Ottoman / Arabic Islamic Talismanic Handbook of Awfāq (Magic Squares), Prophetic Invocations, and Planetary Weekday Operations
- Available
- Backordered, shipping soon
Arabic manuscript on laid paper. Probably Ottoman Empire or adjacent Islamic world, likely eighteenth century (possibly late seventeenth or early nineteenth century).
A remarkably well-preserved miniature manuscript handbook devoted to practical Islamic talismanic operations (ʿamal), consisting of a sequence of magical formulae, numerical talismans (awfāq), and invocatory texts arranged for repeated ritual use.
Unlike the single-sheet protective amulets more commonly encountered, this example is constructed as a folded portable booklet intended to be opened repeatedly by its owner. Each opening presents an independent magical working accompanied by its own numerical square and brief operational instructions. Measures 2 1/4" x 3".
The manuscript belongs firmly within the living tradition of Islamic occult science (ʿulūm al-ghayb), sharing numerous characteristics with practical handbooks derived from works such as the Shams al-Maʿārif, Manbaʿ Uṣūl al-Ḥikmah, and related Ottoman and Persian compilations of talismanic knowledge.
- numerous awfāq (magic squares) computed for individual workings
- repeated prophetic invocations
- Qur'anic devotional formulae
- weekday designations corresponding to traditional planetary timing
- short ritual instructions
- protective blessings
- numerical-letter correspondences
- repeated use of the Basmala
- repeated formulae of praise and blessing
A practitioner's working manual intended for actual ritual application. The manuscript demonstrates several classical components of Islamic operative magic.
Each operation is accompanied by its own magic square, with numerical arrangements derived from the science of letters (ʿilm al-ḥurūf), numerical correspondences (abjad), and planetary harmonics. Several entries are explicitly assigned to particular weekdays, corresponding to the seven planetary intelligences and identifying when the talisman should be prepared, written, worn, or activated. An operative talisman, intended to accompany its owner during ritual work. Most likely eighteenth century, but possibly late seventeenth to early nineteenth century.
Miniature practical occult handbooks survive in considerably smaller numbers than complete magical manuscripts. Many practitioners simply copied the particular operations they used most frequently rather than carrying an entire grimoire. This talisman appears to be influenced by:
- Shams al-Maʿārif
- Manbaʿ Uṣūl al-Ḥikmah
- Ottoman collections of awfāq
- Persian manuals of ʿilm al-ḥurūf
- regional Sufi talismanic practice
This talisman represents an individual practitioner's digest assembled for daily magical use. The talisman includes invocations such as "In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful..." along with repeated blessings upon prophets, instructions assigning specific operations to particular weekdays, multiple talismanic squares constructed for individual magical purposes, and protective devotional formulae combining Qur'anic piety with operative numerical magic.
We ship via USPS within the continental United States. Orders are packed with care appropriate to the item and typically dispatched within 1–2 business days.
All rare and antiquarian sales are final unless an item was materially misrepresented. Non-rare titles may be returned within 14 days in original condition.
For full details, see our Shipping & Returns page.