Just as Merlin is famous in European lore as a great wizard, so too do we find mages, witches, sorcerers, and sorceresses in the Middle East and Islamic world.
A thread on the legendary and historic magic-workers of the Middle East
A thread on the legendary and historic magic-workers of the Middle East
One of the most famous jinn-binders of his day, Muhammad al Tabasi lived in the 10th-11th century. He is accredited with highly popular works on conjuration and sorcery.
He was once asked to demonstrate his power and so conjured a jinn for all to see.
He was once asked to demonstrate his power and so conjured a jinn for all to see.
The jinn appeared as a smoke-like being in broad daylight.
He was said to be skilled in the art of talisman-making and conversed with the jinn regularly
He was said to be skilled in the art of talisman-making and conversed with the jinn regularly
Ibn Hilal was another famous talisman-maker who learned how to bind jinn to his amulets. It was said he could instruct the jinn through complex and secret talismanic operations.
The Qur'anic figure Asif bin Barkhiya was the vizier of King Solomon. When Solomon desired to have the Queen of Sheba brought to him, he first asked his jinn. When they failed, Asif bin Barkhiya was able to transport the Queen along with her throne in the blink of an eye.
Some have interpreted Asif bin Barkhiya as perhaps a jinn-like figure himself in folklore. Other said, he was taught to master of the Names of God and could therefore work miracles.
Later Muslim magicians would interpret him as a magical figure
Later Muslim magicians would interpret him as a magical figure
The Queen of Sheba herself is also credited with dominion over the jinn.
Believed to be part-jinn herself, her lineage granted her enchanting beauty and vast powers. With Solomon she commanded the jinn Zaba to build vast palaces in Yemen.
Believed to be part-jinn herself, her lineage granted her enchanting beauty and vast powers. With Solomon she commanded the jinn Zaba to build vast palaces in Yemen.
The famous mage and mystic, Al Buni is credited with writing one of the most powerful treatises of magic.
He is said to have mastered the secret of letters and through them could invoke angels, control the jinn, and fashion talismans of great power.
He is said to have mastered the secret of letters and through them could invoke angels, control the jinn, and fashion talismans of great power.
Alongside Al Buni is the 10th century Al-Qurṭubi whose book on astrological magic would have a huge impact on Europe.
Al-Qurṭubi's text is full of powerful formulae for healing and harming.
Al-Qurṭubi's text is full of powerful formulae for healing and harming.
Then there is Al Bajarbaqi, the Nostradamus of the Muslim world. A famed mystic, he left behind rhyming verses predicting future events.
Famously he warned of the "lame" warlord leading his Turkic armies predicting the coming of Tamerlane.
Famously he warned of the "lame" warlord leading his Turkic armies predicting the coming of Tamerlane.
At the height of the Abbasid period, the court boasted alchemists, magicians, and astrologers alike.
The legendary Jabir ibn Hayyan was the alchemist of Harun al Rashid and left behind many books on magic and alchemy.
The legendary Jabir ibn Hayyan was the alchemist of Harun al Rashid and left behind many books on magic and alchemy.
These courtly mages worked powerful magics on behalf of their clients.
Diya Al Din Kashani for example fashioned a powerful Venusian talisman on behalf the court vizier that brought the entire royal family and courtiers under his sway.
Diya Al Din Kashani for example fashioned a powerful Venusian talisman on behalf the court vizier that brought the entire royal family and courtiers under his sway.
The cleric Abd-al Samad Ardabili crafted a solar talisman with the secret Name of God and thus granted Shah Ishmail victory in battle.
In a Crusader tale, the mother of Kerbogha the atabeg of Mosul is a powerful astrologer and diviner. She warns her son of his impending loss at the hands of the Fanks, but he does not listen.
Kerbogha suffers loss in the First Crusade.
Kerbogha suffers loss in the First Crusade.
Sorcerers and sorceresses also appear in the literature or siras. In the stories of Amir Hamza he encounters a parallel world, Hoshruba, fashioned by sorcerers in defiance of God.
The sorceress Empress Heyrat rules in Hoshruba with her husband.
The sorceress Empress Heyrat rules in Hoshruba with her husband.
Heyrat sits upon a flying throne fanned by peacock feathers as she leads her armies of sorcerers into battle.
Another powerful sorceress Aqilah comes from Sīrat Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan where she is the mother-in-law of the hero.
Another powerful sorceress Aqilah comes from Sīrat Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan where she is the mother-in-law of the hero.
Aqilah is a skilled diviner who can cast horoscopes in the sand. She uses her powers and foresight to help the young hero.
The stories also tell of Akhmim al-Talib a guardian sorcerer who watches over the Sword of Shem and a talisman that can control the jinn.
Another famed prophetess figure, Zarqa’ Al-Yamama was born with supernaturally blue eyes. She could see the future and was gifted with great power. She used this to aid her tribe against their enemies.
A rival tribe hatched a plot to circumvent her magic sight.
A rival tribe hatched a plot to circumvent her magic sight.
Using branches to conceal their approach, they made her think a forest was coming. When she warned her tribe, they ignored her.
The rival tribe fell upon her and her family killing them all and taking her blue eyes as trophies.
The rival tribe fell upon her and her family killing them all and taking her blue eyes as trophies.
Idries Shah tells the tale of El Arab a mysterious figure in the desert. He was driven from his home and accused of being a sorcerer so he set up camp on a nearby hill and directed lightning bolts at his neighbors until they relented and let him back in the village.
He was said he trapped lightning in clay jars and could direct them to jump where he wanted.
These magic-workers even took part in battles. We've talked of talismans securing victory, but sorcerers could do much more.
The cleric Mirza Muhammad served the Qajar shah during the Perso-Russian war.
The cleric Mirza Muhammad served the Qajar shah during the Perso-Russian war.
He promised the shah he could secure victory by destroying the Russian general, Tsitsianov.
So he worked his arts in seclusion, using effigies and incantations. A little over a month later, Tsitsianov was defeated and his hand cut off and sent back to the shah.
So he worked his arts in seclusion, using effigies and incantations. A little over a month later, Tsitsianov was defeated and his hand cut off and sent back to the shah.
Then there was the marabout Ma al-'Aynayn who led the anti-colonial resistance against the French in the late 19th and early 20th Century.
Gifted in knowledge of letters and the secret Names, he could work miracles.
Gifted in knowledge of letters and the secret Names, he could work miracles.
Once during a mighty storm, he was on board a ship that was sinking. The storm having already sunk countless other boats was about to sink his. The crew turned to him and with a whispered word, the storm let up and the ship rose out of the water and righted itself.
Another time, thieves stole his camels so he cursed them. Immediately they caught aflame and were forced to return his camels.
He used similar powers against the French colonizers. Using fire from afar to burn their commander.
He used similar powers against the French colonizers. Using fire from afar to burn their commander.
One part legend, one part history these figures tell us a lot about the role of magic, science, and expertise in Islamic history.
There are so many that I will follow up with future threads.
There are so many that I will follow up with future threads.
For a contemporary look, I highly recommend @docstobar's Portrait of an Iranian Witch thenewinquiry.com/portrait-of-an…
and for the tale of Mirza Muhammad, here's another look:
and for the tale of Mirza Muhammad, here's another look:
And for true expertise on the siras @MENALibAHS is the must follow!
