To proceed: This epistle was penned by the feeble servant who longs for his Lord’s mercy and pardon, His generosity and favour—Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Wasiti—may Allah treat him in a way befitting His grace, for He is the Lord of piety and forgiveness (1). It is addressed to his brothers for Allah’s sake—the masters of learning and the God-fearing imams, possessors of beneficial knowledge, humble hearts and shining light, those whom Allah has clothed in the garment of true adherence—and I ask of His bounty that He grant them the realities of fruitful benefit:
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The august master, eminent scholar, pride of the hadith scholars and lamp of the worshippers who turn to the Lord of all worlds: Taqiy al-Din Abū Ḥafṣ ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd Allah (2) ibn ʿAbd al-Ahad ibn Shuqar (3);
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The venerable shaykh, distinguished scholar and devoted traveller on the path, whose knowledge is matched by practice and who is robed in the finest (4) garments of praiseworthy traits: Shaykh Shams al-Din Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Ahad al-Āmidi (5);
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The honoured brother, virtuous scholar, devout ascetic—pious and upright—upon whose face the radiance of his heart is plainly visible: Sharaf al-Din Muḥammad ibn al-Munajja (6);
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And the honoured brother, jurist-scholar, noble and virtuous, pride of the hadith scholars (7);