From Alchemy to Mysticism:A Reading of the Manuscript Unlocking the Symbols and Keys to the Treasures by Jābir ibn Ḥayyān

Abstract

This study explores the intricate intersection of alchemy and mysticism in the manuscript Unlocking the Symbols and Keys to the Treasures (Ḥall al-Rumūz wa-Mafātīḥ al-Kunūz) attributed to Jābir ibn Ḥayyān, one of the foundational figures of Islamic science. The manuscript reveals a deeply symbolic framework in which alchemical procedures are not merely physical or proto-chemical processes, but metaphysical journeys toward self-purification and spiritual enlightenment. The fusion of esoteric alchemical language with Ṣūfī terminology reflects Jābir’s overarching aim: to decode the divine order embedded within matter and spirit alike. In this work, Jābir constructs a unified vision of reality where knowledge of the physical world becomes inseparable from inner, spiritual transformation. Alchemy, in this context, is conceptualized as a sacred science—a pathway to unveil cosmic secrets and attain the ultimate elixir, which is both material and symbolic. The study examines how this manuscript embodies a hermeneutics of transformation, wherein substances, symbols, and the self undergo parallel refinement. By situating this manuscript within the broader intellectual landscape of Islamic mysticism and occult science, the article argues that Jābir’s alchemical thought anticipates a mode of inquiry where revelation, symbolic interpretation, and empirical engagement converge. The manuscript thus stands as a testament to a pre-modern epistemology that views the universe as a text to be read with both rational precision and mystical insight.