Review — The Sun of Knowledge (Shams al-Ma’arif)

Those of you who remember my old grimoire wish list might remember <a href="https://danharms.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/a-grimoire-wish-list-the-shams-al-maarif-of-al-buni/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">my discussion of the Shams al-Ma’arif</a>, which I followed up with <a href="https://danharms.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/is-the-shams-al-maarif-the-necronomicon/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">some questionable Necronomicon connections</a> and <a href="https://danharms.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/shams-al-maarif-update/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">online drama</a>. I still don’t expect to see an entire English version of the text, given that it is over a thousand pages. Nonetheless, a welcome glimpse of the contents can be found in Revelore Press’ <a href="https://revelore.press/product/shams-al-maarif-the-sun-of-knowledge/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">selected translation of the book</a>, with translation by Amina Inloes and illustrated and commented upon by J. M. Hamade. This is a review of a purchased copy. Much of what modern grimoire scholars and practitioners know about Arabic magic — save for those lucky enough to be know the language — is from the Picatrix, which largely consists of material independent of the Quran or the tenets or trappings of Islam. What remains largely unexamined is the extensive literature and practice utilizing various aspects of the faith to accomplish everyday, instrumental deeds. The Sun of Knowledge presents us with a sampling of such material. <a href="https://medium.com/@danharms_29771/review-the-sun-of-knowledge-shams-al-maarif-3e791f497381">Website</a>