Al Sîmîya: The Magic of Arab LettersBy Spartacus Freemann http://www2.esoblogs.net/3015/al-simiya-la-magie-des-lettres-arabes/ The science of letters may take different names: 'ilm al-Hurufism, which' ilm al-bast, Jafr, zâ'irja, al-sîmîya ... the term al-sîmîya, which is built on the same basis as al-Kimiya means "Science of operative letters" and is a science of the transmutation of the word. It also seems that the word derives from the Greek sîmîya "semeion" sign. The origin of the current remains obscure but it appears that it is found mainly in Sufism which authors such as Al-Buni and Ibn al-Arabi in describe the processes in their works. They said the science of letters allows man to transmute the reading and researching of the hidden meaning of each letter. The text thus acts as an inducer of a deep sense of change in the reader of the combination of letters. The work is esoteric in that it takes place in the hearts of man and as Al-Buni said: "Do not think you will perceive the mystery of the letters by using discursive reason, you will succeed by intuitive vision and divine grace. " As written by Pierre Lory: "The sîmîya does not represent a purely intellectual effort or poetic speculation on the situation of man in the world. It first searches for the deciphering of meaning that we are, not only the meaning we read "(The science of letters in Islam Dervy edition). Those who practice the science of letters trying to find meaning in the apparent meaning of the text and "Knowledge of the practitioner has two purposes: first, an esoteric research, seeking both to reach the hidden meaning (batin ) works deemed to be heavy - which naturallyinclude the Quran - and, secondly, to access the hidden side of the world or the knowledge of the hidden knowledge of angels , etc - According to the question - using a system of divination, an original hybrid between geomancy and the science of letters both ways allow him to predict events (political, economic, religious or personal) on the future the community or the world. Then magical operations, the sîmîya 'esoteric science (or magic ) of the letters in his beneficent intention "Yemeni Chronicles 1997 The occult sciences in Yemen, Anne Regourd. each letter of the Arabic alphabet. the numbers are epiphanies in the spiritual entities. the letters encompass all knowledge. this system is in parallel with that of Hebrew or Aramaic. دdâl = 4. The letters within the circle of material realities and intermediaries "(Shams al-Ma'arif. The letters بb. Cairo). "Know that the secrets of God and the objects of his science. بbâ = 2. . … . From the letter يya we enter the order of tens. k كand r رare related because all three have the 2 as the root of their value (2. In the words of Al-Buni. those below and those worlds are two angelic intermediary categories: there are numbers and letters. the letter attached to the figure the special meaning of each element of creation. representing a specific numeric value: اalif = 1. The secret letters in numbers. with Qaf قin the hundreds. the realities subtle and dense bodies from above. There are also magic squares corresponding to each letter and having a particular principle in connection with the numerical value of letters. جjîm = 3.. The sîmîya is there a science of numbers in the form of letters. A1ا y 10 ي q 100 ق b2ب k 20 ك r 200 ر j3ج l 30 ل s 300ص d 4 دm 44 م t 444 ط h5ه n 54 ن th 544 ث w 6 وs 64 س kh 644 خ z 7 زayn 74 ء dh 744 ذ h 8 حf 84 ف z 844 ظ t 9 تd 94 ض gh 944 غ sh 1444 ش As we can see. 20 and 200). there is a close link between the letters themselves in relation to their numeric value.. According to the authors of the sîmîya.Principles According to the sacred science. the knowledge of God can be an incomplete knowledge of the hundredth name of God. which is sufficient in itself to explain the world. Of them all exoteric names are derived. water.. then by his sacred name exoteric. moreover. including astrology. The sîmîya is a shortcut that allows for the economy of the philosophy of language and intellectual long essays. the letters are . 7 are of the earth element and 7 are for the air. The processes of the al-sîmîya are often very similar to other processes based on the use of letters. because anyone who acquires this knowledge then has the power over all things here belowMore importantly. dal is earth. and a perfect number (14 +7 +4 +2 +1 = 28). ultimately. The ultimate goal for the Sufis who use this system is. code translation. Jim is water. The sîmîya also operates a division of the 28 letters into two groups: the 14 luminous letters of light and 14 letters of darkness.ilm ha huruf: luminous letters and letters of darkness. seven days of the week . Science of the Throne. the relationship with other systems. it is only by his silence he can express his deep state ". is that any person has become his language. The Rector alif is a letter. or 29 letters if one includes the lam-alif ال. p. The Arabic alphabet has 28 letters and Twenty-eight is a number rich in arithmology by its relationship with the septainaire: the union of 4 and 3. Esoteric names not vocalized (ie the 14 illuminated letters) are the root of everything in the world down here as in the other they are the treasure of mystery of God and his science. And further Al. reduction letters in numbers. to discover the Supreme Name of God (Ism Allah al-a'zam) which crowns the 99 Names of God. 59). and so on. so that makes unnecessary any other knowledge. he discovers through the Supreme Name of God's own name and so he becomes aware of himself.earth.. letters containing their science "(Al. firehas its own group of letters Alif is fire. which were used so that Allah can create our world. other letters have been generated by him. According to Ibn Arabi in fact. which has influenced both Arab and Hebrew as the basis for the division of time and space in the Semitic world: 7 world. seven celestial spheres. Thus.Buni. Al-Buni then proceeds to develop the role of tool that the letters are in the field of universal connections. seven letters of the fire element. 7 are the water element. He is their angel. Every element . The Shams al-ma'ârif (Sun of Knowledge) of Al-Buni At the beginning of the world appeared Alif اwhich begat the Ba بand from their relationship was born لlam and other letters of the alphabet. Then. Ba is air. They determine everything.Bunî added: "The Prophet Muhammad said: The whole of existence was established by the esoteric names of God. four cardinal points. the Tablet . Twenty-eight is. The letters are sorted first by type of own.The sîmîya is a universal science to account for everything that occurs or may occur in different levels of existence: the universal to the particular. air. The sîmîya is also a language in itself. and more particularly the system of gematria of the Hebrew Kabbalah: isopséphie (hisâb al-Jumala). Twenty-eight is a figure based lunar calendar. All the meanings of the letters contained in the alif is a summary of summaries. the triangular number 7: 7 +6 +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 = 28. 28 lunar mansions. God has made "the Mother of the Book". making it unnecessary to call itself as Shurawardi says "He who speaks not. By combining the first letters formed the Divine Name Allah the Sublime and the 99 Names. It is the equivalent of Mind. .arranged according to the lunar mansions. wet and dry). numerically. Al-Buni distributes the letters according to the different spheres: "A Saturn corresponds in the world of spiritual entities to letter jim ج. cold. a progress in the esoteric knowledge of letters which allows the practitioner to continue his journey by opening hidden doors to outsiders. which refers. and thus God Himself. the stars . Thus. In this regard. يthe 10 and جjim 3. The Saints are privileged to know the Supreme Name of God which marks the final stage of esoteric knowledge.. "The basmalah is yours what Kun (Be!) Is God" . the important thing is the acquisition of knowledge which must lead to holiness. This letter was itself divided into three others. and more mundane forms of magic such as use of talismans or oracles. According to Al-Buni spiritual growth can be summarized in these few lines: the saints "are the hidden meaning of the 99 Divine Names by gift of grace and inspiration. The letters are divided into four groups (7 letters are hot. an extension or a reflection on earth of his creative activity. in units with 5 or the letter hâ ه.. In the world of subtle entities below. that is. it is not surprising to see a subtle blend of pure spirituality of cosmosophy based on the power of letters. directing the will of men . they possess knowledge of the 14 letters of light. either the name 90. it appears they were using methods such as magic talismans to acquire a form of power. Pierre Lory says: "The magic of a Sufi-theurgist is neither acquired through individual learning or stolen or given to God by Him through the magical effect of processes: it is a particle of Absolute God power. The purification of the heart is under a greater progress. constellations of the zodiac.. barakah leading man who used to a higher sphere of consciousness. walk on water. the hours of day and night. is 3 itself and 53 after decomposition isopséphie the مmim is worth 40. Saturn corresponds to صsad. We are thus faced with a Gnostic vision in which knowledge is acquired not only by study but by way of revelation from the higher worlds. The magic squares will thus raising the sides of five cases "(Al-Buni p. 5). They know the 99 names of the 99 present behind esoteric exoteric names. The latter. The saint who has done this can fly through the air. what no one else can know the speculative or discursive reason. For the practitioner of its systems. While authors such as al-Buni sought a form of holiness or spiritual elevation by the use of magic letters and through a transmutation of the inner heart and soul with the power of letters and knowledge of the secrets of the Divine Names. . The system relies on a long poem and involves literature. giving twelve cycles. There's letters on the question of degrees and corresponding zodiac sign and the sign that faces (eg the Sagittarius and Gemini). Then apply the seven principles and various operations to obtain a response by successive draws of letters from those placed in the Zodiac. Transactions pertaining to questions based on seven principles: (1) the numerical value of letters (2) retention of the result of dividing by twelve cycles (3) knowledge of the degree of influence (4) the Governor the sign of the zodiac (5) knowledge of the main run which is a (6) the result of the influence of the main cycle (7) the result of multiplying the ascendant and cycle by the Governor of the sign of the zodiac. The operation is conducted in three cycles multiplied by four. Under this system. astrology and magic to find an adequate answer to the question posed by a particular process. Another method to find an answer to a question posed is the following. These cycles are followed by "results" can be one to six. a question may have 360 responses by the ascendancy of one's question.The Za'irajah A branch of the science of magic letters is the technique of Za'irajah Oracle or letters whose goal is to get answers to questions through letters. s ص. . k. The practice of science letters requires two conditions. the powers of the letter have an impact on the material world. z. The veil of the unknown is then up to him. They have produced extraordinary and wonderful things and were active in this world of existence by God's help. It is the power that is manifested when the letters are written. th ث and z ظ. k ك. kh خ. t ت. z ز. Before a letter is pronounced. the scholar can discover the secrets of creation and work of the secret nature. These forms can be moving or stationary.the science of letters is an important science. as indicated in Za'irajahs. m م. n ن. s. cold and dry. The moisture combines air and water: j. kh. s س. dh ذ. n. Thus. q ق. We should know that the shape of each letter has a corresponding shape in the upper world. Les deux sont représentés par les lettres alif ا.This can be done with the letters that have diacritical marks. y. y ي. This is the result of activation of the spirituality of letters."Know . The combination of hot air and fire. The third category is one that causes the internalization of psychic power and concentration by the emergence of letters in the world of existence. t طet d ض. This can take place with those who have none. We should know that the powers of the letters fall into three categories. and gh. high or low. th. h. b. hot and cold. The cold combined land and water: دd. This letter is written in a spiritual world which belongs to this particular letter. m م. For assistance. s س. h ه. j ج. This degree. ayn ء. dh ذ. If a person wants to know the power of each letter of the alphabet. l. z ز. sh. in the Divine Throne. w. Veiled relationship and . which is the degree of harmony of letters. w و. h ح. b ب. The first is the least important. t ت. He learns the contents of the secret compound in the heart. r. th ثet z ظ. fف. j ج. The dry combines fire and earth: alif. z. sh ش. The nature of the letters is the same as that attributed to all created things: hot and dry. and a power in the verb. is the power that the letter itself has over the material world. dh. m. k ك. it is formed in the soul. and power in the material world. A number of people in the Maghgreb were supposed to have knowledge of the magic of letters. s. because the letters with diacritics in their degree of significance that will be explained later. he learns the two sisters who are the philosophies of magic letters and alchemy . r ر. The second category is the power of letters in the domain of thought. l ل. fف. Scholars who know manage to get the knowledge of things they would not be able to obtain by using any other science in this world. ayn. h ه. It is a power among the high spirituality. Both are represented by the letters Alif ا. This is the "rope" of this letter. After she passed. cold. Each time the letter produced a psychic power and concentration of mind. The result is the power that a private letter has in the spiritual world. t and d. q.may God strengthens us by His Spirit . gh غ. q ق. f. h. wet. it is a form from the letters. s. t. she must seek the number that belongs to each of these letters. This is the secret of the ogdoad. sh ش. the elemental relationship are discovered . we write h هm مl ل. we establish the proportions and it raises the question. The numerical value of m مis 40. seven and 10 . 4. either implicitly clear night. al-Muqaddima . Illustration by Abd Al Malik Nounouhi on the site Arabic Calligraphy . If one wishes to know the answer to a question. So ك ي ح د بThe numerical value of لis 30 which can be divided by 2. La science des lettres en Islam . Do the same with all the letters of the item. Par exemple. Magie et religion dans l'Afrique du Nord . b ب. "Al-sîmiyâ. The strings are found by dividing the square of each letter by its smallest value.must be spelled according to their order. in particular p. Each string is then placed in contrast to his letter. chap. Doutte. we must determine the influence of the person asking the question or the influence of the question. with those of the name of the questioner and the question. five. Dervy (2005). if the ascendant is Aries (al-hamal). The value of h هis 8. Therefore d د. 4-15. 5. n° 7/8 (1986). which can be divided by 1. we must add the numerical value of letters as the "big load". and the numbers and powers of the strings must be found. 6 and 10.. 3. si l'ascendant est Aries (al-hamal). 7 Pierre Lory. especially p. E. Then the letters of the four cardinals of the horoscope . . Then. on écrit For example.interpenetration of nature and the letters representing the interpenetration of the inner world of letters in the upper world and here. « Magie et religion dans l'œuvre de Muhyî al-Dîn al-Bûnî ». we discover what we seek.. through the four primary elements. alif ا. 10 and 20. If you want to discover the powers of the letters of the ascendant. 8. On addition. Horizons Maghrébins . " يللي Sources: Ibn Khaldûn. Thus. 2.one.. Pierre Lory. which can be divided by 2. 4 and 8.