Our Shaykh—may Allah protect him—set out to demonstrate, with practical, evidence-based scholarship, that amid the diverse statements of the scholars the truth is but one, and that a Muslim is obliged to follow the proof wherever it leads—while continuing to honor and respect all the righteous imams. He prefaced the work with an engaging introduction, a splendid opening section illuminated by the words of the great, clear-minded imams, all underscoring the duty to keep to this sound path, this unique way, this upright methodology. It is the very opposite of those rigid partisans of legal schools who place the word of their imam above the word of the Lordly Imam of all imams, “while thinking that they are doing good work” and “thinking that they are rightly guided.”

The Shaykh has adhered to this solid scholarly method in all his writings, and especially in this book. Here he teaches people how their Prophet ﷺ performed the prayer—how many, indeed, are unaware of it!—and links them to his person and his guidance. Using only authentic material, he has clarified matters that allow no room for dispute, so that no one can claim any excuse for abandoning a sunnah established in this work, so clear that it shines like the sun at midday.

By Allah’s grace the Shaykh was enabled to complete this beneficial book—one of the earliest works he penned. He finished it in 1366 AH, as stated at the close of the manuscript, when he was about thirty-three years old—more than half a century ago.

The manuscript’s pages are generally in good condition, except for a few quires at the beginning—those made of translucent paper—whose edges are badly damaged, above all the introduction. Yet, by Allah’s favor, we found that the Shaykh had recopied those pages in his own clear, elegant hand and added to them; these very pages later became the introduction of his well-known book, The Prophet’s Prayer Described. (1)