• In manuscript Y: “End of Tawdih Nukhbat al-Fikar fi Mustalah Ahl al-Athar—praise belongs to Allah. It was written by the servant yearning for Allah’s pardon and mercy, the humble attendant of the People of the Quran, Ahmad ibn Shabban ibn Ali ibn Shabban ibn Muhammad al-Ansari, the Shafi‘i Qurʾan-reciter from Gaza—may Allah be kind to him and forgive him, his teachers, his parents, and all Muslims. Completion took place on the afternoon of Wednesday, the blessed twenty-ninth of Safar 869 AH, in the Barquqiyya madrasa in al-Qahira al-Muʿizziyya. Praise and thanks are due to Allah, and may Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions, and grant them peace. The copy was made from a manuscript bearing the author’s own hand, with an attestation that it had been read to him with analytical study from beginning to end; it was collated against that exemplar and declared sound. Allah is sufficient for us and the best guardian; there is no power and no strength except through Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.” Immediately afterwards there appears, in the handwriting of the hadith master ʿUthman al-Dimi, a certificate of reading and authorisation for the copyist; it states: “Praise be to Allah, and peace upon His chosen servants. To proceed: The entire Sharh al-Nukhba by its author—our shaykh, the Shaykh al-Islam, the hadith scholar of the age, Abu al-Fadl Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani al-Shafi‘i, may Allah have mercy on him and make his resting place cool in both abodes—has been read to me, with careful study and utmost scrutiny, by his companion: the shaykh, imam, scholar, erudite, versatile, Shihab al-Din, Abu al-Fadl, Abu al-Abbas, Abu al-Jood, Ahmad ibn Shaykh Zayn al-Din Shabban ibn Shaykh Nur al-Din Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Shabban ibn Muhammad al-Ansari, al-Tabbani, al-Gazzi, the Shafi‘i Qurʾan-reciter—may Allah benefit him through knowledge and grant him enjoyment of it. The reading occurred in several sessions, the last of which was on Thursday, the final day (salkh) of the blessed month of Safar al-Khair, 869 AH. I have authorised him to transmit it from me on the authority of its author and to teach it to whomever he wishes. I have also permitted him to relate from me whatever I possess—whether recited, heard, compiled, licensed, in verse or in prose—subject to its established conditions. Written and signed by the servant in need of his rich Lord’s mercy, ʿUthman ibn Muhammad ibn ʿUthman al-Dimi—may Allah pardon him.” • In manuscript K: “There is no power and no strength save through Allah, the Most High, the Most Great, and may Allah bless our master Muhammad, his family and companions, and grant them peace. Nukhba and its commentary have been completed—praise be to Allah, by His help and gracious success—authored by the shaykh, imam, erudite scholar, the hadith master of the age, Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Ali Ibn Hajar al-ʿAsqalani al-Kinani al-Shafi‘i—may Allah envelop him in His mercy and lodge him in the expanse of His Paradise, amen. Copying was finished at the call to the ʿasr prayer on Thursday, 14 Muharram, at the beginning of the year 902 AH.”