In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate,
the Most Merciful

Foreword

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Universe. He created man from clay and shaped him in the best possible way. He favoured him above all other creatures and made His closest angels prostrate themselves before him. He graced him with the mind that changed his doubt to an absolute belief. He gave him two eyes, one tongue, two lips and showed him the two ways. He sent him messengers giving him the good news, warning him, and alerting him, and preventing him from going astray with the cursed devil. He told him not to worship the Devil, for the Devil is his enemy, and to worship Allah alone and follow His right path, with understanding and a convincing belief, and not to imitate the belief of his forefathers and friends and relatives who followed those before them without any clear reasoning. Who could say better things than he who called for Allah and did good deeds and said that he was one of the Muslims, may the Lord's blessings, peace and greetings be upon the Messenger who brought mercy unto the people ... supporter of all the Oppressed and the weak ... saviour of all mankind from the darkness of ignorance ... he who will guide them to the enlightened path of the faithful and the good.

Our master Muhammad ibn Abdulla ... prophet of the Muslims and chief of the singularly radiant. May these blessings and greetings be upon his good and purified posterity
whom Allah has chosen from among all the truthful. He

stated in the Quran that we are compelled to love them, after he had purified them and made them infallible. He promised that anybody who goes on board their ship will be saved, and anybody who does not do so will perish. May these blessings and greetings be upon his honourable companions who sup- ported him, honoured him and sacrificed themselves for him and for the victory of Islam. They knew the truth, so they pledged allegiance to him with conviction and stayed on the right path without changing it and were thankful. May Allah reward them for their services to Islam and the Muslims. May these blessings and greetings be upon their followers and upon those who kept on their path and were guided by their light ... to the day of Judgement.

Please Lord accept my request for You are the All hear- ing and the Most Knowledgeable. Please my Lord open my heart for You are the One who guides us to the absolute truth.

Please my Lord help me to express myself, for you grant wisdom to any one You wish from amongst Your faithful wor- shippers. Please my Lord grant me more knowledge and join me with righteous people.