ORIGINAL PREFACE.

This is the English translation of the "Basmala" (Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim), the traditional opening invocation used in Islamic texts.

Infinite praise is due to the Self-Existent One original: "Self-existent"; a philosophical term for God as the being who exists by His own nature, independent of any cause who, despite the shared nature of physical matter, bestowed various forms upon all possible bodies. Having distributed the human race into various categories and species, He gave distinct powers to every individual. Boundless thanks are owed to that Creator, who brought the human species from the secret storehouse of non-existence into the vast expanse of life, and granted humanity the honor of superiority over all other creatures. Having adorned the human race with the jewel of speech, He clothed us in the garment of knowledge. What ability does a poor, weak human possess to express gratitude for these blessings? What power does an imperfect original: "broken" pen have to fulfill this obligation in writing?

original: "COUPLETS"

Ah! How shall we offer Him praise when even the tongues of the prophets have proven inadequate? Here, all people who appreciate the feast of His divine wisdom can only exclaim—"Who can truly know You?" How has a mere mortal obtained the—