Mukhtasar

The Shaykh and Imam, the Proof of Islam, Abû Hâmid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazâlî, may God have mercy upon and be pleased with him, stated: ¿Thank God for all His bounties; for even enabling us to thank Him; and prayers and peace be upon the Master of Messengers, Muhammad, His Prophet, Mes senger and Servant, upon his family and Companions, and upon his successors after him, his Ministers in his time. I missed, in some of my travels, a facility for extracting from the ¿Ihyâ' ¿ulûm ad-dîn' its essences, due to the difficulty of carrying it around with me, on account of its bulk. Hence I tackled this matter, seeking success and guidance from God and praising His Prophet. It consists of forty chapters. And God guides to the truth.'