Al Smya: The Magic of Arab Letters

By 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, z'irja,
al-smya ... the term al-smya, 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 smya "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 smya 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 smya 'esoteric science (or magic ) of the letters in his beneficent
intention "Yemeni Chronicles 1997 The occult sciences in Yemen, Anne Regourd.

Principles
According to the sacred science, the letters encompass all knowledge, the letter attached to the
figure the special meaning of each element of creation.
In the words of Al-Buni, "Know that the secrets of God and the objects of his science, the
realities subtle and dense bodies from above, those below and those worlds are two angelic
intermediary categories: there are numbers and letters. The secret letters in numbers, the
numbers are epiphanies in the spiritual entities. The letters within the circle of material realities
and intermediaries "(Shams al-Ma'arif, Cairo).
The smya is there a science of numbers in the form of letters, each letter of the Arabic alphabet,
representing a specific numeric value: alif = 1, b = 2, jm = 3, dl = 4, ... From the
letter ya we enter the order of tens, with Qaf in the hundreds.
A1

y 10

q 100

b2

k 20

r 200

j3

30

s 300

d 4 m 44

t 444

h5

n 54

th 544

w 6 s 64

kh 644

z 7 ayn 74

dh 744

h 8 f 84

z 844

t 9 d 94

gh 944

sh 1444
As we can see, this system is in parallel with that of Hebrew or Aramaic.
According to the authors of the smya, there is a close link between the letters themselves in
relation to their numeric value. The letters b, k and r are related because all three have
the 2 as the root of their value (2, 20 and 200). There are also magic squares corresponding to
each letter and having a particular principle in connection with the numerical value of letters.

The smya is a universal science to account for everything that occurs or may occur in different
levels of existence: the universal to the particular. The smya is also a language in itself, which
is sufficient in itself to explain the world. The smya is a shortcut that allows for the economy of
the philosophy of language and intellectual long essays.
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. Twenty-eight is, moreover, the triangular
number 7: 7 +6 +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 = 28, and a perfect number (14 +7 +4 +2 +1 = 28). Twenty-eight
is a figure based lunar calendar, 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, 28 lunar
mansions, four cardinal points, seven days of the week . Every element - earth, air, water, firehas its own group of letters Alif is fire, Ba is air, Jim is water, dal is earth, and so on. Thus, seven
letters of the fire element, 7 are the water element, 7 are of the earth element and 7 are for the air.
The smya also operates a division of the 28 letters into two groups: the 14 luminous letters of
light and 14 letters of darkness.
The processes of the al-smya are often very similar to other processes based on the use of
letters, and more particularly the system of gematria of the Hebrew Kabbalah: isopsphie (hisb
al-Jumala), code translation, reduction letters in numbers. The ultimate goal for the Sufis who
use this system is, ultimately, to discover the Supreme Name of God (Ism Allah al-a'zam) which
crowns the 99 Names of God, which were used so that Allah can create our world. According to
Ibn Arabi in fact, the knowledge of God can be an incomplete knowledge of the hundredth name
of God, because anyone who acquires this knowledge then has the power over all things here
belowMore importantly, he discovers through the Supreme Name of God's own name and so he
becomes aware of himself, so that makes unnecessary any other knowledge, making it
unnecessary to call itself as Shurawardi says "He who speaks not, is that any person has become
his language, it is only by his silence he can express his deep state ".
The Shams al-ma'rif (Sun of Knowledge) of Al-Buni
At the beginning of the world appeared Alif which begat the Ba and from their relationship
was born lam and other letters of the alphabet, or 29 letters if one includes the lam-alif . By
combining the first letters formed the Divine Name Allah the Sublime and the 99 Names. The
Rector alif is a letter, other letters have been generated by him. He is their angel. It is the
equivalent of Mind, Science of the Throne, the Tablet ... All the meanings of the letters contained
in the alif is a summary of summaries, letters containing their science "(Al- Buni, p. 59).
And further Al.Bun added: "The Prophet Muhammad said: The whole of existence was
established by the esoteric names of God, then by his sacred name exoteric. 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. Of them all exoteric names are
derived. They determine everything, God has made "the Mother of the Book".
Al-Buni then proceeds to develop the role of tool that the letters are in the field of universal
connections. The letters are sorted first by type of own- ilm ha huruf: luminous letters and letters
of darkness. Then, the relationship with other systems, including astrology, the letters are

arranged according to the lunar mansions, constellations of the zodiac, the hours of day and night,
the stars ... The letters are divided into four groups (7 letters are hot, cold, wet and dry).
Al-Buni distributes the letters according to the different spheres: "A Saturn corresponds in the
world of spiritual entities to letter jim . The latter, numerically, is 3 itself and 53 after
decomposition isopsphie the mim is worth 40, the 10 and jim 3. This letter was itself
divided into three others. In the world of subtle entities below, Saturn corresponds to sad,
either the name 90, which refers, in units with 5 or the letter h . The magic squares will thus
raising the sides of five cases "(Al-Buni p. 5).
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, it appears they were using methods such as
magic talismans to acquire a form of power, barakah leading man who used to a higher sphere of
consciousness. Thus, it is not surprising to see a subtle blend of pure spirituality of cosmosophy
based on the power of letters, and more mundane forms of magic such as use of talismans or
oracles.
For the practitioner of its systems, the important thing is the acquisition of knowledge which
must lead to holiness. The purification of the heart is under a greater progress, a progress in the
esoteric knowledge of letters which allows the practitioner to continue his journey by opening
hidden doors to outsiders. 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, and thus God
Himself.
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, what
no one else can know the speculative or discursive reason. They know the 99 names of the 99
present behind esoteric exoteric names, that is, they possess knowledge of the 14 letters of light.
The Saints are privileged to know the Supreme Name of God which marks the final stage of
esoteric knowledge. The saint who has done this can fly through the air, walk on water, directing
the will of men ...
In this regard, 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, an extension or a reflection on earth of his creative activity.
"The basmalah is yours what Kun (Be!) Is God"

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. The system relies on a long poem and involves
literature, astrology and magic to find an adequate answer to the question posed by a particular
process. Under this system, a question may have 360 responses by the ascendancy of one's
question.
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, giving twelve cycles. These cycles
are followed by "results" can be one to six. 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.
Another method to find an answer to a question posed is the following.

"Know - may God strengthens us by His Spirit - the science of letters is an important science.
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. The practice of science letters requires two conditions. For
assistance, the scholar can discover the secrets of creation and work of the secret nature. Thus,
he learns the two sisters who are the philosophies of magic letters and alchemy . The veil of the
unknown is then up to him. He learns the contents of the secret compound in the heart. A number
of people in the Maghgreb were supposed to have knowledge of the magic of letters. They have
produced extraordinary and wonderful things and were active in this world of existence by God's
help. If a person wants to know the power of each letter of the alphabet, she must seek the
number that belongs to each of these letters. This degree, which is the degree of harmony of
letters, is the power that the letter itself has over the material world. The result is the power that
a private letter has in the spiritual world. This is the "rope" of this letter.This can be done with
the letters that have diacritical marks. This can take place with those who have none, because
the letters with diacritics in their degree of significance that will be explained later.
We should know that the shape of each letter has a corresponding shape in the upper world, in
the Divine Throne. These forms can be moving or stationary, high or low, as indicated in
Za'irajahs.
We should know that the powers of the letters fall into three categories. The first is the least
important. It is the power that is manifested when the letters are written. This letter is written in
a spiritual world which belongs to this particular letter. Each time the letter produced a psychic
power and concentration of mind, the powers of the letter have an impact on the material world.
The second category is the power of letters in the domain of thought. This is the result of
activation of the spirituality of letters. It is a power among the high spirituality, and power in the
material world.
The third category is one that causes the internalization of psychic power and concentration by
the emergence of letters in the world of existence. Before a letter is pronounced, it is formed in
the soul. After she passed, it is a form from the letters, and a power in the verb.
The nature of the letters is the same as that attributed to all created things: hot and dry, hot and
cold, cold, wet, cold and dry. This is the secret of the ogdoad. The combination of hot air and fire.
Les deux sont reprsents par les lettres alif , h , t , m , f, sh , dh , j , z , k , s , q ,
th et z .
Both are represented by the letters Alif , h , t , m , f, sh , dh , j , z , k , s , q , th
and z .
. The cold combined land and water: d, h , l , ayn , r , kh , gh , b , w , y , n , s , t
et d .
The moisture combines air and water: j, z, k, s, q, th, z, s, h, l, ayn, r, kh, and gh. The dry
combines fire and earth: alif, h, t, m, f, sh, dh, b, w, y, n, s, t and d. Veiled relationship and

interpenetration of nature and the letters representing the interpenetration of the inner world of
letters in the upper world and here, through the four primary elements.
If one wishes to know the answer to a question, we must determine the influence of the person
asking the question or the influence of the question. Then the letters of the four cardinals of the
horoscope - one, five, seven and 10 - must be spelled according to their order, and the numbers
and powers of the strings must be found. On addition, we establish the proportions and it raises
the question. Thus, we discover what we seek, either implicitly clear night.
If you want to discover the powers of the letters of the ascendant, with those of the name of the
questioner and the question, we must add the numerical value of letters as the "big load".
Par exemple, si l'ascendant est Aries (al-hamal), on crit
For example, if the ascendant is Aries (al-hamal), we write h m l ..
The value of h is 8, which can be divided by 1, 2, 4 and 8.
Therefore d , b , alif . The numerical value of m is 40, which can be divided by 2, 4, 8, 10
and 20. So The numerical value of is 30 which can be divided by 2, 3, 5, 6 and 10.
Do the same with all the letters of the item. The strings are found by dividing the square of each
letter by its smallest value. Each string is then placed in contrast to his letter. Then, the
elemental relationship are discovered ... "

Sources:
Ibn Khaldn, al-Muqaddima , chap. "Al-smiy.
Pierre Lory, Magie et religion dans l'uvre de Muhy al-Dn al-Bn , Horizons Maghrbins ,
n 7/8 (1986), in particular p. 4-15, especially p. 7
Pierre Lory, La science des lettres en Islam , Dervy (2005).
E. Doutte, Magie et religion dans l'Afrique du Nord .
Illustration by Abd Al Malik Nounouhi on the site Arabic Calligraphy .