mankind. Our sole intention is to describe the guidance of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, in his life, judicial decisions, and rulings. Anything else the book contains is ancillary, serving that purpose. Suppose, then, that someone who does not give judgment on the basis of a refusal to swear an oath has contradicted himself: how would that harm the guidance of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him?” (5/ 521).

This concerns his purpose in writing the book. As for his methodology, he expressly described it at the beginning and in various places throughout the work. Naturally, the purpose for which an author writes a book shapes its material, the questions it examines, and the way they are presented. Approximately halfway through the first volume, he drew attention to a very important point, saying:

“In this book, we have not addressed what is permissible and what is impermissible. Our purpose is simply to describe the guidance that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, chose for himself, for it is the most complete and excellent guidance. Thus, when we say, ‘It was not his practice to offer the qunūt supplication regularly in the dawn prayer, or to recite “In the name of Allah” aloud,’ this does not imply that doing otherwise is disliked or an innovation. Rather, his guidance, peace and blessings be upon him, is the most complete and excellent guidance” (1/ 318).

At times, he provides detailed, extended explanations and draws attention to particular points for an educational purpose, which he made explicit in these words:

“We have drawn attention to their foundations and evidence only so that the inexperienced person whose stock of knowledge is meagre may realise that there is more beyond what he knows. If his grasp of knowledge is limited, his strength insufficient to pursue the evidence, and his reach too short to gather its fruits, then let him excuse those who have summoned their resolve and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the reports from Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, making them the standard of judgment and referring matters to them.” (5/ 344).

As for the main features of his methodology in the different sections of the book—the arrangement of topics and his manner of presentation, citation, and analysis—we shall outline them in the following lines:

After his introduction, the author—may Allah have mercy on him—opened the first volume with brief accounts of the life of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,