Uṣūl ʿIlm al-Ḥurūf: The Principles of the Science of Letters: On the Science of Letters and the Rules Governing Magic Squares (Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection)

The Principles of the Science of Letters (Kitab Usul Ilm al-Huruf wa-Dawabit al-Awfaq) is the first complete English translation of this foundational treatise on the science of letters, attributed to the renowned thirteenth-century scholar Ahmad ibn Ali al-Buni. This work, drawn from the celebrated Forty Maghribi Books, presents al-Buni's systematic exposition of occult letter science, combining celestial astronomy, letter magic, and spiritual operations into a unified esoteric framework.The treatise is organized into four parts. The first addresses the science of astronomy, covering the lunar mansions, zodiacal signs, planetary spheres, and their spiritual correspondences. The second, and most extensive, treats the science of letters in nine detailed chapters encompassing the origin of letters, their natures and temperaments, auspicious and inauspicious operations, luminous and dark letters, and the construction of letter-based magic squares. The third part turns to practical applications in the human world: taking possession of intellects and souls, techniques of attraction and spiritual presence, operations of love and intimacy, methods for recovering lost objects, and the science of spiritual observation and protection. The fourth part presents derived sciences including Egyptian weights, the zayirjah, philosophical wisdoms, and the ethical imperative of safeguarding this sacred knowledge.All invocations, prayers, and barbarous names are presented in the translator's three-layer format: English translation, ALA-LC transliteration, and original Arabic script. Talismanic seals and magic squares are reproduced directly from the manuscript source. This edition is prepared from a printed Arabic text and rendered in flowing scholarly English for the modern reader. Read more