(1) In manuscript A: “He said—our master and patron, the Chief Judge, Shaykh al-Islam, Abu al-Fadl—Ahmad, son of our master, the poor servant in need of Allah, Shaykh Nur al-Din Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani al-Shafi‘i.” In B: “Lord, make it easy and assist, O Generous One. He said—the shaykh, the imam, the erudite scholar, the great traveller, the unique one of the age, Shihab al-Din—Ahmad b. ‘Ali Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani; may Allah extend his life and lodge him in the midst of His Paradise.” C adds: “Lord, make it easy.” D reads: “Lord, make it easy, O Generous One.” E adds: “Allah bless our master Muhammad and grant him abundant peace.” W adds: “Lord, make it easy and assist. He said—the ocean of benefits, our master, the shaykh, the imam, the learned practicing scholar, the erudite savant, Shihab al-Din, Abu al-Fadl—Ahmad b. ‘Ali b. Muhammad al-‘Asqalani, known as Ibn Hajar al-Shafi‘i; may Allah have mercy on him, be pleased with him, and make Paradise his abode, through Muhammad and his family.” (a) (a) Supplicating with this formula is not sanctioned. Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Ibn Baz stated in Fatawa Nur ‘ala al-Darb 2/128: “Seeking intercession by the Prophet’s rank or right, or by the rank or right of the prophets or of the believers, is impermissible; rather, it is an innovation.” Z adds: “The book Nukhbat al-Fikr fi Mustalah Ahl al-Athar. He said—our master and shaykh, Shaykh al-Islam, the Chief Judge, the hafiz of his age, Shihab al-Din—Ahmad al-‘Asqalani al-Kanani al-Shafi‘i, commonly known as Ibn Hajar—may Allah have mercy on him.” (2) In Z the verb appears as “arsala” (sent). (3) In A a lacuna begins here and continues until the phrase “and the levels of jarh (disparagement).” (4) In E “in truth” replaces “to mankind.” (5) In B, C, D, and H: “and upon the family of Muhammad”; in E: “and may Allah bless the family of Muhammad” replaces “and upon his family.”