--- page_title: "Al-Buni Books in English: Ahmad al-Buni Manuscripts (8 Vols)" summary: "Al-Buni in English: the 8-volume book series of Ahmad al-Buni manuscripts, from Shams al-Ma'arif al-Kubra to ilm al-huruf, magic squares and talismans." html_url: https://johnfriendpublishing.com/collection.html text_url: https://johnfriendpublishing.com/collection.md revised: 2026-10-24 publisher: John Friend Publishing --- Ahmad al-Buni — The Complete Collected Works in English # Ahmad al-Buni’s Books in English *The Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection: 8 Volumes, 2,500+ Pages* The first complete English translation of the collected works of Ahmad ibn ‘Ali al-Buni (d. 1225 CE) — the master of Arabic letter science, divine names, and operative spirituality. All eight volumes: *Shams al-Ma’arif al-Kubra*, the letter sciences, the litanies, the divine name treatises, and the foundational works that shaped the entire Arabic occult tradition. - [Browse All 8 Volumes](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/collection.html#volumes) - [Get the Complete Collection on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2QGCDJC?maas=maas_adg_27271D85C10DE2ABDCD11A0B63950A7E_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas) Why This Collection ## The Most Important Arabic Occult Corpus Never Before Available in English Ahmad al-Buni was the architect of the Arabic esoteric sciences. For 800 years his works circulated in Arabic only — referenced by scholars, sought by practitioners, banned by governments. This is the first time the complete corpus has been rendered in English. 8 Volumes The complete collected works — from the 818-page magnum opus to the short protective talismans 2,500+ Pages Translated Every chapter, every square, every invocation — unabridged, nothing omitted 800 Years Hidden The texts governments burned and scholars feared — now in plain English for the first time 13th Century Source Translated directly from the Arabic originals attributed to al-Buni (d. 622 AH / ~1225 CE) The Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection ## All Eight Volumes of the Al-Buni Book Series Each volume is a first-ever complete English translation, preserving the original Arabic script, transliteration, and every talismanic seal as it appears in the source manuscripts. **Available on Amazon.** Vol. I ![Cover of Shams al-Ma'arif al-Kubra — The Complete Sun of Divine Knowledge by Ahmad ibn 'Ali al-Buni, Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection Vol. I, with Arabic title, English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_01_shams_maarif.jpg) شمس المعارف الكبرى ### [Shams al-Ma’arif al-Kubra](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/shams-al-maarif-al-kubra.html) The Complete Sun of Divine Knowledge — Letter Magic, Lunar Mansions, Divine Names, and the Science of Squares Ahmad al-Buni · Translated by John Friend · 818 pages The first complete, unabridged English translation of al-Buni’s masterwork — all 40 chapters, all 4 parts. The book governments burned, scholars feared, and practitioners whispered about for 800 years. Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle $149.95](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/30IGj9) - [Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/30IGj9) - [Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/7cCq5b) - [Read Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2Q9RDCN?clientId=share) Vol. II ![Cover of al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah — The Divine Secrets by Ahmad ibn 'Ali al-Buni, Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection Vol. II, with Arabic title, English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_02_asrar_rabbaniyyah.jpg) الأسرار الربانية ### [al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/al-asrar-al-rabbaniyyah.html) The Divine Secrets — On the Mysteries of the Arabic Letters and the Angelic Sciences Ahmad al-Buni · Translated by John Friend · 135 pages Each Arabic letter has a spirit, an element, and a celestial correspondence. Al-Buni goes letter by letter — Alif through Tha’ — revealing what each one does and how to use it. Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle $49.95](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/YTvvCR) - [Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/YTvvCR) - [Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/8ewphv) - [Read Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2QBG4PJ?clientId=share) Vol. III ![Cover of Manba' Usul al-Hikma — The Source of the Foundations of Wisdom by Ahmad al-Buni, Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection Vol. III, English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_03_manba_hikma.jpg) منبع أصول الحكمة ### [Manba’ Usul al-Hikma](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/manba-usul-al-hikma.html) The Source of the Foundations of Wisdom — Four Treatises on Letters, Numbers, Invocations, and Oaths Ahmad al-Buni · Translated by John Friend · 485 pages Contains the legendary Barhatiyyah oath and Jaljalutiyyah invocation — plus the actual construction methods for Arabic magic squares (odd, even, and even-odd forms). Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle $139.95](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/dE_YgB) - [Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/dE_YgB) - [Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/Dz06lR) - [Read Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2Q36TPK?clientId=share) Vol. IV ![Cover of Hijab 'Azim al-Sha'n wa-al-Burhan — The Mighty Talisman of Rank and Proof by Ahmad ibn 'Ali al-Buni, al-Buni's talisman book, Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection Vol. IV, English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_04_hijab_azim.jpg) هذا حجاب عظيم الشأن والبرهان ### [Hijab ‘Azim al-Sha’n wa-al-Burhan](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/hijab-azim-al-shan.html) The Mighty Talisman of Rank and Proof — On Divine Names, Protective Invocations, and Talismanic Seals Ahmad al-Buni · Translated by John Friend · 49 pages A complete protective talisman — the Seven Verses of the Protective Veils, the Supplication of Adam, and a 6×6 magic square. Meant to be carried as a physical object. Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle $24.95](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/8lyBz) - [Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/8lyBz) - [Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/UuVrgw) - [Read Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2PZXCQS?clientId=share) Vol. V ![Cover of Majmu'at al-Awrad — Collection of Litanies (awrad) by Ahmad al-Buni, Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection Vol. V, English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_05_awrad.jpg) مجموعة الأوراد ### [Majmu’at al-Awrad](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/majmuat-al-awrad.html) Collection of Litanies — Prayers, Protective Formulas, and Invocations for Every Need Ahmad al-Buni · Translated by John Friend · 84 pages Not high magic — practical devotion. Prayers for difficult childbirth, plague, the evil eye, fever, and spiritual distress. 17 chapters of specific formulas from the Arabic tradition. Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle $24.95](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/hg5Ye6) - [Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/hg5Ye6) - [Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/f2kYu9) - [Read Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2QBNL9B?clientId=share) Vol. VI ![Cover of Majmu'at Thalath Rasa'il — Collection of Three Treatises by al-Shadhili, Ibn al-Mar'ah and al-Buni, Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection Vol. VI, English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_06_thalath_rasail.jpg) مجموعة ثلاث رسائل ### [Majmu’at Thalath Rasa’il](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/majmuat-thalath-rasail.html) Collection of Three Treatises — Kitab fi al-Tariqah, Sharh Mahasin al-Majalis, and Shifa’ al-Sudur al-Shadhili, Ibn al-Mar’ah, & al-Buni · Translated by John Friend · 278 pages Three treatises by three authors — including the *Kitab fi al-Tariqah* attributed to al-Shadhili, founder of the Shadhiliyyah order, containing 60 gates of spiritual wayfaring. Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle $39.95](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/BIwhE4) - [Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/BIwhE4) - [Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/fHyVis) - [Read Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2QBC9R5?clientId=share) Vol. VII ![Cover of Mudih al-Tariq — The Clarifier of the Path, Ahmad al-Buni's Divine Names manuscript, Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection Vol. VII, English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_07_mudih_tariq.jpg) مضيح الطريق ### [Mudih al-Tariq](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/mudih-al-tariq.html) The Clarifier of the Path — On the Divine Names, Their Meanings, and the Stations of Spiritual Wayfaring Ahmad al-Buni · Translated by John Friend · 571 pages 80 chapters. 571 pages. Each of the Divine Names gets its own chapter — meaning, spiritual station, operative properties. Al-Buni’s most substantial work on the Beautiful Names of God. Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle $149.95](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/Ues4Gm) - [Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/Ues4Gm) - [Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/mgEql4) - [Read Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2QBLDZF?clientId=share) Vol. VIII ![Cover of Usul 'Ilm al-Huruf — The Principles of the Science of Letters (ilm al-huruf) by Ahmad al-Buni, Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection Vol. VIII, English translation by John Friend](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/assets/book_covers/buni_08_usul_huruf.jpg) أصول علم الحروف ### [Usul ‘Ilm al-Huruf](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/usul-ilm-al-huruf.html) The Principles of the Science of Letters — On the Rules Governing Magic Squares Ahmad al-Buni · Translated by John Friend · 161 pages Al-Buni’s classification of luminous and dark letters, the spirits assigned to each, and operational instructions for attraction, love, and taking possession of intellects, souls, and hearts. Formats: - [Buy on Amazon — Kindle $29.95](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/JzkpdD) - [Kindle](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/JzkpdD) - [Paperback](https://urlgeni.us/amazon/FGQbhl) - [Read Sample](https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0H2Q7TPSR?clientId=share) The Author ## Ahmad al-Buni and the *Corpus Bunianum* Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn ‘Ali al-Buni — also spelled Ahmed al-Buni — was a Sufi scholar from Buna, present-day Annaba in Algeria, the town that gives him the name *al-Buni*. Readers who meet him as “Ali al-Buni” are seeing his father’s name: *ibn ‘Ali* means “son of ‘Ali,” and his own given name is Ahmad. He lived and worked primarily in Cairo, in the same generation as Ibn ‘Arabi. His life, the dating of his death, and the condemnations of his best-known book are set out in [Ahmad al-Buni’s biography](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/magic-book-banned-burned-al-buni.html). His name is attached above all to *Shams al-Ma’arif al-Kubra*, but the works attributed to him range much wider: the science of letters (*‘ilm al-huruf*), the construction of Arabic magic squares (*awfaq*), the operative use of the Divine Names, protective talismans, and daily litanies (*awrad*). Scholars refer to this body of writings as the *corpus Bunianum*. Seven of the eight volumes in this collection are attributed to al-Buni alone; Volume VI binds his *Shifa’ al-Sudur* together with treatises attributed to al-Shadhili and Ibn al-Mar’ah. His reputation cuts both ways. The books that practitioners sought for centuries were also banned, burned, and copied in secret — the story, with what is known of his life and death, is told in [Ahmad al-Buni’s biography](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/magic-book-banned-burned-al-buni.html). For a reader’s introduction to his best-known work, start with [Shams al-Ma’arif explained](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/what-is-shams-al-maarif.html). A Reader’s Guide ## Which Ahmad al-Buni Book Should You Read First? Every volume stands on its own. Choose by subject — or start with the *Shams* and follow its threads into the shorter works. ### The complete system — Shams al-Ma’arif al-Kubra · Vol. I All 40 chapters across four parts, from letter science and the 99 Divine Names to the lunar mansions and magic squares from 3×3 to 9×9. The first unabridged English translation, based on the 1927 printed Arabic edition. ### Arabic magic squares — Manba’ Usul al-Hikma · Vol. III Al-Buni’s magic squares as a working method: construction rules for odd, even, and even-odd squares, alongside the [Barhatiyyah (Berhatiah) oath](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/what-is-barhatiyyah-most-powerful-oath-arabic-magic.html) and the Jaljalutiyyah invocation. See also [how al-Buni built magic squares](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/articles/al-buni-magic-square-construction-method-revealed.html). ### The science of letters — Usul ‘Ilm al-Huruf & al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah · Vols. VIII & II The foundation under everything else. [Ilm al-huruf](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/usul-ilm-al-huruf.html) as al-Buni taught it: the luminous and dark letters and the spirits assigned to each, then the Arabic alphabet read letter by letter in *al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah*. ### The Divine Names — Mudih al-Tariq · Vol. VII If you are looking for [al-Buni’s Divine Names manuscript](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/mudih-al-tariq.html), this is it: 80 chapters giving the Names their meanings, spiritual stations, and operative properties — his most substantial work on the Beautiful Names of God. ### The talisman — Hijab ‘Azim al-Sha’n · Vol. IV [The al-Buni talisman book](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/hijab-azim-al-shan.html): a complete protective talisman in 49 pages — the Seven Verses of the Protective Veils, the Supplication of Adam, and a 6×6 magic square, meant to be carried as a physical object. ### Prayers and litanies — Majmu’at al-Awrad · Vol. V The devotional side of al-Buni. [Majmu’at al-Awrad](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/books/al-buni-manuscripts-collection/majmuat-al-awrad.html) gathers his *awrad* — litanies and prayers — in 17 chapters, including formulas for difficult childbirth, plague, the evil eye, and fever. ### The Sufi path — Majmu’at Thalath Rasa’il · Vol. VI Three treatises in one volume: the *Kitab fi al-Tariqah* attributed to al-Shadhili, with its 60 gates of spiritual wayfaring; the *Sharh Mahasin al-Majalis* attributed to Ibn al-Mar’ah; and *Shifa’ al-Sudur*, attributed to al-Buni. Common Questions ## Ahmad al-Buni’s Books in English: FAQ ### What other books did the author of Shams al-Ma’arif write? Beyond *Shams al-Ma’arif al-Kubra*, the books attributed to Ahmad al-Buni include *Manba’ Usul al-Hikma* (magic squares and the Barhatiyyah oath), *Usul ‘Ilm al-Huruf* (the science of letters), *al-Asrar al-Rabbaniyyah* (the spirits of the Arabic letters), *Mudih al-Tariq* (the Divine Names), *Hijab ‘Azim al-Sha’n* (a protective talisman), *Majmu’at al-Awrad* (litanies), and *Shifa’ al-Sudur*. Every one of these Ahmad al-Buni books is translated in this collection. ### Are al-Buni’s books available in English? Yes. This series, the Al-Buni Manuscripts Collection, is the first complete English translation of al-Buni’s collected works: eight volumes and more than 2,500 pages, each preserving the original Arabic script, transliteration, and every talismanic seal. All eight are available on Amazon as Kindle eBooks and paperbacks, and all volumes are free to read with Kindle Unlimited. Bookstores can [order print copies directly from the publisher](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/wholesale.html). ### What is the corpus Bunianum? *Corpus Bunianum* is the name scholars use for the body of writings attributed to al-Buni. *Shams al-Ma’arif al-Kubra* is its best-known work, but the corpus also includes treatises on letter science, magic squares, the Divine Names, talismans, and litanies, the texts translated across the eight volumes of this collection. ### Do the translations include al-Buni’s magic squares, seals, and manuscript illustrations? Yes. Talismanic seals and magic squares are reproduced as images from the source manuscripts, so these illustrations appear as they do in each Ahmad al-Buni manuscript. Barbarous names are transliterated exactly and printed beside the original Arabic script, never translated. ### Is every volume written by al-Buni? Seven of the eight volumes are attributed to Ahmad ibn ‘Ali al-Buni. Volume VI, *Majmu’at Thalath Rasa’il*, binds three treatises together: the *Kitab fi al-Tariqah* attributed to Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, the *Sharh Mahasin al-Majalis* attributed to Ibn al-Mar’ah, and *Shifa’ al-Sudur*, attributed to al-Buni. ### Is the Al-Buni book series part of a larger library? Yes. It sits beside the eight-volume Arabic Islamicate Occult Manuscripts series, whose [Islamic occult books](https://johnfriendpublishing.com/) include *Kitab al-Ajnas* of Asif ibn Barkhiya, *Sihr Muluk al-Jann*, *al-Jawahir al-Lamma’a*, *Shams al-Anwar*, *Tumtum al-Hindi*, *Mujarrabat al-Ruhban*, and *Kitab Danyal al-Nabi*. ## Get the Complete Al-Buni Collection on Amazon All 8 volumes available as Kindle eBook and paperback. Free to read with Kindle Unlimited on all volumes. [View the Complete Collection on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2QGCDJC?maas=maas_adg_27271D85C10DE2ABDCD11A0B63950A7E_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas)