What do you think?
Rate this book
On Magic I: An Arabic Critical Edition and English Translation of EPISTLE 52a
The Ikhwan al-Safa (Brethren of Purity), the anonymous adepts of a tenth-century esoteric fraternity based in Basra and Baghdad, hold an eminent position in the history of science and philosophy in Islam due to the wide reception and assimilation of their monumental encyclopaedia, the Rasa'il Ikhwan al-Safa (Epistles of the Brethren of Purity). This compendium contains fifty-two epistles offering synoptic accounts of the classical sciences and philosophies of the age; divided into four classificatory parts, it treats themes in mathematics, logic, natural philosophy, psychology, metaphysics, and theology, in addition to didactic fables. The Rasa'il constitutes a paradigmatic legacy in the canonization of philosophy and the sciences in mediaeval Islamic civilization, as well as having shown a permeating influence in Western culture.
This is the fifth volume in a series presenting the very first critical edition of the Rasa'il in its original Arabic, complete with the first fully annotated English translation. Epistle 52: On Magic is the last in the corpus, and presents the short version of the 'Epistle on Magic, Incantations, and the Evil Eye'. Within its pages the authors of the epistle argue for the legitimacy of magic and the other occult sciences, and seek confirmation of their views in authorities as diverse as Plato, the Qur'an, the Torah, the astrologer Abu Ma'shar, and the mysterious sect of pagan star-worshippers known as the Sabians of Harran. As in all other volumes of the series, this volume provides the first critical edition of the Arabic text, together with an English translation and a substantial range of notes. An extensive introduction highlights the unique relevance of this treatise within the framework of the Brethren's encyclopaedia itself, and to the history of science in general.
This is the fifth volume in a series presenting the very first critical edition of the Rasa'il in its original Arabic, complete with the first fully annotated English translation. Epistle 52: On Magic is the last in the corpus, and presents the short version of the 'Epistle on Magic, Incantations, and the Evil Eye'. Within its pages the authors of the epistle argue for the legitimacy of magic and the other occult sciences, and seek confirmation of their views in authorities as diverse as Plato, the Qur'an, the Torah, the astrologer Abu Ma'shar, and the mysterious sect of pagan star-worshippers known as the Sabians of Harran. As in all other volumes of the series, this volume provides the first critical edition of the Arabic text, together with an English translation and a substantial range of notes. An extensive introduction highlights the unique relevance of this treatise within the framework of the Brethren's encyclopaedia itself, and to the history of science in general.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 13, 2012
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 31, 2026
This is not a systematic compendium; it is rather a collection of stories from different tribes and civilizations illustrating the perspectives of magic as an epistolary fragment of the great Rasāʾil. As charming as it is, and I am a lover of anecdotal information that fits the theological-theurgic mainframe upon insight and inspection, the mainframe, once constructed, sheds more light upon all the stories, discarding superstitions, dispelling unverity, accepting wisdom, and selecting the pearls from what is written and what is behind the narrations.
Let it be understood that the link between the Brotherhood of Purity (Honesty) and Picatrix is evident, given their conveyance of the story of Harran, the noble many-templed temple-city of the “Sabian” True Gods, with Sin (the Moon God) at its heart. What is more, the text of the Noble Ikhwān posits that there were eighty-seven temples at Harran and its vicinity. Moreover, there was a grand temple of Jirjas divided into male and female sides with doors directed towards South and North, further divided into twelve zodiacal signs and the ṣuwar (images) of the planets made with their respective metals, and seven disks (Iynges) with engraved circles: from the Moon (one circle) to Saturn (seven circles). The initiatory ritual of the temple may be reconstructed based on scant information in the text.
Two conclusions were striking and as evident now as they were back then:
Conclusions by the Ikhwān al-Ṣafā’
Do you believe that all this is a lie and without foundation, and idiocy and stupidity on the part of whoever reports it to those who feign amazement [but who] disavow it in their souls, regarding as a lie what they hear about because of their ignorance, [whereas] they are overbearing towards them, with haughtiness and arrogance, because of their lack of intelligence, the small-mindedness of their sciences, and their inadequacy in acquisition of the real sciences?
(…)
Think over [this]: would you be of the opinion that Plato, the philosopher, with his excellence and his intelligence, would have related this narrative in one of his books (namely, the one he composed on the republic) and that, in spite of this, he would have allowed one to firmly believe and assume that he was of the view that this talisman — I mean, the ring of which mention was made before, had manifested its effects for the sake of the wisdom beyond which there is no end, so as to attain the [full] extent of the power of action, which is apparent in the effect operated by it? On the contrary, the reason which urges those newcomers to regard as a lie and to disavow something like this is their laziness, their meager longing for learning and understanding, and their lack of shame!
Those individuals carry the burden of what they do due to their ignorance of these sciences, and [due to] the fact that they treat as a liar whoever gives credence to their validity, because they find this easier for them and lighter [in terms of] burden.
Take care, my brother, not to take their path, nor to follow their examples, nor to enter into partnership with them, nor to imitate them!
Let it be understood that the link between the Brotherhood of Purity (Honesty) and Picatrix is evident, given their conveyance of the story of Harran, the noble many-templed temple-city of the “Sabian” True Gods, with Sin (the Moon God) at its heart. What is more, the text of the Noble Ikhwān posits that there were eighty-seven temples at Harran and its vicinity. Moreover, there was a grand temple of Jirjas divided into male and female sides with doors directed towards South and North, further divided into twelve zodiacal signs and the ṣuwar (images) of the planets made with their respective metals, and seven disks (Iynges) with engraved circles: from the Moon (one circle) to Saturn (seven circles). The initiatory ritual of the temple may be reconstructed based on scant information in the text.
Two conclusions were striking and as evident now as they were back then:
Conclusions by the Ikhwān al-Ṣafā’
Do you believe that all this is a lie and without foundation, and idiocy and stupidity on the part of whoever reports it to those who feign amazement [but who] disavow it in their souls, regarding as a lie what they hear about because of their ignorance, [whereas] they are overbearing towards them, with haughtiness and arrogance, because of their lack of intelligence, the small-mindedness of their sciences, and their inadequacy in acquisition of the real sciences?
(…)
Think over [this]: would you be of the opinion that Plato, the philosopher, with his excellence and his intelligence, would have related this narrative in one of his books (namely, the one he composed on the republic) and that, in spite of this, he would have allowed one to firmly believe and assume that he was of the view that this talisman — I mean, the ring of which mention was made before, had manifested its effects for the sake of the wisdom beyond which there is no end, so as to attain the [full] extent of the power of action, which is apparent in the effect operated by it? On the contrary, the reason which urges those newcomers to regard as a lie and to disavow something like this is their laziness, their meager longing for learning and understanding, and their lack of shame!
Those individuals carry the burden of what they do due to their ignorance of these sciences, and [due to] the fact that they treat as a liar whoever gives credence to their validity, because they find this easier for them and lighter [in terms of] burden.
Take care, my brother, not to take their path, nor to follow their examples, nor to enter into partnership with them, nor to imitate them!
Displaying 1 of 1 review