Hall 4 · The Book’s Echo
The Book’s Echo
The mark Gizli İlimler Hazinesi left on the public: the “cursed book” perception, reader comments, and the author’s own warning.
In brief
Claims spread rapidly that those who read the invocations and formulas in the book unknowingly lost their sanity, suffered unexplained severe headaches, were attacked by unseen beings (affliction, tasallut), and even took their own lives. The state stepped in over the work, referred to by the public as the “cursed book”: on 15 May 1962 the first volumes were confiscated by decision no. 972/99 of the İstanbul 1st Magistrates’ Criminal Court.
The book’s reputation
The “cursed book” perception
Gizli İlimler Hazinesi has aroused both curiosity and apprehension since the day it was published. The confiscation of its first volumes by court decision in 1962 and the gravity of its content made the work known to the public as the “cursed book.” Mustafa İloğlu himself stated that the invocations and formulas in his work are grave, and that people without sufficient knowledge should not read these texts unknowingly.
Its echo on the internet
Reader comments
The comments below are short excerpts selected from user posts on internet forums and collaborative dictionaries; the rights belong to their owners, and they reflect the work’s echo among the public. Translated from the Turkish originals.
One should not lean toward such books… God forbid, they can lead a person as far as polytheism. Instead of seeking help from such books, one should open one’s hands and pray; and to do magic, to seek help from it, is a very great sin.
A book that holds a great deal of knowledge, from finding lost belongings to identifying a thief; it can be used for good ends as much as for evil ones. One must be careful in using every piece of knowledge in it.
It is insistently said that this book has content that not everyone can read and understand, and that even if they understand it they cannot bear it… The people connected to this book are always in a mystical air. They all agree that one should stay away from this book, that we have not yet reached the maturity to control it.
The Gizli İlimler book contains the science of geomancy (remil), esoteric knowledge (ilm-i ledün), many vefks, prayers and spells. Its purpose is to be a means for the needy against the oppressor. But if you do not have sincere devotion, stay away absolutely; even if you are a hafiz you cannot be protected. This book can only be a light to people who have true faith and who take lessons from these sciences.
The reason it causes stomach pain is that it is a book heavy in spirituality, and reading or handling it without ritual ablution or purity. As for those who went mad and those who died, as I said the book contains heavy spirituality; so-called Muslims without ablution or prayer cannot bear it. Besides, the recipes in it are definitely NOT MAGIC. We call it the science of havas; a science done with certain recipes and prayers. If you want to read it and give it the importance it requires, it is a magnificent book that will repay your interest with knowledge; but if you use it for amusement, ignorantly, its affliction will find you — whether possession or madness. Good evening.
You must take that book out of your home at once. I worked alongside a medium who was an expert at it; believe me, you do not want to get involved. If your intention is amusement, or to use it on other people, it can end badly; never mind you, it affects your whole family and lineage. The science of havas is a matter that requires courage and complete faith; for the veils of your eyes will be lifted and you will see more than the world you used to see, hear more. And once you cross into that dimension you can never be as you were.
My friend, there are places in that book that should not be read. Look, it is a book in which methods of summoning jinn and such are given, and I want to warn you. Yes, it is a book that can be used for good and for evil; you can do things like magic, amulets, talismans. There are times for doing these and it is very risky; there are methods to protect against the adverse effects of the science of havas. Share that book with someone interested and knowledgeable, let them tell you about it. But as I said, do not go to extremes.