and leave the details to their proper place in this introduction. We may summarize these features under three headings:

1 - Our edition is the first to rely on the oldest and finest manuscripts held in libraries throughout the world, whereas the editions previously in circulation relied on earlier editions, a single manuscript, or incomplete manuscripts. Those skilled in this field know that scholarly critical editing rests on obtaining good manuscripts and early textual witnesses, then working with them skilfully and professionally. Not everyone who assembles manuscripts knows how to use them correctly.

Reliance on these sound textual witnesses has revealed the alterations made to the text in earlier editions through additions, deletions, or omissions, as well as misreadings, textual corruptions, unjustified changes to manuscript readings, and changes to the surrounding wording prompted by a mistaken understanding of the text. Collation has brought these and other errors to light. Examples of each will follow in our description of the book’s editions.

2 - Careful attention to the text: tracing the sources of its hadiths and other transmitted reports, identifying its sources, verifying its quotations, and ensuring the accuracy of its wording. Earlier editions lacked most of this. Although some, such as the al-Risāla edition, paid attention to tracing the sources of the hadiths, their shortcomings were evident even in this respect.

3 - A scholarly introduction explaining the nature of the book, its method, and all matters relating to it, followed by scholarly indexes that reveal its knowledge and treasures.

Thus, praise be to Allah, this work fulfils the requirements of scholarly critical editing in a sound and satisfactory form.