in Early Islam, ed. E. Savage-Smith,
Burlington, VT: Ashgate, pp.341-370.
Samsó, J. (1991). Māshā’ Allāh in Encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition, eds. B. Lewis, V.L Ménage, J. Schacht, Ch.Pellat, Vol.6, Leiden: Brill, London:
Luzac & Co. pp.710-712.
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Sedighi, Anousha (2012), Translating Persian metaphors into English, in Metaphor and Imagery in Persian Poetry, ed. Ali Asghar Seyed-Gohrab,
Leiden: Brill, pp.205-214.
Șen A. Tunc (2017). Practicing Astral Magic in Sixteenth-Century Ottoman Istanbul: A Treatise on Talismans attributed to Ibn Kemal (d.1534),
Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft, Spring, University of Pennsylvania Press, pp.66-88.
Seyed-Gohrab, Ali Asghar (1999), Magic in Classical Persian Amatory Literature, Iranian Studies, Vol.32, no.i, pp.71-97.
Singhania, Kanta (2009), Abu’l Fazl’s Vision of Astronomy in Historical Perspective, Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Vol.90,
pp.81-97.
Smith. Paul (2015). Falnama: Divination Book of Hafiz of Shiraz, Australia: New Humanity Books, Book Heaven.
Wilson, C.E. (1924). The Haft Paykar (The Seven Beauties) containing the life and adventures of King Bahram Gur and the seven stories told him by
his seven queens by Nizami Ganjavi, London: A. Probsthain.
Witkam (2007), Gazing at the Sun: Remarks on the Egyptian Magician al-Būnī, O Ye Gentlemen: Arabic Studies on Science and Literary Culture. In
Honour of Remke Kruk, ed. Arnoud Vrolijk and Jan P. Hogendijk, Leiden: Brill, pp.183-199.
Zadeh, Travis (2010). The Wiles of Creation: Philosophy, Fiction, and the ‘Aja’ib Tradition, Middle Eastern Literatures, Vol.13, no.1, April, pp.21-48.
Zadeh, Travis (2008). Magic, Marvel, and Miracle in Early Islamic Thought in The Cambridge History of Magic and Witchcraft in the West from
Antiquity to the Present, ed. David J. Collins, Cambridge University Press, pp.235-267.
Zadeh, Travis (?). Commanding Demons and Jinn: The Sorcerer in Early Islamic Thought.

Web Resources:
Museum with No Frontiers, Discover Islamic Art, http://www.discoverislamicart.org/index.php
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/te_index.asp?i=Islamic
Saudi Aramco World, http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/201405/
Archnet, http://archnet.org/timelines/48
David Collection (Copenhagen), http://www.davidmus.dk/en/collections/islamic
V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum (London), http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/i/islamic-middle-east/