SHAMS AL-MA’ARIF
The book is a compilation of al-Buni's authentic writings combined with contributions from other authors. It has gained notoriety and has been subject to bans throughout Islamic history due to its esoteric content. Al-Buni, who lived in Algeria and died around 1225 CE (622 AH), faced criticism from scholars such as Ibn Taymiyya, who accused him of devil worship.
Despite such criticism, Shams al-Ma'arif has remained influential and continues to be studied. Some Sufi orders, including the Naqshbandi-Haqqani order, recognize its potential spiritual value, though this is approached with caution. Following its modern reprint in Beirut in 1985, the book was banned in Saudi Arabia, and scholars like Ibn Jibrin have issued fatwas against its use.
In recent decades, the book has attracted attention from groups such as the Order of Nine Angles, a global terrorist Satanist organization, due to its esoteric content. Editions of Shams al-Ma'arif have been published in multiple languages, including English, Urdu, and Turkish.
The modern edition of Shams al-Ma'arif is divided into two volumes: Shams Al-Ma'arif al-Kubra (the larger volume) and Shams Al-Ma'arif al-Sughra. The initial chapters of these volumes focus on magic squares, which are believed to communicate with Jinn, angels, and spirits. Al-Buni's other work, Manba' Usul al-Hikmah ("The Source of the Essentials of Wisdom"), is considered a companion text to Shams al-Ma'arif.