This work is concerned with Islamic alchemy. It explores Sufi, Shi'ite and Hermetic sources. It touches upon occult areas of alchemy, including the jafr (comparable to Hebrew Qabala), the Qiyamat (a heretical Ismaili sect) and Hermetic color theory.

'Al-Kimia is a sound scholarly treatment of the Islamic contribution to the art of alchemy, a rich compendium of Sufi, Shi’ite, and Hermetic lore, and a string of spiritual meditations so concentrated and poetic as to be "operative", God-willing, on the subtle material of the reader’s psyche. It even ends with a recipe for an actual beginner's alchemical operation. In density and lucidity, a real "gem".' - Charles Upton, author of The System of Antichrist.

'The appearance of John Eberly’s consummate Al-Kimia: The Mystical Islamic Essence of the Sacred Art of Alchemy is indeed cause for celebration. Readers already devoted to alchemical research are rewarded by Eberly’s lucid presentation of the great adepts and their relationship to the various lineages and schools. For those less familiar with the Sacred Art, in this time of ever heightening crisis, Eberly’s text provides an urgently needed opportunity to appreciate the rich and diverse history and culture of the Islamic world.' - Jay Bremyer, author of The Dance of Created Lights: A Sufi Tale.