--- page_title: "al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah: Al-Buni's Divine Secrets of Letters" summary: "Al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah in English: al-Buni's science of letters, the 28 Arabic letters, the secret of Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim, and Ayatul Kursi." html_url: https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/al-asrar-al-rabbaniyyah.html text_url: https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/al-asrar-al-rabbaniyyah.md revised: 2026-10-24 publisher: John Friend Publishing series: "Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection" volume: "Volume II" formats: - "Kindle $49.95" - "Paperback $49.95" --- ![Cover of al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah (The Divine Secrets), Volume II of the Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection: al-Buni's science of letters in English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_02_asrar_rabbaniyyah.jpg) Volume II — Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection # al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah: The Divine Secrets الأسرار الربانية Translated by John Friend · 135 pages · Vol. II Free with Kindle Unlimited English translation of al-Buni's *al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah* — the foundational text on the spiritual properties of the Arabic letters. Each of the 28 letters is treated as a living entity with its own spirit, element, and celestial correspondence. A systematic guide to the inner architecture of the Arabic alphabet. *Rabbaniyyah* means “lordly” or “divine” (from *Rabb*, Lord) — hence the English title, *The Divine Secrets*. Kindle **$49.95** · Paperback **$49.95** Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/YTvvCR) - [Buy on Amazon — Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/8ewphv) - [Read Free Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2QBG4PJ?clientId=share) [Bookstores & libraries: order wholesale direct from the publisher](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/wholesale.html) ## What's Inside - Divine secrets of the lordly sciences attributed to al-Buni — advanced material that extends beyond the scope of the *Shams al-Ma'arif*. - Advanced letter-number correspondences developed beyond the foundational system, with new combinatorial operations. - Spiritual purification protocols required before operations — the preparatory discipline underlying al-Buni's practice. - Prayers and invocations for protection against unseen forces, grounded in the Sufi tradition al-Buni inhabited. ## Inside al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah: The Letters One by One This Ahmad al-Buni manuscript opens with the Alif and the origin of the letters, then gives a chapter to the science of the letters before working through them one at a time: Ba', Mim, Ha', Nun, Qaf, Jim, Dal, Ta', Sad and Tha'. The chapters move between a letter's inner meaning and its practical forms, seals and operations. Seals and lettered squares from the source manuscript are reproduced as images, and the chapters include the Correspondence Table of the Gradations of the Powers and the Numerical and Lettered Form for Subjugation. Al-Buni counts twenty-eight letters and sorts them into fiery, airy, watery and earthly groups. He matches them to the [twenty-eight lunar mansions](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/28-lunar-mansions-arabic-magic-manazil-al-qamar.html): fourteen letters are dotted and fourteen undotted, just as fourteen mansions stand above the earth and fourteen below it. For more on numbers and letters, the text sends the reader to “our book” [*Shams al-Ma'arif*](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/shams-al-maarif-al-kubra.html). This discipline is the science of letters (*'ilm al-huruf*), usually called [lettrism](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/secret-powers-arabic-alphabet-al-buni-letter-breakdown.html) in English. For the foundations of the system, see [*Usul 'Ilm al-Huruf*](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/usul-ilm-al-huruf.html); like the other [Ahmad al-Buni manuscripts](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/collection.html) in this series, *al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah* is translated in full, with a transliteration and the Arabic set beside the English. ### The Secret of Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim Several sections turn on the basmala, *Bismi Allah al-Rahman al-Rahim* (often shortened to *Bismillah rahman rahim*) — “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” Al-Buni follows the formula through the scrolls of Noah and Solomon to the first revelation, “Read in the name of your Lord,” and explains why the letter Ba' stands first in *Bismi Allah*. He teaches that the basmala contains three worlds — dominion, creation and spirit — and that the Supreme Name of God may be inferred from its secrets. A section called The Point takes up the famous point beneath the Ba'. ### Ayatul Kursi and the Chapter of the Footstool Ayat al-Kursi (also written Ayatul Kursi), the Throne Verse of Qur'an 2:255, appears in the book's operations. One working is written after a two-unit prayer together with the Throne Verse, the Fatiha and “God is One”; another is written on a Friday, in a state of purity, after five days of fasting, together with the Throne Verse. The chapter titled The Footstool and Its Directions treats the *Kursi* itself. Elsewhere the text reads the verse's words “His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth” as pointing to God's knowledge, citing the saying that the heart of the believer is the Throne of God. ## Questions About al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah ### What does al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah mean? *Al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah* means “The Divine Secrets” — literally “the lordly secrets,” since *rabbaniyyah* comes from *Rabb*, “Lord.” This edition's subtitle is *On the Mysteries of the Arabic Letters, Their Spiritual Powers, and the Angelic Sciences*. It is Volume II of the Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection. ### Is al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah by Ahmad al-Buni? The treatise is attributed to Ahmad ibn 'Ali al-Buni (d. 1225 CE), and it refers the reader to “our book” *Shams al-Ma'arif* for more on numbers and letters. As with much of the literature circulating under al-Buni's name, the attribution is traditional. This edition is a complete English translation of the Arabic text. ### Does the book explain Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim? Yes. Several sections are devoted to the basmala, “In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” Al-Buni traces “In the name of God” through the scrolls of Noah and Solomon to the first revelation, explains why the letter Ba' stands at its head, and teaches that the formula contains three worlds: dominion, creation and spirit. ### How is Ayatul Kursi used in al-Buni's letter magic? In *al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah* the Throne Verse (Ayat al-Kursi) is written together with specific workings. One is written after a two-unit prayer with the Throne Verse, the Fatiha and “God is One”; another on a Friday, in purity, after five days of fasting. A separate chapter, The Footstool and Its Directions, treats the *Kursi* itself. ### How does al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah use the science of letters? The science of letters (*'ilm al-huruf*), usually called lettrism in English, treats the Arabic letters as bearers of number, nature and spiritual power. *Al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah* applies it letter by letter, sorting the twenty-eight letters into fiery, airy, watery and earthly groups and matching them to the twenty-eight lunar mansions. For the foundations of the system, see [*Usul 'Ilm al-Huruf*](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/usul-ilm-al-huruf.html) in the same collection. ## You May Also Like - [Hijab 'Azim al-Sha'n — Al-Buni Collection](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/hijab-azim-al-shan.html) - [Majmu'at al-Awrad — Al-Buni Collection](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/majmuat-al-awrad.html) - [Majmu'at Thalath Rasa'il — Al-Buni Collection](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/majmuat-thalath-rasail.html) ## Related Articles - [Each Arabic Letter Has a Spirit: Al-Buni's Letter Science — Essay](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/each-arabic-letter-has-a-spirit-al-buni.html) - [Secret Powers of the Arabic Alphabet: Al-Buni's Letter Breakdown — Essay](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/secret-powers-arabic-alphabet-al-buni-letter-breakdown.html) - [Alif in Al-Buni's Science of Letters: A Drop from the Pen — Essay](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/alif-arabic-letter-drop-from-the-pen-al-buni.html) ## Follow the Translation New essays on the Arabic occult tradition, manuscript discoveries, and translation notes. - [Follow on Substack](https://substack.com/@johnfriendpublishing) - [Follow on Medium](https://medium.com/@johnfriendpublishing)