In the Name of Allāh, the Beneficent, the Merciful; andblessings and peace upon our Master, Muhammad, andhis family. We seek (Allāh’s) help to obtaincomplete providence and general guidance, Amin. O Lord of the Worlds,Amin.

This is an eloquent treatise and subtle discourse whichI have named Zubdatal-Asrār (The Essence of Secrets). Itexplains some of the sources from which the “choiceones” (the akhyār)drank. We pray to Allāh that this (treatise) wouldbe of benefit, if Allāh so wills, to the traveller(sālik) along thepath to the King of Kings. May Allāh the Exaltedmake him attain his goal, and make him one of thechoicest servant, Amin.

Know: O my brother for the sake of Allāh, and mycompanion to Allāh, that Allāh will teach you aboutHimself and will make you understand about Himself.I say: confirm, declare and bear witness toyourselves, O people of Islam, outwardly andinwardly, the declaration: “Lāilāhā illallāh, Muḥammad Rasūl Allāh”(There is no god other than Allāh, [and] Muhammad isthe Messenger of Allāh). I believe in Allāh, HisAngels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, andthat the decree, good and bad, is from Allāh (theExalted). Allāh is my Lord, Muhammad is my prophet,Islam is my religion, the Ka’bah is my direction ofprayer, the Qur’ān is my imām, and the Muslims are mybrothers.

“I have set my face, true in faith and in submission,towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth,and I am not of the polytheists”. “I am indeed freefrom what you associate with Him”. “I turn to myLord; He will surely guide me”. “To Allāh we belong,and to Him we return”. “There is nothing whateverlike Him, and He is the All-hearing, theAll-knowing”. “Say: He is Allāh, the One and Only;the Eternal, the Absolute; He begetteth not neitheris He begotten, and there is none like unto Him”.“But Allāh has created you and whatever you make”.“But you do not will except that Allāh wills”.“Allāh has power over all things”.