To understand the gravity of Shams Ul Maarif (The Sun of Knowledge), one must first understand its author. (d. 1225 CE) was a prolific writer and a master of the esoteric sciences. Hailing from the Maghreb (North Africa), he belonged to the Shadhili Sufi order. His works did not focus solely on outward jurisprudence; instead, he dedicated his life to uncovering the hidden relationships between the divine names of God, the Arabic letters, and the structure of the cosmos.
It sounds like you're referring to (شمس المعارف الکبری), a famous and controversial book on Islamic esotericism, occult sciences (like letter magic, astrology, and talismans), attributed to Ahmad al-Buni (d. 1225 CE). The Urdu PDF version is widely circulated online.
Digital Urdu editions of this work typically include 40 chapters covering a wide range of mystical topics:
The core of the text revolves around the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Buni explains that these names are not merely labels but are active forces in the universe. He details how to recite them, the specific numerical values associated with them (Abjad numerals), and the spiritual secrets believed to be unlocked through their consistent invocation.
The Urdu edition typically covers 40 chapters of dense occult and mystical material, including: The Power of Divine Names: Instructions on the mystical use of the Asma’ al-Husna (99 Names of God) to achieve spiritual goals. Magic Squares (
Despite the hype, there are serious reasons to approach the with extreme caution.
– If you meant an actual research paper about this book, you could look for: "Shams al-Ma'arif al-Kubra: A 13th Century Arabic Grimoire" by Liana Saif (in The Occult Sciences in Pre-Modern Islamic Culture , 2017). Or: "The Reception of al-Buni’s Shams al-Ma‘arif in South Asian Sufism" (various journals).
