In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

[Editor’s Introduction]

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate, Master of the Day of Judgment. May blessings and peace be upon the Seal of the prophets and messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. To proceed:

It has become widespread on the tongues of many students of doctrine that Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah inclined to the view that the Fire will perish, and that he authored a treatise on the subject. They also maintain that what his eminent disciple, Ibn al-Qayyim, wrote in his book Hadi al-Arwah ila Bilad al-Afrah (The Guide of Souls to the Abode of Joy) in chapter sixty-seven regarding this issue—the annihilation of Hell—was taken from his teacher Ibn Taymiyyah’s words in that very treatise (1).

During my research in the manuscripts of the Egyptian National Library, I came across a handwritten copy of a treatise dealing with this topic. It became clear to me—as will be shown—that it is indeed the treatise of Shaykh al-Islam to which reference has been made (2). I have therefore desired to edit and publish it for several reasons, which I summarize as follows:

First: This treatise has not yet been circulated among the Shaykh’s printed works.

Second: The manuscript is rare, even though some scholars have sought it diligently. Shaykh Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani says, “My hope was great that I might find …”