The true origin of Geomancy, also known as Ilmu Raml (The Science of the Sand), has always been a topic of mystery and debate. Some scholars say it came from Prophet Idris (known in the Bible as Enoch), while others believe it dates all the way back to Prophet Adam, the very first human being. So, where did this ancient science actually begin?
What Islamic Tradition Says Many Islamic scholars believe Geomancy was taught to Prophet Idris by an angel. This angel showed him how to form 16 spiritual stars using dots and lines. Each star held different meanings related to life, such as wealth, love, health, and the future. By interpreting the pattern of the dots and lines, Prophet Idris was able to offer guidance to people.
Over time, these teachings were passed down and recorded in Islamic texts. One famous scholar, Abdul Fattah Al-Sayyid Abduh Tukh, wrote deeply about Geomancy in his book Manbaʻ Uṣūl al-Raml. These writings helped spread Geomancy not only in the Islamic world, but also into Europe between the 5th and 17th centuries.
But Could It Go Even Further Back — To Adam? While many accept that Geomancy came from Idris, there is another powerful argument that it began with Adam himself. Why? Let’s look at a few interesting points.
First, the name Ilmu Raml literally means “Knowledge of the Sand.” According to the Qur’an (3:59), Allah created Adam from dust or sand:
“Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust (or sand); then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.”
This connection between sand and Adam is not a coincidence. If Geomancy is the knowledge of the sand, and Adam was created from sand, it makes perfect sense to believe that this science was built into his very nature from the beginning.
Arabic Numerology
In Arabic numerology (a spiritual system where each letter has a number), the words Ilmu Raml (علم الرمل) and Adam (آدم) both add up to the number 441 when broken down.
Here’s how:
Ilmu Raml = ع(70) + ل(30) + م(40) + ا(1) + ل(30) + ر(200) + م(40) + ل(30) = 441
Adam = ا(1) + د(4) + م(40), but 40 reduces to 4 (4 + 0), giving us 1 + 4 + 4 = 9, and 4 × 4 × 1 = 16, representing the 16 spiritual stars of Geomancy.
This is a deep symbolic link between Adam and the stars used in geomancy.
What the Hadith Says There’s also a Hadith (saying of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) that gives us a clue. It says:
“There was a Prophet from among the prophets who used to practice Khatt (inscribing in the sand). Whoever succeeds in doing according to his methodology will come to know what that Prophet knew.” Reported by Ahmad, Bukhari, Muslim, and Tirmidhi.
Some scholars believe that this prophet was Idris. Others say it might have been Adam. Either way, the Hadith confirms that there was a Prophet who used the exact method at the heart of Geomancy.
So, Who Really Started Geomancy? Based on the evidence, it’s possible that both views are correct. Maybe Idris was taught Geomancy and passed it on, but the original knowledge may have existed in Adam from the very beginning. After all, Allah says in the Qur’an:
“And He taught Adam the names – all of them…” (Qur’an 2:31) This means Adam was given deep knowledge, including hidden or unseen sciences.