Shams al-Ma'arif

Shams al-Ma'arif or Shams al-Ma'arif wa

Lata'if al-'Awarif[a] is a 13th-century
grimoire centered on Arabic magic and
claimed to be a manual for achieving
esoteric spirituality. It was written by the
scholar Ahmad al-Buni who wrote it while
living in Algeria; he died around 1225 CE
(622 AH). [1] The book is a patchwork of
bits and pieces of al-Buni's authentic
works, and texts by other authors.[2]
Scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah have criticized
the book and labeled al-Buni as a deluded
devil worshipper.[3][4]
 Shams al-Ma'arif (The Book of the
Sun of Gnosis)

The introduction of the Book A manuscript

copy, beginning of 17th century

Author Ahmad al-Buni

Language Arabic

Genre Occult treatise,

Grimoire
OCLC 20121408 (https://ww
w.worldcat.org/oclc/2
0121408)

LC Class BF1771 .B8 Arab

In contemporary form, the book consists

of two volumes; Shams al-Ma'arif al-
Kubra[b] and Shams al-Ma'arif al-Sughra,[c]
the former being the larger of the two.[5][6]
The first few chapters introduce the reader
to magic squares, and the combination of
numbers and the alphabet that are
believed to bring magical effect, which the
author claims is the only way to
communicate with jinn, angels and spirits.
The table of contents that were introduced
in the later printed editions of the work
contain a list of unnumbered chapters
(faṣl), which stretch to a number of 40.
However, prior to the printing press and
various other standardisations, there were
three independent volumes that circulated,
each one differing in length.[7]

While being popular, it also carries a

notorious reputation for being suppressed
and banned for much of Islamic history.[8]
However, it continues to persist, in being
read and studied up to the present day,
despite its questionable veracity and
negative implications.[9][10] Some Sufi
orders, such as the Naqshbandi-Haqqani
order have occasionally recognised its
potential spiritual value, provided that the
reader understands it.[11]

Another title by the same author, namely

Manba' Usool al-Hikmah ("The Source of
the Essentials of Wisdom"), is considered
its companion text.

Translations

An Algerian manuscript of the Shams

al-Ma'arif from 1868, Khalili Collection
of Islamic Art
Although a translation into English has not
been undertaken, there have been
numerous renditions of a few of the more
popular rituals found within the main
treatise, as well as those that lie in its
accompanying text. Some of these rituals
have had various degrees of notability, but
one of recurring presence in many
publications is that of the Birhatiya[12][13][14]
(also known as The Ancient Oath or Red
Sulphur[15]).

In 2022 a partial English translation by

Amina Inloes was published by Revelore
Press as "Shams al-Ma’arif: The Sun of
Knowledge An Arabic Grimoire: A selected
Translation"[16]

In 2023 another English translation of the

Shams al Ma'arif was published by Johann
Voldemont as ''Shams al-Ma'arif:Talismans
and Magic Squares'' which focuses
primarily on the talismans and magic
squares contained within the text.[17]
Outside of the Arab and Western world,
several editions of the book have been
published in the Urdu and Turkish
languages.[18][19][20]

See also
Alchemy in the medieval Islamic world
 Astrology in the medieval Islamic world
Simiyya

Notes
a. Arabic: ‫كتاب شمس المعارف ولطائف العوارف‬,
lit. 'the Book of the Sun of Gnosis and the
Subtleties of Elevated Things'
b. Arabic: ‫شمس المعارف الكبرى‬
c. Arabic: ‫شمس المعارف الصغرى‬

1. Owen Davies, Grimoires: A History of Magic

Books, Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 27
2. 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 12 (2012). University of
Michigan.
3. Gardiner, Noah (2017), Esotericist Reading
Communities and the Early Circulation of
the Sufi Occultist Aḥmad al-Būnī’s Works,
Arabica 64 (2017) 405-441. Brill.
4. "Narratives of Danger: The Sun of
Knowledge in Arabic Occulture" (https://ww
w.leidenislamblog.nl/articles/narratives-of-
danger-the-sun-of-knowledge-in-arabic-occ
ulture) . Leidenislamblog. June 30, 2022.
Retrieved June 1, 2023.
5. Shamsu al-Ma‘aref al-Kubrah, Al Nour
Library, Beirut, Lebanon: 2006.
6. Shamsu al-Ma‘aref al-Sughra, Al Nour
Library, Beirut, Lebanon: 2005.
7. Francis Maddison, Emilie Savage-Smith,
Ralph H. Pinder-Wilson, Tim Stanley,
Science, Tools And Magic Vol. 12, Oxford
University Press, 1997, p. 65
8. Michael Ipgrave, Scriptures in Dialogue:
Christians and Muslims Studying the Bible
and the Qur'an Together, Church Publishing
Inc, 2004, p. 42
9. Gardiner, Noah (2017), Esotericist Reading
Communities and the Early Circulation of
the Sufi Occultist Aḥmad al-Būnī’s Works,
Arabica 64 (2017) 405-441. Brill.
10. "Narratives of Danger: The Sun of
Knowledge in Arabic Occulture" (https://ww
w.leidenislamblog.nl/articles/narratives-of-
danger-the-sun-of-knowledge-in-arabic-occ
ulture) . Leidenislamblog. June 30, 2022.
Retrieved June 1, 2023.
11. "Shamsu'l-Ma'arif" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20111023182733/http://eshaykh.co
m/halal_haram/shamsul-maarif) .
eshaykh.com. Archived from the original (ht
tp://eshaykh.com/halal_haram/shamsul-m
aarif/) on October 23, 2011. Retrieved
July 9, 2011.
12. Wahid Azal, The Birhatiya Conjuration Oath
& the meaning of its first 28 names, N.U.R.-
Fatimiya Sufi Order, 2008
13. Nineveh Shadrach, Magic That Works:
Practical Training for the Children of Light,
Ishtar Publishing, 2005, p. 228
14. Nineveh Shadrach, Ancient Magick
Conjuration of Power: Beginners Guide to
the Berhatiah, Ishtar Publishing, 2011
15. Nineveh Shadrach, Magic That Works:
Practical Training for the Children of Light,
Ishtar Publishing, 2005, p. 48
16. "Shams al-Ma'arif (The Sun of Knowledge)"
(https://revelore.press/product/shams-al-m
aarif-the-sun-of-knowledge/?mc_cid=582ed
42a26&mc_eid=3b1ef5a702) .
17. Shams al-Ma'arif:Talismans and Magic
Squares (https://www.amazon.com/Shams
-al-Maarif-Talismans-Magic-Squares/dp/B0
CJXGKBQF/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1ZXYN6EC2L0
9S&keywords=shams+al+maarif&qid=1698
173983&sprefix=shams+al+maarif,aps,148
&sr=8-8) . 2023.
18. Iqbal al-Din Ahmad, Shams al-Ma'arif al-
Kubra Wa Lata'if al-'Awarif. Urdu, Darul
Ishaat, Karachi, Pakistan: 1978.
19. Basir Ahmad Hadrat Kalianwala, Shams al-
Ma'arif Lata'if al-'Awarif. Urdu Tarjama,
Kutub Khana Shan-e-Islam, Lahore,
Pakistan.
20. Selahattin Alpay, Sems’ül Maarif. Büyük
Bilgiler Güneşi, P.K. 157 Beyazid, Istanbul:
1979.
External links
Shams al-Ma'arif al-Kubra wa Lataifu al-
Avarif (http://digitaloccultmanuscripts.bl
ogspot.com/2008/08/shemsu-al-ma-wa
-lataifu-al-avarif-gold.html)
Partial Translation in Spanish and First
Comparative Edition by Jaime Coullaut
Cordero (from Universidad de
Salamanca) (https://archive.org/details/
al-buni/)

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