with boundless mercy—for I found it to be a beneficial book in its field, confined to the most important issues while citing the evidence. It makes difficult matters easy for its readers and demands no great effort from them to understand and study it. Beginners derive immense benefit from it, while scholars can use it to teach students Islamic jurisprudence. It can be adopted as a textbook in Islamic institutes, as well as an assigned text for courses conducted by those calling people to Islam in the country’s outlying regions. In any event, this book has few peers among works of Islamic jurisprudence. I have therefore undertaken to prepare it in this modest effort so that its benefit may become widespread, it may be easier to consult, and the intended meaning of its issues may become clear.

The work I carried out may be summarized as follows:

1- By Allah’s grace, I obtained two manuscript copies of the book. My brother, the esteemed Shaykh Dr. Abd al-Rahmān ibn Mu'allā al-Luwayhiq—may Allah grant him success and watch over him—kindly presented them to me when he learned of my work on the book. At first, I had relied solely upon the edition published by the esteemed Shaykh Abdullāh al-Jārallāh—may Allah have mercy upon him—but he commendably urged me to consult the original manuscripts. He then graciously contacted our generous brother Musā'id ibn Abdullāh al-Sa'dī, the Shaykh’s grandson—may Allah reward him with goodness—who, may he be rewarded, photographed both manuscripts and delivered them to the Shaykh. My delight with this precious gift was immense, and the benefit I derived from it was tremendous. May Allah bless them both and reward them with every