We have also relied upon *al-Nihāyah* by al-Mubārak ibn Muḥammad Ibn al-Athīr al-Jazarī, because he selected from the books of *gharīb* (unusual terms) that preceded him, and excelled in this book with the utmost excellence.

6. We undertook the task of editing the text, detailing it, and arranging it in a manner that facilitates its understanding and clarifies it.

At the end of this introduction, I must acknowledge the virtue of our noble and generous colleague, Professor Muḥammad ibn Nāṣir al-ʿAjami, who sent me the photographed copies of the original manuscripts, and presented them to me, as is his custom, as a gift purely for the sake of Allah, and out of a desire to publish the books of the Prophetic Sunnah in a meticulous publication that makes them easy to benefit from and utilize. I ask Allah, Glorified be He, that he may attain through that abundant reward and great recompense from the Almighty, who does not waste the reward of those who do good deeds.

I also extend my sincere gratitude and abundant praise to Professor Riḍwān Daʿbūl, who photographed for me the copy of Abū Dāwūd that Shaykh ʿAbd al-Ghanī ibn al-Nābulusī had collated, from the Ẓāhiriyyah Library in Damascus.

Furthermore, I offer my sincere and fullest thanks to Professor Muḥammad Iqbāl Riḍwān Daʿbūl, who has pledged himself to present beneficial and delightful works from the books of the Sunnah, meticulously verified, and to follow in this the path of his father in his institution, Dār al-Risālah al-ʿĀlamiyyah, which he established. I indeed clasp his hand in support and pray to Allah that he may continue in giving in this field, and that he may be the best successor to the best predecessor. Verily, He is Near and Responsive. And the last of our supplication is that all praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Amman: 12 Rabīʿ al-Awwal, 1430 AH

Shuʿayb al-Arnāʾūṭ and Muḥammad Kāmil Qarah Balalī