Jabir ibn Hayyan is a medieval Islamic figure. Alchemy, magic, philosophy and religion come together in a vast corpus of writings. As his name isn't mentioned in references until after 900 AD, scholars disagree about his authorship, or whether he exists at all.
Abū Mūsā Jābir ibn Ḥayyān (d. c. 806-816) is credited with numerous works in Arabic, collectively known as the Jabirian corpus. The approximately 215 surviving treatises predominantly focus on alchemy and chemistry, magic, and Shi'ite religious philosophy.
He's associated with locations Kurfa (Iraq) and Tus (Iran). The works are extensive and varied. Jabir covers a wide array of subjects ranging from cosmology, astronomy, astrology, medicine, pharmacology, zoology and botany, to metaphysics, logic and grammar.
By the 10th century, authorship and precise body of Jabir's works are already themes of contention among Islamic scholars. Creation of all these works by one person, and even the existence of Jabir, are questioned.
Jabir ibn Hayyan is commonly viewed as a pseudonym for an unidentified group of Shi'ite alchemists writing in the late 9th and early 10th centuries. Several Arabic Jabirian texts are translated under the Latinized name Geber.
The writings feature earliest systematic classification of chemical substances and oldest instructions for producing an inorganic compound (sal ammoniac or ammonium chloride) from organic materials (such as plants, blood, and hair) through chemical processes.
His works also present one of the earliest known iterations of the sulfur-mercury theory of metals, a mineralogical concept that held sway until the 18th century. The sulfur-mercury theory asserts all metals, or all things, are made in varying parts of these elements.
For Renaissance alchemists sulfur and mercury are the two of the ingredients of the tria prima, the third being salt. The concept of tria prima or three primes is introduced to the West in the 16th century by renegade physician and alchemist Paracelsus.
An important role is played by organic alchemy. In The Seventy Books Jabir explains the qualities of the four Classical Greek elements as per Aristotle. Fire is hot and dry, water cold and moist, and so on. These properties are also later used by Renaissance alchemists.
A large part of Jabir's writings explores a philosophical concept known as "science of the balance." This concept seeks to explain all phenomena, including material substances and their components, through a system of measurements and quantitative proportions.
The Jabirian texts also include some of the earliest preserved Shi'ite imamological doctrines.
Jabir is said to have received these doctrines from his alleged mentor, the Shi'ite Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq (d. 765 AD).
Among surviving Jabirian treatises, a number of independent works deal with "the science of talismans", a type of theurgy, or persuasion of divine powers to aid the practitioner. The theory explores mystic and symbolic properties imbued in objects, symbols or inscriptions.
By harnessing these talismans, one can tap into supernatural forces for protection, guidance, or other desires. A related practice, "the science of specific properties" looks deeper into organic healing, wisdom and nature magic.
The "science of specific properties" explores hidden powers of mineral, vegetable and animal substances, and their practical applications in medicine and other disciplines. These treatises illuminate the intricate and esoteric knowledge Jabir ibn Hayyan seems to possess.
Jabirian alchemy seeks to uncover hidden powers and essences within minerals, plants and animals. Knowledge is both theoretical and practical, applied in various fields such as medicine, alchemy, and even in the crafting of magic elixirs.
Much of Jabir's work appears in Europe under the Latinized name. In 13th-century Europe, an anonymous author produces alchemical and metallurgical writings under the alias pseudo-Geber.
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