We do not say this to boast of what we have done or to belittle the efforts of those who preceded us; the work devoted to earlier editions deserves appreciation. Yet those who follow these projects and take an interest in the writings of Imam Ibn al-Qayyim have a right to expect us to explain promptly what distinguishes this work, so that readers may know what this edition offers that is new and turn to it with confidence in the care and effort invested in it.

Nevertheless, we claim neither an illusory perfection nor a supposed infallibility for our work. Rather, we have endeavoured to refine it as best we could. We ask scholars and seekers of knowledge to do us, scholarship, and its practitioners a kindness: if they have a comment or a useful insight, or notice something we have missed, let them not withhold it. Today’s means of communication leave no one an excuse for failing to convey what they have by the simplest means and at the least expense. Success comes from Allah.

We have prefaced the book with a suitable introduction presenting its most important aspects. The introduction covers the following topics:

• The book’s authorship, title, and date of composition
• The book’s structure and subjects
• The author’s purpose in writing it and his method
• The principal sources used by the author in the book
• Its influence on subsequent books and writings
• Previous editions
• A description of the manuscripts used for this edition
• The method of critical editing
• Sample pages from the manuscripts