Alchemy in Islamic Culture

Alchemy in Islamic culture was a sophisticated blend of science, philosophy, and spiritual practice during the Islamic Golden Age (8th-14th centuries). Islamic alchemists sought to understand the nature of matter, aiming to transform base metals into gold and discover the "elixir of life," but also viewed their work as a spiritual journey toward purity and divine understanding. They developed experimental techniques, laboratory tools, and theoretical ideas that influenced later Western alchemy and modern chemistry. Islamic alchemy balanced practical experimentation with mystical symbolism, reflecting a worldview where material and spiritual transformations were deeply interconnected.