and that there is no one on earth, other than you two, whom I would be pleased to see surpass me, nor anyone besides you whose standing in religious and worldly affairs I would wish to see rise above mine.

The Obligation to Heed a Father’s Counsel

At the very least, this obliges you both to listen attentively to my words, take heed of my admonition, understand my guidance and counsel, remain certain that I have neither forbidden you anything good nor instructed you to do anything evil, follow the path I have laid out, and conform to the way of life I have set before you.

The Righteousness of the Author’s Family

Know that we belong to a household which, by Allah’s grace, has never been without—as far back as its history has reached us—righteousness, religious devotion, chastity, and self-restraint. Among the descendants of Ayyūb ibn Wārith—may Allah pardon us and all of them—was our grandfather Saʿd. The sons of Saʿd were Sulaymān, Khalaf, ʿAbd al-Rahmān, and Ahmad.

The fullest measure of righteousness, religious devotion, scrupulousness, and worship was found in your grandfather Khalaf. Despite his prestige, high standing, and abundant worldly means, he withdrew from the world and contented himself with little of it. He then devoted himself to worship and spiritual retreat until he died—may Allah have mercy on him.

The Author’s Brothers

The sons of Khalaf were your paternal uncles ʿAlī and ʿUmar, your father Sulaymān, and your paternal uncles Muhammad and Ibrāhīm. Every one of your paternal uncles was renowned for pilgrimage, jihad, righteousness, and chastity, and those among them who died did so in that state. May Allah pardon us and them.

It is as though I am about to follow them and join them, after which the matter will pass to you both. Follow no path but theirs, and be content with no way of life but theirs. If you are able to surpass them, it is for your own souls that you will be preparing the ground and building; otherwise, do not fall short of their standard.