https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/ Essays on Arabic and Islamicate occult manuscripts by John Friend. en-us Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/sour-jar-curse-arabic-grimoires-kawthar-square.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/sour-jar-curse-arabic-grimoires-kawthar-square.html Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 How a curse made at a distance finds its target in the Arabic occult tradition, and how Sūrat al-Kawthar and its two magic squares cut it off at the root. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/dwellers-of-the-place-dismissing-jinn-before-a-working.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/dwellers-of-the-place-dismissing-jinn-before-a-working.html Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The ʿummār, the jinn who live in every place: why Arabic occult texts have you dismiss them before a working, and how to invite them back. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/alif-arabic-letter-drop-from-the-pen-al-buni.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/alif-arabic-letter-drop-from-the-pen-al-buni.html Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Alif in ilm al-huruf, the Arabic science of letters: a drop from the Pen, a fiery letter, and al-Būnī's square of alif for provision. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/venus-magic-square-love-harmony-talisman.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/venus-magic-square-love-harmony-talisman.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The Venus magic square 7x7 adds to 175 every way: an Arabic talisman for love and harmony. How to make it, from the Friday hour to the saffron ink. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-occult-manuscripts-in-english-complete-guide.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-occult-manuscripts-in-english-complete-guide.html Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Every medieval Arabic occult manuscript and Islamic grimoire in English, from Shams al-Ma'arif to the Picatrix: which Arabic magic books are complete. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/why-people-say-shams-al-maarif-will-drive-you-mad.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/why-people-say-shams-al-maarif-will-drive-you-mad.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Is Shams al Maarif the most dangerous book, and is it haram to read? Fatwas, madness legends, the surahs it uses, and what its 40 chapters really contain. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/what-is-barhatiyyah-most-powerful-oath-arabic-magic.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/what-is-barhatiyyah-most-powerful-oath-arabic-magic.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Berhatiah (Barhatiyyah) explained: al-Buni's 28-name Ancient Covenant oath in Manba' Usul al-Hikma, and how to read it in English instead of a Berhatiah PDF. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/three-forbidden-treatises-bound-together-al-buni.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/three-forbidden-treatises-bound-together-al-buni.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Al-Shadhili, Ibn al-Mar'ah and al-Buni in one binding: where Vol. VI of the Ahmad al-Buni manuscripts sits in the corpus Bunianum beside Shams al-Ma'arif. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/talisman-they-were-afraid-to-print-al-buni-hijab.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/talisman-they-were-afraid-to-print-al-buni-hijab.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Al-Buni's Hijab Azim: an Arabic talisman of divine names, seven veils and magic squares, for protection from every devil, the evil eye, fright and harm. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/take-possession-intellects-souls-hearts-al-buni.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/take-possession-intellects-souls-hearts-al-buni.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Al-Buni's chapter on possessing intellects, souls and hearts: the ilm al-huruf behind Arabic love spells and attraction, and his warning to keep silence. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/sufi-path-60-gates-shadhili-secret-manual.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/sufi-path-60-gates-shadhili-secret-manual.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Searching for an Awarif al-Maarif manuscript? Read the Sufi manual bound with al-Buni: al-Shadhili's 60 gates on dhikr, litanies (awrad) and the soul. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/seven-protective-veils-al-buni-shield-against-evil.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/seven-protective-veils-al-buni-shield-against-evil.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Al-Buni's Seven Protective Veils: a dua for protection hung as a talisman so 'the evil eye will be averted,' from the Hijab Azim, an Islamic talisman book. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/secret-powers-arabic-alphabet-al-buni-letter-breakdown.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/secret-powers-arabic-alphabet-al-buni-letter-breakdown.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Lettrism, or ilm al-huruf, the science of letters: how al-Buni's al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah ties each Arabic letter to an element, planet and lunar mansion. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/first-complete-shams-al-maarif-english-translation.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/first-complete-shams-al-maarif-english-translation.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Shams al-Ma'arif contents and summary: all 40 chapters of Ahmad al-Buni's grimoire, from ilm al-huruf and abjad numerology to magic squares, in full English. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/each-arabic-letter-has-a-spirit-al-buni.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/each-arabic-letter-has-a-spirit-al-buni.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Each Arabic letter has a spirit in al-Buni's ilm al-huruf: the letter chapters, the ten letters of Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim, and the 28 lunar mansions. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/dark-letters-luminous-letters-al-buni-dangerous-classification.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/dark-letters-luminous-letters-al-buni-dangerous-classification.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Al-Buni divides the Arabic alphabet into luminous and dark letters. The 14 luminous letters, what each kind is for, and why the classification was feared. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/al-buni-prayers-plague-childbirth-evil-eye.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/al-buni-prayers-plague-childbirth-evil-eye.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 An evil eye protection prayer in Arabic, with transliteration, from al-Buni's Majmu'at al-Awrad, plus his prayers for plague, childbirth and the Ya Latif. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/al-buni-magic-square-construction-method-revealed.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/al-buni-magic-square-construction-method-revealed.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 How to make a magic square al-Buni's way, from Manba' Usul al-Hikma: odd, even and even-odd methods, the Batad Zahaj Wah key to the 3x3, names and timing. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/al-buni-emergency-prayers-what-to-recite-when-desperate.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/al-buni-emergency-prayers-what-to-recite-when-desperate.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 What al-Buni prescribed when nothing else works: Surah Yaseen in full, La ilaha illallah in the awrad, the wird, and a dua for protection against everything. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/99-names-of-god-what-al-buni-actually-wrote.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/99-names-of-god-what-al-buni-actually-wrote.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The 99 names of Allah as al-Buni taught them: al-Wahhab, al-Qabid, la ilaha illallah and the 'hundred less one,' from his 571-page Mudih al-Tariq in English. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/80-divine-names-80-chapters-al-buni-life-work.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/80-divine-names-80-chapters-al-buni-life-work.html Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Overshadowed by the Shams, Ahmad al-Buni's Mudih al-Tariq gives 80 chapters to the divine names, the 99 names of Allah. Inside his forgotten 571-page work. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/shams-al-maarif-vs-picatrix-comparison.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/shams-al-maarif-vs-picatrix-comparison.html Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Shams al-Ma’arif vs Picatrix compared: astrological timings, planetary correspondences, Hellenistic influences, and whether the Ghayat al-Hakim was banned. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/jinn-king-al-ahmar-how-to-work-with.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/jinn-king-al-ahmar-how-to-work-with.html Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Who is al-Ahmar? The al-Ahmar jinn king of Tuesday and Mars: his seal, his angel Samsama'il, and what the Arabic manuscripts record of the Red King. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/islamic-magic-love-attraction-spells-arabic.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/islamic-magic-love-attraction-spells-arabic.html Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Arabic spells for love and attraction: tahbib and jalb in the Tumtum al-Hindi and the Mujarrabat al-Ruhban, Venus timing, and the 7x7 Venus magic square. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-talisman-making-guide-beginners.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-talisman-making-guide-beginners.html Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Arabic grimoire talismans as the manuscripts record them: how to make a talisman by planetary hour, magic square, ilm al-huruf letters, seals and symbols. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-book-of-daniel-zodiac-prophecy.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-book-of-daniel-zodiac-prophecy.html Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Not the Bible's Book of Daniel: an Arabic astrological Book of Daniel, kin to the Malhamat Daniyal, reading zodiac signs, eclipses, thunder and earthquakes. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/why-your-planetary-talismans-dont-work.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/why-your-planetary-talismans-dont-work.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Picatrix Latin vs Arabic: the Picatrix Latin translation never carried the operational texts on jinn kings, true planetary hours, incense and oaths. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/seal-of-solomon-arabic-manuscripts-real-story.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/seal-of-solomon-arabic-manuscripts-real-story.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Khatim Sulayman, the Seal of Solomon in Arabic: a ring of Solomon, not a hexagram. What occult manuscripts say, from Ayat al-Kursi to Solomon's magic circle. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/real-names-seven-jinn-kings-goetia-wrong.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/real-names-seven-jinn-kings-goetia-wrong.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The 7 jinn kings by their real Arabic jinn names: al-Ahmar, Maymun, Shamhurash, Barqan, al-Abyad and more, from the Solomonic manuscripts the Goetia garbled. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/picatrix-left-out-planetary-hour-system.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/picatrix-left-out-planetary-hour-system.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Searching for Ibn Arabi planetary hours, or sa'at al-kawakib? Arabic sources give the sunrise-sunset method and the 168-hour grid the Picatrix left out. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/one-mistake-every-solomonic-ritual-fail.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/one-mistake-every-solomonic-ritual-fail.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Arabic Solomonic manuscripts name one requirement Western grimoires stripped out. Without it, they warn, Solomonic conjuration fails. See what they demand. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/lunar-mansions-secret-timing-system-arabic-magic.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/lunar-mansions-secret-timing-system-arabic-magic.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Lunar mansions in Arabic magic: what the Shams al-Ma'arif says of the 28 mansions of the Moon, their letters (ilm al-huruf), incenses, and talismans. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/incense-recipes-arabic-grimoires-planetary-fumigation.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/incense-recipes-arabic-grimoires-planetary-fumigation.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Incense recipes from the Arabic grimoires: planetary fumigation (bukhur), the incense used to summon jinn kings, and how magic squares set the mixture. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/difference-between-spiritual-science-sorcery-arabic.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/difference-between-spiritual-science-sorcery-arabic.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Sihr is Arabic for sorcery, what many call black magic or jadu tona. How Arabic manuscripts separate it from ruhaniyat, the lawful science of spirits. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-magic-squares-not-what-you-think.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-magic-squares-not-what-you-think.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Arabic magic squares (wafq, plural awfaq) are talismans, not puzzles: the planetary squares from Saturn's 3x3 to the Moon's 9x9 and how grimoires build them. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/5-steps-every-grimoire-requires-before-magic.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/5-steps-every-grimoire-requires-before-magic.html Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 How to manifest by the old rules: Arabic grimoire pages demand fasting, purity, a dark retreat, dismissing the ammar, and the circle before any ritual. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/asif-barkhiya-grimoire-readers-walkthrough.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/asif-barkhiya-grimoire-readers-walkthrough.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Kitab al-Ajnas, the Solomonic grimoire of Asif ibn Barkhiya, part by part: the planetary kings, seals, the Twelve Names and mandal scrying, in English. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/shams-anwar-lost-sequel-shams-al-maarif.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/shams-anwar-lost-sequel-shams-al-maarif.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The 1327 CE Islamic grimoire that continued al-Buni's Shams al-Ma'arif: ilm al-huruf, awfaq and talismans in Shams al-Anwar, in English for the first time. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/what-is-shams-al-maarif.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/what-is-shams-al-maarif.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Shams al-Ma'arif explained beyond the Encyclopaedia of Islam and Britannica: Ahmad al-Buni, the Arabic manuscript, its meaning, and why it was written. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/tumtum-al-hindi-indian-sage-arabic-magic.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/tumtum-al-hindi-indian-sage-arabic-magic.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Is Tumtum al-Hindi a vashikaran book? Inside the Indian sage's Arabic manual of love, attraction and subjugation, and its talismans. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/solomons-vizier-asif-ibn-barkhiya-throne-bilqis.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/solomons-vizier-asif-ibn-barkhiya-throne-bilqis.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Who was Asif bin Barkhiya (آصف بن برخيا)? Solomon's vizier in Quran 27:40, Asaph ben Berechiah, what the name Asif means, and how Bilqis's throne was moved. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/solomonic-magic-islamic-tradition-asif-ibn-barkhiya.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/solomonic-magic-islamic-tradition-asif-ibn-barkhiya.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Asif ibn Barkhiya in Islamic art and manuscript: Solomon and the jinn, the mandal of Sulayman, the Seal of Solomon, and Kitab al-Ajnas in English. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/picatrix-ghayat-al-hakim-arabic-original.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/picatrix-ghayat-al-hakim-arabic-original.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Ghayat al-Hakim, the Picatrix Arabic manuscript: who wrote it, what its four books contain, what the Latin lost, and how to read its tradition in English. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/medieval-arab-stellar-magic-picatrix-borrowed-from.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/medieval-arab-stellar-magic-picatrix-borrowed-from.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Medieval Arabic astrology manuscripts in English: the planetary hours, lunar mansions and spirit tables behind the Picatrix, kept in al-Jawahir al-Lamma’a. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/magic-book-banned-burned-al-buni.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/magic-book-banned-burned-al-buni.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Who was Ahmad al-Buni? The Sufi scholar to whom Shams al-Ma'arif is attributed: his death in 622 AH / 1225 CE, what is known of its cause, and the bans. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/how-to-summon-seven-kings-of-jinn.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/how-to-summon-seven-kings-of-jinn.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 How to summon a jinn in the Arabic grimoires: the seven kings of jinn, their names, days and planets, and the summoning protocol of the Radiant Jewels. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/goetia-arabic-source-solomonic-demonology.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/goetia-arabic-source-solomonic-demonology.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Is there an Arabic list of 72 jinn names? The Goetia's Arabic origin, Solomonic demonology before the Latin grimoires, and the seven jinn kings explained. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/christian-monks-arabic-magic-mujarrabat-ruhban.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/christian-monks-arabic-magic-mujarrabat-ruhban.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Ruhban means monks in Arabic. Mujarrabat al-Ruhban, an Arabic occult manuscript credited to Christian monks, mixes Quranic verses with biblical material. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/christian-islamic-syncretic-arabic-grimoire.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/christian-islamic-syncretic-arabic-grimoire.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A Christian Arabic grimoire that quotes the Quran: how Mujarrabat al-Ruhban blends Christian and Islamic magic, from Quran 3:173 to the wafq. Now in English. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/mujarrabat-ruhban-christian-islamic-syncretic-grimoire.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/mujarrabat-ruhban-christian-islamic-syncretic-grimoire.html Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Mujarrabat al-Ruhban, an Arabic occult manuscript of talismans that sets the Fatiha and Surah Yaseen beside an oath by the Gospel. Now in English. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/your-zodiac-sign-medieval-arabic-prophet-daniel.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/your-zodiac-sign-medieval-arabic-prophet-daniel.html Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Zodiac signs in Arabic and English, from الحمل al-Hamal (Aries) to الحوت al-Hut (Pisces): meanings, dates and rulers from a medieval Arabic horoscope. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/daniel-manuscript-predicts-earthquakes-zodiac.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/daniel-manuscript-predicts-earthquakes-zodiac.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 An Arabic astrology manuscript of the Prophet Daniel forecasts earthquakes by zodiac sign, with eclipse and thunder omens. Inside an Arabic zodiac manuscript. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-solomonic-vs-western-goetia-names-of-power.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-solomonic-vs-western-goetia-names-of-power.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 How Solomonic conjuration works in the Arabic Kitab al-Ajnas of Asif ibn Barkhiya versus the Western Goetia: divine names, adjuration, fasting and seals. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/adjuration-red-king-al-ahmar-jinn.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/adjuration-red-king-al-ahmar-jinn.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 What is an adjuration, and how does it differ from a conjuration? Definitions, then the red jinn king al-Ahmar's Arabic adjuration, first in English. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/7-magic-squares-7-jinn-kings-operational-geometry.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/7-magic-squares-7-jinn-kings-operational-geometry.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The buduh square hides in the corners of the 3x3 wafq of the Sihr Muluk al-Jann. See the 7 planetary magic squares (awfaq) and the 7 jinn kings. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/shams-al-anwar-magic-squares-planetary-days.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/shams-al-anwar-magic-squares-planetary-days.html Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A 1327 CE Arabic talismanic square manuscript: Shams al-Anwar ties each planet's wafq to its metal, hour and incense. Read the first English translation. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/right-hour-summon-each-king-jinn-jawahir-lammaa.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/right-hour-summon-each-king-jinn-jawahir-lammaa.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Seven jinn kings, days of the week and planetary hours: al-Ahmar on Tuesday, Maymun on Saturday, and the hour for each king from al-Jawahir al-Lamma'a. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/mujarrabat-tested-love-spells-medieval-arabic.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/mujarrabat-tested-love-spells-medieval-arabic.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Mujarrabat al-Ruhban’s six love-spell types — attraction, endearment, binding, reconciliation — and its talismans, quoted from the first English translation. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-love-spells-tumtum-al-hindi-indian-sage.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/arabic-love-spells-tumtum-al-hindi-indian-sage.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Arabic love spells of Tumtum al-Hindi: 31 attraction-by-fire chapters, binding, reconciliation, a Venus-hour love square. Arabic, not a love spell in Hindi. https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/28-lunar-mansions-arabic-magic-manazil-al-qamar.html https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/28-lunar-mansions-arabic-magic-manazil-al-qamar.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Manazil al qamar explained: an Arabic lunar mansions chart of all 28 stations with their letters and qualities, and how Arabic grimoires time magic by them.