"The Art of al-Kimia is the summa, the perfection of sages, the prophets, the saints; it is the goal and process of the famous hermetic phrase 'as above , so below'. This sacrad art has no purpose outside the precepts of Natures laws. The alchemist is aware that all creation is solely dependent upon the Creator and that nothing is achieved outside the will of God. He understands, rather, that his work, indeed his very existence, is the will of God, al-Kimia accelerates the natural evolutionary process in order to accomplish, insh'Allah, the spiritualization of matter and the materialization of the Holy Spirit. "
The form of Alchemy known in the West has it's origin in ancient Egypt (though a separate strain developed both in India and China at an early date as well) and was closely connected with metalsmithing. It's origin is traced to the Egyptian culture hero Hermes Trismegistus who is also known as the Prophet Idris by Muslims. In the early centuries AD this art was propagated in the multi cultural milieu of Alexandria and spread to Jewish and Christian practitioners. In the Christian world this art was eventually suppressed and was carried on mostly by hermits and monastics though certain rulers where more tolerant than others. It's practice in Christendom didn't again become widespread until the Renaissance.
With the advent of Islam the Arab world quickly took up the sacred art as well. It came to be most closely connected with the Shi'ite Imams and particularly with Imam Jafir as-Sadiq (as). This Imam was the alchemical instructor of the famous Geber or Jabir ibn Hayyan whose fame spread even to Europe.
Another famous Islamic Alchemist was Khalid ibn Yazid who eventual rose to the office of caliph of the Umayyad dynasty. Before taking office he came upon an ancient alchemical text and couldn't understand it so he invited all the local Alchemist to his large estate to train him. He didn't find any of their explanations worthwhile until a Christian monk named Morienus came in from isolation in the desert to teach him. Then he dissapeared as mysteriously as he came only to arrive at a later date to help his disciple in the Art when it was most needed.
I will write more later.
Basically I'm interested in what people think about Alchemy and what influence they see it as having played in their religion.
The form of Alchemy known in the West has it's origin in ancient Egypt (though a separate strain developed both in India and China at an early date as well) and was closely connected with metalsmithing. It's origin is traced to the Egyptian culture hero Hermes Trismegistus who is also known as the Prophet Idris by Muslims. In the early centuries AD this art was propagated in the multi cultural milieu of Alexandria and spread to Jewish and Christian practitioners. In the Christian world this art was eventually suppressed and was carried on mostly by hermits and monastics though certain rulers where more tolerant than others. It's practice in Christendom didn't again become widespread until the Renaissance.
With the advent of Islam the Arab world quickly took up the sacred art as well. It came to be most closely connected with the Shi'ite Imams and particularly with Imam Jafir as-Sadiq (as). This Imam was the alchemical instructor of the famous Geber or Jabir ibn Hayyan whose fame spread even to Europe.
Another famous Islamic Alchemist was Khalid ibn Yazid who eventual rose to the office of caliph of the Umayyad dynasty. Before taking office he came upon an ancient alchemical text and couldn't understand it so he invited all the local Alchemist to his large estate to train him. He didn't find any of their explanations worthwhile until a Christian monk named Morienus came in from isolation in the desert to teach him. Then he dissapeared as mysteriously as he came only to arrive at a later date to help his disciple in the Art when it was most needed.
I will write more later.
Basically I'm interested in what people think about Alchemy and what influence they see it as having played in their religion.
