What is the stance of Islam on the academic study of the sciences of talismans (awfaq) and letters (huruf)? And what is the explanation for the existence of works by great scholars such as Al-Ghazali, Al-Suyuti, and others that address these sciences, if they are forbidden?

The science of letters (ilm al-huruf) and talismans (awfaq) was not known to the Salaf (early generations of Muslims). Rather, it emerged after their time, with the appearance of extremist Sufis. Well-established scholars did not give it any weight; instead, they considered it a delusion. It is a matter difficult to comprehend, relying on intuition (dhawq) and unveiling (kashf). As for those to whom its practice is attributed, some of them are innovators whose choices are not to be relied upon. Among them are those who explicitly declared it forbidden, like Al-Suyuti, and some were falsely accused of engaging in it, like Al-Ghazali, with no proof of their involvement. Inferring the validity of something from the actions of some people is a baseless method. Beneficial knowledge is that which profits one in the Afterlife by adhering to the correct Sharia and keeping away from the opinions of philosophers and those who engage in seclusion.