In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Author’s Introduction

All praise is due to Allah—He who has chosen praise for Himself, made it the opening of His revelation, the utmost expression of gratitude, the recompense for His favor, and the proclamation of the people of Paradise when they are ushered into His noble presence. He is beneficent toward His creation, ever returning to sinners with His pardon. He never disappoints those who hope in Him, nor repels those who call upon Him, nor forgets those who remember Him; and the rope of His protection is never severed for anyone who clings to His firm handhold.

I praise Him with every form of praise for every blessing He has bestowed, and we ask Him to instill in us reverent awe, to saturate our hearts with vigilant awareness of Him at every word and intention, at every contraction and expansion. We ask Him to make our speech devoted to Him, our guidance directed toward Him, and our instruction pointing to Him; to lead us to the demeanor of truth and the straight path; and to convey, on our behalf, to our chosen Prophet ﷺ the best, fullest, purest, and most complete blessings—blessings that fulfill the right he is due and the remembrance made obligatory. May Allah and His nearest angels send prayers upon him, upon his pure family, and upon all the prophets and messengers.

We seek refuge in Allah from Satan’s promptings, his snares, his subtle deceits, and his schemes. Indeed, his conjecture about this community has proved true: he has charged against them with his cavalry and infantry, taken position against them at every vantage point, erected snares for them on every rise, and pursued their misguidance with every doubtful argument. Thus people—save for a few whom Allah has protected—have awoken seduced, fearful of what will ruin them, veering from the path of their salvation, burdening themselves with what Allah has lifted from them, and neglecting what He has enjoined upon them