Introduction

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

All praise belongs to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and seek refuge in Allah from the evils within ourselves and from our misdeeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can lead astray; and whomever He allows to stray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

“O you who believe, be mindful of Allah as is His rightful due, and do not die except in a state of submission to Him” [Al ʿImran: 102].

“O mankind, be mindful of your Lord who created you from a single soul, then created from it its mate, and from the two of them spread many men and women. Be mindful of Allah, in whose name you appeal to one another, and of the ties of kinship. Indeed, Allah is Ever-Watchful over you” [Al-Nisaʾ: 1].

“O you who believe, be mindful of Allah and speak words that are straight; He will set right your deeds for you and forgive you your sins. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has surely achieved a mighty triumph” [Al-Ahzab: 70–71].

To proceed: the truest speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of affairs are those newly introduced; every such introduction is an innovation (bidʿah), every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.