al-Buhūtī’s “Kashshāf al-qinā‘”—and in all other passages, “al-Hady.” Likewise, when the two Ibn Muflihs quote from it in “al-Furū‘” and “al-Mubdi‘,” or when al-Mardāwī and others do so, they say, “The author of al-Hady preferred this view,” “The author of al-Hady mentioned,” and similar expressions. Had they shortened its title to “al-Zād,” they would not have been far off the mark. They nevertheless preferred “al-Hady” or “al-Hady al-nabawī” because these titles convey the book’s subject matter.

The hadith master Ibn Rajab listed among the author’s works a book resembling “Zād al-ma‘ād” in both title and subject: “Zād al-musāfirīn ilā manāzil al-su‘adā’ fī hady khātam al-anbiyā’” (Provisions for Travellers to the Abodes of the Blessed, on the Guidance of the Seal of the Prophets). Had he not explicitly stated immediately afterwards that it comprised one volume, whereas “Zād al-ma‘ād” comprised four, one might have thought these were two titles for the same book. Further discussion of “Zād al-musāfirīn” will follow in the section on the book’s structure.

• Date of Composition

We have found no reference to Zād al-ma‘ād in the works of Ibn al-Qayyim that have reached us. In this book, however, he refers to several of his other works, including “Tahdhīb Sunan Abī Dāwūd” (1/ 156), “Miftāh dār al-sa‘āda” (4/ 220), and “Jalā’ al-afhām” (1/ 72). He also alludes to “Madārij al-sālikīn” (4/ 253). Elsewhere (3/ 175), he mentions his intention to devote a separate book to adjudication on the basis of indications and circumstantial evidence. This was apparently “al-Turuq al-hukmiyya,” which he composed later. The only one of these works whose date of composition we know precisely is “Tahdhīb al-Sunan”: he composed it in 732 AH in Makkah, as he states at its conclusion. He must therefore have composed “Zād al-ma‘ād” after 732 AH.

We did, however, find in the book a reference to an event that helps establish a more precise date. The author stated that if some of the non-Muslims under a covenant of protection break that covenant and their breach is approved by