In the Name of Allāh, the Most beneficent, the Mostmerciful.

All help lies with Him. From Him comes the ability toscrutinise.

All praise belongs to Allāh who appointed Muhammad asthe most supreme among His creation and the mostperfect manifestation of His names and attributes.May Allāh send perpetual blessings and salutationsupon him, and upon all his pure family andcompanions.

We have named this extremely brief treatise, which isbeneficial to insightful people and expoundsallegorical matters, “Consolation for the Eyes”. Itserves the function of the eyes in a human body. Itwas issued in response to a question from somebeloved friends who are honest about searching forAllāh while adhering to His means (for livingsuccessfully). May Allāh grant them perfect successand accomplishment. Perhaps facilitation incomposing this treatise is a divine mandate onaccount of the honesty of this enquirer who belongsto the people of probity and good fortune. All thishappened after this worthless servant repeatedlysought divine counsel, knowing fully well that hewas incapable of writing on this topic. But when hewas unable to oppose the need and objective of thisseeker of Allāh, he turned to divine help and placedreliance on Him for putting pen to paper. Thenappeared the outcome of Allāh's eternal decree andmy ability to discharge it. We have no power to turnaway from evil nor strength to perform good exceptthat which is with Allāh. He is capable ofeverything. He is All-wise and All-aware ofeverything. The time has now come to commence myobjective with His help.

This author makes the declarations that follow, ShaykhYūsuf al-Tāj, student of Abu l-Maḥāsin – who followsthe legal school of Al-Shāfiʿī, the scholasticschool of Al-Ashʿarī and the Khalwatī mystical path– may Allāh make him see his own shortcomings, andsee his present better than his past.

My honourable brothers and people of bounty, may Allāhperfect your joy and accept your devotions. Knowthat verifiers among Allāh's saints, who know Himintimately and possess perfection and ability torejoin Him, regard abundant divine remembrance andcontemplation about others’ salvation as theirintegral duty.