{"product_id":"ottoman-arabic-islamic-talismanic-handbook-of-awfaq-magic-squares-prophetic-invocations-and-planetary-weekday-operations","title":"Ottoman \/ Arabic Islamic Talismanic Handbook of Awfāq (Magic Squares), Prophetic Invocations, and Planetary Weekday Operations","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-end=\"733\" data-start=\"563\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"733\" data-start=\"563\"\u003eArabic manuscript on laid paper. Probably Ottoman Empire or adjacent Islamic world, likely eighteenth century (possibly late seventeenth or early nineteenth century).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"982\" data-start=\"735\"\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1286\" data-start=\"984\"\u003eUnlike 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\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1593\" data-start=\"1288\"\u003eThe 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 \u003cem data-end=\"1497\" data-start=\"1479\"\u003eShams al-Maʿārif\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-end=\"1522\" data-start=\"1499\"\u003eManbaʿ Uṣūl al-Ḥikmah\u003c\/em\u003e, and related Ottoman and Persian compilations of talismanic knowledge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-end=\"2004\" data-start=\"1643\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1712\" data-start=\"1643\" data-section-id=\"1z0dww3\"\u003enumerous awfāq (magic squares) computed for individual workings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1745\" data-start=\"1713\" data-section-id=\"99vp4z\"\u003erepeated prophetic invocations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1776\" data-start=\"1746\" data-section-id=\"1vrc4m6\"\u003eQur'anic devotional formulae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1845\" data-start=\"1777\" data-section-id=\"7j9pvn\"\u003eweekday designations corresponding to traditional planetary timing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1873\" data-start=\"1846\" data-section-id=\"1xkd152\"\u003eshort ritual instructions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1896\" data-start=\"1874\" data-section-id=\"12o5sjl\"\u003eprotective blessings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1931\" data-start=\"1897\" data-section-id=\"1v93m18\"\u003enumerical-letter correspondences\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1961\" data-start=\"1932\" data-section-id=\"3693x8\"\u003erepeated use of the Basmala\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"2004\" data-start=\"1962\" data-section-id=\"1c8zwu8\"\u003erepeated formulae of praise and blessing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2147\" data-start=\"2006\"\u003eA practitioner's working manual intended for actual ritual application. The manuscript demonstrates several classical components of Islamic operative magic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2347\" data-start=\"2293\"\u003eEach 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. \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eSeveral entries are explicitly assigned to particular weekdays, corresponding to the seven  planetary \u003c\/span\u003eintelligences and identifying when the talisman should be prepared, written, worn, or activated. An operative talisman, \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eintended to accompany its owner during ritual work. Most likely eighteenth century, but possibly late seventeenth to early nineteenth century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-end=\"4555\" data-start=\"4420\"\u003e\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"4740\" data-start=\"4629\"\u003eMiniature 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:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-end=\"5262\" data-start=\"5114\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"5134\" data-start=\"5114\" data-section-id=\"vpis9v\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"5134\" data-start=\"5116\"\u003eShams al-Maʿārif\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"5160\" data-start=\"5135\" data-section-id=\"yk9tid\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"5160\" data-start=\"5137\"\u003eManbaʿ Uṣūl al-Ḥikmah\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"5191\" data-start=\"5161\" data-section-id=\"1hkje2u\"\u003eOttoman collections of awfāq\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"5226\" data-start=\"5192\" data-section-id=\"1c8919e\"\u003ePersian manuals of ʿilm al-ḥurūf\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"5262\" data-start=\"5227\" data-section-id=\"160x2ro\"\u003eregional Sufi talismanic practice\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"5406\" data-start=\"5264\"\u003eThis talisman represents an individual practitioner's digest assembled for daily magical use. The talisman includes invocations such as \u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\"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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Literski Collection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46159757049992,"sku":null,"price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0722\/9695\/6040\/files\/ChatGPTImageJul4_2026at12_43_50PM.png?v=1783194251","url":"https:\/\/obscurabibliotheca.com\/products\/ottoman-arabic-islamic-talismanic-handbook-of-awfaq-magic-squares-prophetic-invocations-and-planetary-weekday-operations","provider":"Obscura Bibliotheca LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}