Preface

All praise belongs to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, ask His forgiveness, and repent to Him. We seek refuge in Him from the evils within ourselves and from our misdeeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can mislead; and whomever He misguides, none can guide. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner—

He says in His Noble Book:

“And indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it; and do not follow other ways, lest they lead you away from His path. This He has enjoined upon you so that you may be mindful.” (al-Anʿām 6:153)¹

And He also says:

“Say, ‘My Lord has guided me to a straight path—an upright religion, the way of Abraham, one devoted to pure monotheism, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah. Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of all worlds. He has no partner. This is what I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.”’” (al-Anʿām 6:161-163)²

We further bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. He conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, and sincerely advised the community, warning it against resembling the unbelievers, saying,

“You will surely follow the ways of those who were before you.”³

He also gave glad tidings that this religion would endure and that the people of the Sunnah would remain upon the truth, saying,

“A group from my ummah will continue to stand firm by Allah’s command; those who forsake them or oppose them will not harm them until Allah’s command comes while they are manifest over the people.”⁴

May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and his Companions, and upon all who follow his guidance and tread in his footsteps until the Day of Reckoning.