724 CHAPTER EIGHT
One of the persons who did this was a man known as Ibn Dilan,
whose name was Abmad ibn Mu}:l.ammad ibn Dilan. 101 Another was
known as Ibn al-'Attdr, and there were others besides them. We
have already mentioned the persons who used to write fables and
evening stories as if spoken by animals and other creatures. They
were Sah! ibn Harlin, 'Ali ibn Da'ud, al-'Attdbi, and Abmad ibn
Abi Tahir.
The Books Composed about the Wonders of the Sea and Other
Things
There is the book known as The Book of Sakhr al-Maghrabi, which
was written by - - - . It contains thirty stories: ten about the
wonders of the land, ten about the wonders of the dawn, and ten
about the wonders of the sea. 102
Wathilah ibn al-Asqa'; Al-Sumayfa' 103 ibn Dhi Taral:J:mm (Possessor of
Pity) al-J::Iimyari and al-'Aqiif hint Zayd; 104 The Old Man Son of the
Youth.
101 MS 1135 does not repeat ibn Dilan.
102 Sakhr al-Maghrabi seems to be a character of fiction. MS 1934 makes it very
clear that a space was left to be filled in here in case the author's name could be
discovered. Fliigel does not indicate this space. "Dawn" (al-su!~rah) is taken from
MS 1934. It might be al-sa!wrah ("magicians"). Fliigel gives what might be al-
shajarah ("trees"), or, if the first letter was unmarked, al-sujrah ("water sources").
103 For the spelling of this apparently fictitious name, see Durayd, Geneal., p. 307
I. 19.
104 MS 1934 gives al-'Aqr!(. which might be a rare form meaning "Bent Over."
Fliigel has what is either al-'Aquq ("the Pregnant") or al-'Uquq ("the rebellious").
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
The Second Section of the Eighth Chapter
of the book Al-Fihrist, with accounts of the scholars and the names of the
books which they composed, including accounts of the exorcists, jugglers,
magicians, and those who use incantations,! tricks, and talismans.
Thus saith Mu}:l.ammad ibn Is}:l.aq al-Nadim: The exorcists and
magicians assert that the devils, jinn, and spirits obey and serve
them, being directed by their command and their prohibition. 2 The
exorcists, who pretend to observe the sacred laws, claim that this is
because of obedience to Allah, may His name be magnified.
Thus invocation is addressed to Him, and oaths by the spirits and
devils are by His help, with the abandoning of lusts and by conse-
quence of religious practices. Moreover, [they claim] that the jinn
and the devils obey them, either because of obedience to Allah,
may His name be magnified, or on account of [their making] oaths
by Him, or else for fear of Him, blessed and exalted is He. For He
has subjugated and humiliated them [the devils and jinn] by the
potency of His holy names and because of mention of Him, uplifted
and glorified is He.
The [other] magicians assert that they enslave the devils by
offer~gs and prohibitive acts. They [claim] that the devils are pleased
by the committing of acts which are forbidden and which Allah,
may His name be magnified, has prohibited. Thus the perpetrating
1 The word translated "incantations" is al-rriran)iyiit, which is an old form; see
l:Iajj Khalifah, IV, 186!. 7· For sorcery, magic, and talismans, see Khaldun, Muqad-
dimah (Rosenthal), III, 157-227.
2 A more literal translation is "and they were shifted between their command and
their prohibition."
 CHAPTER EIGHT
of things such as abandoning prayer and fasting, permmmg
blood,3 marrying forbidden women, and other kinds of evil actions
is also pleasing. This is common practice in Egypt and the nearby
regions; the books which are written there are many and extant.
The Babylon of the magicians is in the land of Egypt. A person who
has seen this [state of affairs] has told me that there still remain men
and women magicians and that all of the exorcists and magicians
assert that they have seals, charms of paper, sandal, jazab, smoke, and
other things used for their arts. 4
Another Account
One group of philosophers and servants of the stars assert that
they have talismans, based on [astronomical] observations, for all
things desired in connection with wonderful actions, excitements,
favor, and forms of authority. They also have designs on stones,
stringed beads, and signet stones. 5
This art is divulged openly among the philosophers. The Indians
believe in it and perform wonderful things. China has trickery and
magic of another form. The art of illusion is a speciality of India,
where there are books on the subject, some of which have been
translated into Arabic. The Turks also have an art of magic. A man,
most trustworthy and superior, has told me that they perform
miracles for the routings of armies, killing of enemies, crossing the
water, and cutting short long distances in short time. The talismans
of the land of Egypt and of Syria are numerous and their forms well
known, although their use has been rendered vain because they are
out-of-date. 6
3 This may refer to ordinances about butchering animals while pronouncing the
name of Allah. It may also refer to ordinances about menstruation contained in the
Muslim law. For the next item, "marrying forbidden women," see Qur'an, 4:2-24.
4 Charms of paper were undoubtedly slips upon which were written either old
pagan words or else verses from the Qur'an. Sandal was evidently sandalwood, used
for medical purposes. For the following word, Flugel gives al-jiziib which doEs not
seem to be a proper form. Perhaps it is meant to be al-jaziib, which is the plant
Orchis.flava, used for drugs. MS 1934 does not give consonant signs. This passage
has been translated freely .
5 "Stringed beads" (al-kharaj) are shells, gems, or beads which have been strung.
"Signet stones" (al:fu~u~) are gems or stones in signet rings.
6 The Arabic phrase translated "out-of-date" is li-taqadam a/-'ahd.
SECTION TWO
A Word about the Praiseworthy System of Charms
It is said, but Allah knows best and is the most wise, that Solomon
(Sulayman) son of David, 7 for both of whom may there be peace,
was the first person to enslave the jinn and the devils and to use them
as menials. It is also said that the first person, according to the
doctrines of the Persians, who made slaves of them was Jamshid ibn
Tahmurath. 8 It has been said that a Hebrew named Asaf ibn
Yii}:lanna9 who was the son of Solomon's maternal aunt, ~nother
Hebrew named Yiisuf ibn 'Isii/ 0 and a Persian Jew named al-
Hurmazan ibn al-Kurdiil used to write for Solomon the son of
David.U
The Names of the Demons Who Attended Solomon (Sulayman)
Son of David-They Are Seventy
They [the demons] assert that Solomon son of David, for whom
may there be peace, sat [in audience] and summoned the chief of the
jinn and the devils, whose name was Fuq~us, 12 to review them. So
Fuq~us taught him to know the name [of each demon], one by one,
and also its influence over the sons of Adam. Then he [Solomon]
imposed upon them a contract and a pledge. After he had adjured
them by that pledge and they had complied, they departed. The
pledges were [in] the name of Allah, Exalted, Mighty, and Magni-
fiedP They [the demons] were: 14 Fuq~us, 'Mrd, Kywan, Shimr'al,
7
For Solomon, see "Sulaiman," Enc. Islam, IV, 519; Tha'labi, Kitiib Qi$a~ai-Anbiyii',
p. 276 ff. Only the Fluge) edition has the pious epithet after Solomon and David.
8
The Arabic text does not give the usual name for the father, Tahmurath, but
some name which may be a garbled form meant for Hushang, the grandfather.
9
Yul}anna is taken from MS 1934. Flugel has Barakhiya instead.
10
Probably Joseph the son of Joshua. This and the name which follows are
evidently legendary.
11
For this passage see Goejc, ZDMG, XX (1866), 486-87.
12
Fuq~us, also known as Quf~us, is also mentioned in Tabar!, Annales, Part 3,
p. 165 1. 17.
13
"Exalted" is taken from Fliigel.
14
It is possible a duplicate list to this may be found in some other book, but so far
none has been discovered. The list contains 71 names, though the heading speaks of
70 demons. Perhaps the 70 are in addition to Fuq~us, the chief, or two of the names
should be compounded together. MS 1934 gives numerous vowel signs and many of
the names can be found in the dictionaries. Names which have no meaning and lack
vowel signs are given with only the transliterations of the Arabic letters indicated.
Some of the names are guesses.
 CHAPTER EIGHT
Firuz, Mhaqal, Zaynab, Syduk, Jndrb, Siyyar, Zanbur, al-Da'}:ts,
Kawkab, Hamran, Dahir, Qarun, Shidad, ~a'~a'sah, Baktan,
Harthamah: Takallum, Furiiq, Hurmiz, Hamhamah, 'Ayzar,
Mazahim, Murrah, Fatrah, al-Haym, Arhbh, Khyth', Khyfth,
Raya~, Zu}:tal, Zawba'ah, M}:ttukara, Hayshab, Tq'y~an, Wqa~,
Qdmnh, Mufarrish, Ayra'il, Nizar, Shf~il, Dywyd, Ankara,
Khatlifah, Tnkyush, Misalqar, Qadim, Ashja', Nawdar, Tythamah,
'Usir, Thu'ban, Naman, Nmudrky, Tyabur,15 Sahitun, 'Udhafir,
Mirdas, Shy~ub, Za'rush, ~akhr, al-'Aramram, Khashram, Shadhan,
al-.f:Iarith, al-.f:Iurth, 'Udhrah ('Adhirah), Faqruf.
The Names of the Seven Whose Offspring These [Demons] Were
The first was Danhash, the first day; [then] Shakhba, the second
day; Marbaya, the third day; 'Ahara, the fourth day; Mismar, the
16
fifth day; Namudarki, the sixth day; Bakh!ash, the seventh day.
Arius al-Rumi17
Arius the son of Stephanus, the son of Vitellius al-Rumi, was
nicknamed the Guide (al-Rashid) of his people. He was one of the
Byzantines who were skillful with charms. Amon~ his ?ooks the~e
was the book mentioning the children of the Dev1l (Ibhs) and theu
dispersion in the lands, together with the way in which each typ_e of
them specializes in diseases-spirits, deaths, actions, and the relatwn-
ships of the jinn.
Lawhaq
He was Lawhaq ibn 'Arfaj, of ancient times. Among his books
there was The Natures of the ]inn, Their Times o_f Birth, Their Punish-
tnents, and the Spirits of Epilepsy.
1s MS 1934 separates Tyabur into two names, which would make the total name
count 72, but the other versions make this one name. .
16 Although most of the vowel signs are given in MS 1934, some are lackmg so
that the names cannot be transliterated accurately. Some references whtch mention
a few of these names and explain the demons are Kisa'i, Qi~a~ al-Anbiyii'; McCown,
Testament of Solomon; Jawbari, Al-Mukhtiir fi Kaslif al-Asriir; Goeje, ZDMG, XX
(1866) , 485 ff.
17 This name is written differently in MS II 3 5. It cannot be the famous heretic,
whose father was said to be Ammonius; see Smith, GRBM, I, 345·
SECTION TWO
Ibn Hila!
He was one of the recent scholars. 18 He was Abu Na~r A}:tmad
ibn Hilal al-Bakil and [his father] Hilal was the son of Wa~if. It
was he who started this interest [in sorcery] in Islam. He was served
and also spoken to [by the jinn], and was known for wonderful
deeds and actions of goodness, as well as for seals of tested value.
Among his books there were:
The Vanished Spirit; Explanation ofWhat the Devils Said to Solomon
(Sulaymiin) Son of David (Da'rid), May Allah Bless Our Prophet and Also
Both of Them [Solomon and David], 19 and the Pledges He Imposed
upon Them.
Ibn al-Imiim
Among the exorcists who worked by means of the names of
Allah, may His name be magnified, there was a man known as Ibn
al-Imam, who lived during the days of al-Mu'tagid. 20 His system was
praiseworthy rather than subject to criticism.
'Abd Allah ibn Hilal21
$iilib al-Mudaybiri
'Uqbah al-Adhra'i
Abu Khalid al-Khurasani
These [above four] men were known for a system worthy of praise
and they accomplished great deeds and notable achievements.
Ibn Abi Ra~~ii~ah
He was Abu 'Amr 'Uthman ibn Abi Ra~~a~ah, a man whom I
have seen and met and who was a leader of his art. One day I
questioned him, saying, "Oh, Abu 'Amr, I would place you above
this showing!" He replied, "May Allah be glorified, I am over
eighty years old. If I did not know that this affair was true, I would
have left it, but I do not doubt its validity." So I said, "But, by
Allah, you have not been successful." He had many books and
18 MS II35 gives these words incorrectly.
19 The manuscripts omit the pious epithet.
20 MS II35 inserts the name al-'Abbasi after al-Mu'ta<;lid.
. 21 "The first whose genealogy was certain" is inserted over the name of 'Abd
Allah ibn Hilal in MS 1934. MS 1135 confuses the name.
730 CHAPTER EIGHT
achievements. Those engaged in this art regarding him as superior
and preeminent.
An Account of the Condemned System
This system which is condemned (shameful) is the system of the
magicians. Those informed about it claim that Bidhukh22 is the
daughter of the Devil (Iblis), or it is also said of the Devil's son,
and that she had a throne on the water. 23 If he who seeks this affair
comes to her after doing for her what she wishes, she makes a
servant of whomever he desires and fulfills his purposes. He is not
isolated from her nor from anyone who makes offerings to her from
among humans and animals, if he renounces the ordinances [of
religion] and employs that which is repugnant to the mind. 24
It is also said that Bidhukh is the Devil himself. Another person
has stated that Bidhukh is seated on her throne, and that whoever
seeks to obey her is brought to her and worships her. Almighty is
Allah and sanctified are His names !25
One of them [the magicians] told me that while asleep he saw
her with an appearance as when awake, and that he saw around her
a group resembling the Nabataeans, black, barefoot, with cloven
heels. 26 He said to me, "I saw in their group Ibn Mundhiryani, 27
who was one of the greatest of the workers of magic, [living]
near to our time. His [real] namewasAbmadibnJa'farandhewasan
apprentice oflbn Zurayq. He, moreover, spoke from under a basin. 28
Khalaf ibn Yusuf al-Dastumisani Was Among Them
According to what some of his friends have recollected, he wrote
books and was known as Ibn Qinan.
22 Bidhiikh (Baydiik) represents Venus or Aphrodite; see Chwolsohn Die
Ssabier, II, 171 1. 14, 8 II 1. 26.
23 See Chap. IX, sect. I, n. III.
u This passage evidently refers to persons who renounced the ordinances ofislam
in order to serve the heathen goddess.
25 This clause seems to be a pious exclamation by the author, an affirmation of his
own faith while describing these irreligious rites. There is no punctuation to make
the interpretation clear.
26 See "Nabataeans" in Glossary
27 Ibn Mundhiryani is garbled and very likely an error. It is evidently meant to be
a popular name for Al:Jmad ibnJa'far.
28 Al-tast ("basin") here it probably refers to a large copper vessel. The worker
of magic spoke from under it to give an air of mystery to the proceedings.
SECTION TWO 731
lfammiid ibn Murrah al-Y amani Was Among Them
He quoted al-Zarqa' the Sorceress29 with his own interpretation.
Among his books there was Images.
Al-I:Jariri Was Among Them
He was Abu al-Qasim al-Faql ibn Sahl ibn al-Fa41. Among his
books there was The Untied, the Tied, the Knots, and the Twistings.
Ibn Wabshiyah al-Kaldani
He was Abu Bakr A~mad ibn 'Ali ibn Mukhtar ibn 'Abd al-Karim
ibn I:Jarathiya ibn Badaniya ibn Birna~iya ibn '.Alatiya al-Kasdani the
~ufi, one of the people of Qussin. 30 He claimed that he was a magi-
cian who made talismans and practiced the Art [alchemy]. We
shall mention his books on the Art in the proper place at the end of
this volume. "Kasdani" means that he was one of the Nabataeans
who were the inhabitants of the first land. He was a descendant of
Si~arib. 31 He wrote books about magic and talismans, among
which there were :32
Expulsion of the Devils, also known as Secrets; the large book of magic;
the small book of magic; Giddiness (Duwar) [or Revolving (Dawwar)],
according to the doctrine of the Nabataeans-it is in nine sections; The
Doctrines of the Chaldaeans about idols; Advice about Magic; The
Secrets of the Stars; the large and small books about agriculture; of al-
Kasdani about the second category of talismans, translated by Ibn
Wal_lshiyah; 33 Life and Death, about the treatment of diseases, by Rah~a
ibn Samu~an al-Kasdani; 34 Idols; Offerings; Disposition; 3 5 The
29
MS II35 has Abii Zarqa', but the "Abii" was probably inserted by a careless
scribe.
30
Qussin was near al-Kiifah in Chaldaea; see Yaqiit, Geog., IV, roo. The names
of the ancestors were evidently Nabataean and cannot be rendered accurately.
31
The vowel signs are not given for this name in Al-Fihrist. "Sin!Jarib" is a guess;
it is found in Yaqiit, Geog., Ill, 240 1. 4.
32
For the titles of many ofhis books, seep. 864. See also l;Iajj Khalifah, I, 281;
III, 98, 587; IV, 166, 298, 461; V, 94, 95, II7, 132, 137, 249. He wrote in Naba-
taean and also made Arabic translations.
33
Before al-Kasdani there are two other names which are given differently in the
various versions and cannot be deciphered.
34
This name is written differently in the various versions.
35
In the Arabic, I h, meaning "to him," follows this title and the following. This
probably means that Ibn Wal:Jshiyah wrote the books himself instead of merely
translating them.
732 CHAPTER EIGHT SECTION TWO 733

Names; of his conversations with Abu ]a 'jar al-Umawi and Saliimah ibn Apollonius the Wise 42

Sulayman al-Ikhmimi about the Art [alchemy] and magic.
Abu Talib Abmad ibn al-I:Iusayn ibn' Ali ibn A.}:lmad ibn Mu}:tammad
ibn 'Abd al-Malik al-Zayyat
He was a friend of Ibn Wabshiyah. It was he who quoted his
books. He was alive during our time, but I believe that he died
recently.
He was one of the people of Tyana, in the Byzantine territory.
It is said that he was the first to initiate speech about talismans. His
book about talismans, which he wrote in his own city and in the
kingdoms of the kings, is known and famous.
Arus43
He was a Byzantine. His book was Incantations.

A Statement about Juggling, Talismans, and Incantations36 _ Babbah the Indian44

The first persons to play [tricks] with juggling during the period
of Islam were 'Ubayd al-Kayyis and another known as Qutb al-
Ra}:t}:ta. They wrote a number of books about this subject:
Juggling, by 'Ubayd al-Kayyis; Nimbleness, Compressing, and Snatch-
ing,37 by Qu~b al-Ra}:U}.a; Swallowing the Sword, the Rod, Pebbles, and
Shells, 38 and Eating Soap and Glass, with the Trick for That; Juggling,
by 'Ubayd al-Kayyis.39
The last person to play [tricks] with sleight of hand whom we
have seen was Man~ur Abu al-'Ajab. He died when he was one
hundred and fifteen years old. He used to say, "I performed in the
presence of al-Mu'tamid." 40
Qalishtanus41
He was an ancient and one of those who spoke about the special
properties of phenomena, incantations, and talismans. Among his
books there was The Compilation, about incantations and special
He was one of the ancients whose system of incantations was the
system of India. Among his books there was a book in which he
followed the system of those who upheld illusion.
The Books of Hermes about Incantations, Special Properties, and
Talismans
Book of Hermes, about resuscitation, amulets, and charms; Al-Hari!iis, 45
about incantations over trees, fruits, unguents, and herbs; of Marqiinas, 46
about names, safeguards, amulets, and means of protection, with the
letters of the sun, moon, five planets, and names of the philosophers; of
Marqunas about special properties, which he divided into three sections,
each section comprising a subject.
42 This was probably Apollonius of Tyan.
43 This may refer to Arius al-Riimi, seen. 17, or else to some man who cannot be
identified.
44 MS II35 gives this name clearly.

45 This is very likely meant to be the Greek word -i5Saro<;'. See Chap. X, n. 25.
properties.
46 This name is written imperfectly, but is probably meant to be Marqiinas.
36 ''Juggling" is al-sha'badhah, also meaning "sleight of hand." "Talismans" is

al-talsamiit.
37 The word translated "snatching" (al-laqf) is taken from MS II35, which seems
to be correct. It is given differently in the other versions.
38 Al-sabaj ("shells") usually signifies small black shells. The word is taken from
MS II35 ·
39 For "juggling" (al-111akhraqah), an unusual term, see Dozy, Supplbnent, I, 366.
40 As this caliph ruled A.D. 870-92, a man who was contemporary with him might

easily have lived until the time of al-Nadim. In the sentence preceding, Fliigel gives
the word for "sleight of hand" and the proper name following it incorrectly.
41
Perhaps this is meant to be Ca/listhenes. MS II35 gives a name which appears
to be Mazentius.
 CONTENTS EXORDIUM
446
·
Secuon The Muj.birah and al-Hashawiyah
3. · 452
raise be to God Whose bounties are endless, Whose signs are

P
Section 4. The Khawarij 455
Section 5. Ascetics countless, Whose exposition is eloquent. He is the Merciful
Whose kingdom is everlasting, the Generous that none resem-
CHAPTER VI bles. His divine essence is unknown, hidden from every creation. We
493
Section 1 . Malik ibn Anas praise Him with praise fitting only for Him Who made us followers of
499 the master of human beings, the perfect human being, the last mes-
Section 2 . Abu I:Ianifah 515
Section 3. Al-Shafi'i senger, the beacon and the guide of humanity, the ocean of heavenly
528 knowledge who delivered His Lord's message with the utmost elo-
. n 4 Da'iid ibn 'Ali
Sec t10 _,_ _ h
. .. f h shi'ah· the Isma 1hya 535 quence mingled with the fragrance of paradise, an eloquence descend-
Section 5. Legal Authontles o t e '_
545 ing on the hearts of human beings, enlightening them as the early
Section 6. Jurists Depending upon the I:Iad1th
563 morning dew revives the leaves of the trees, caressing them as the
Section 7· Al-Tabari 569 ocean waves caress the sands of the shore.
Section 8. Jurists of the Shurat
Recite in the Name of your Lord Who created
CHAPTER VII . 1 · d- . .. . and taught by the pen,
Section I. Philosophy; the 'Greek Ph1losophers, a -Km 1
571 taught the human being that which he knew not.
and Other Scholars
634
Section 2. Mathematics and Astronomy If all the trees were pens and all the oceans were ink . ...
673
Section 3. Medicine: Greek and Islamic
Al-Qastallani relates in his book, al-Mawahib al-ladunniya, that
CHAPTER VIII . 712 Prophet Muhammad(~) said, "God asked me something on the night
Section I. Story Tellers and Stones . . of ascension and I was unable to answer. Then he put His hands,
725
Section 2. Exorcists, Jugglers, and Mag1Clans which defy description, between my shoulders. I felt a coolness which
734
Section 3. Miscellaneous Subjects and Fables inspired in me the knowledge of the First and the Last."
From God's endless favors come those sincere pious scholars,
CHAPTER IX - - h beloved by God and His prophet; He is satisfied with them and they
Section I. The ~abians, Manichaeans, Day~amya ' are satisfied with their Lord. Their deeds were based on the Quran
Khurramiyah, Marcio~ites, and ?ther Sect~a 745
826 and the sunna; their blood was the ink of their pens; and their hearts
Section 2. Information about Ind1a, Indochina, and C were the driving force behind their books, their words were wings for
843 this spirits on the ladders of knowledge. They engraved their works
CHAPTER X with the light of their inspiration which reflected rainbows of discern-
869
Bibliography ment into the hearts of their readers.
905 Their works are beacons for humanity in understanding the wis-
Glossary 928 dom behind each word of the Quran and its vastness. They recorded
Appendix all the different meanings and nuances as God taught Adam all the
931
Biographical Index names thereby making human beings his vicegerents on earth. These
II37 scholars brought us the secrets behind these eloquent names and let-
General Index ters. They adorned them with the light of their faith and their perfec-
tion, words which chase away the love of worldly pleasure and build
up love for the hereafter in the hearts of human beings. All their
works remind us to leave prohibited actions and urge us to remember