Within Islamic tradition, the status of Shams al-Anwār is intensely debated. Orthodox scholars, especially from Salafi and Maliki schools, condemn the book as shirk (associating partners with God) and sihr (sorcery), which is explicitly forbidden in the Quran (e.g., Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102). They argue that summoning jinn or using talismans for worldly gain violates the principle of tawakkul (reliance on God).
On the other hand, some Sufi practitioners distinguish between "high" and "low" magic. They claim that books like Shams al-Anwār represent ‘ilm al-asrār (the science of secrets), a legitimate esoteric branch of Islamic knowledge passed down from prophets like Solomon, Idris, and Moses. According to this view, the letters and names used are not magic but keys to understanding God's creation.
: Some scholars caution against the use of these texts, as the methods for creating talismans can sometimes border on practices deemed "innovations" ( ) or spiritually risky. Note on PDF Access