Suns of Lights and the Great Treasures of Secrets: A Translation of Shumus Al-Anwar Wa Kunuz Al-Asrar Al-Kubra: The Divine Names, Planetary Magic, Talismanic Squares, and the Science of Letters

Suns of Lights and the Great Treasures of Secrets (Shams al-Anwar wa Kunuz al-Asrar al-Kubra) is a landmark medieval Arabic treatise on the esoteric sciences, composed by Ibn al-Hajj al-Tilmsani al-Maghribi in 727 AH (1327 CE). This is the first complete English translation of this foundational work.

The text presents a comprehensive system of Islamic esoteric science centered on the Beautiful Names of God (al-Asma al-Husna). Each of the ninety-nine divine names is examined for its spiritual properties, numerical value, planetary correspondence, and talismanic applications. The work covers the construction of magic squares (awfaq) from simple 3x3 grids to complex 7x7 planetary squares, the elemental natures of the Arabic letters, planetary hours and their governance of operations, incense recipes for each planet, the seven planetary spirits and their properties, and the proper methods for constructing and activating talismans. This translation preserves all Arabic text alongside English translations and ALA-LC transliterations. Talismanic squares, geometric seals, and numerical grids have been reproduced directly from the original printed text as images. A comprehensive glossary of technical terms is included. Ibn al-Tilmsani's work has been a primary reference for practitioners of the Arabic esoteric arts for nearly seven centuries. This translation makes it accessible to English-speaking scholars, researchers, and students of Islamic intellectual history, the history of science, and comparative esotericism for the first time.