T h e S e c o n d : Despite its length, this work did not cause tedium to its writer, nor does it lack pleasantness for its reader. In fact, it aroused such ardour and enthusiasm in even my apathetic scribes that in these hard and distressing times, as many as seventy copies were handwritten in this neighbourhood within a single year. Those aware of this property of the treatise concluded that this must be a wonder proceeding from the miracle of his prophethood (Blessings and peace be upon him).

T h e T h i r d : In the copies handwritten by nine different scribes who did not communicate with one another, including one very inexperienced and unaware of ‘coincidence’(1) it was also before we were aware of the phenomenon the words referring to the Noble Messenger ‘coincided’ to such a degree throughout the whole of the treatise, and in the fifth part for the words referring to the Qur’an, that any one who is fair to the slightest degree would not consider this to be the result of chance. In fact, whoever observed it definitely concluded that it was a mystery of the Unseen and a marvel proceeding from the miracle of Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace).

The Principles explained at the beginning of this treatise have extreme importance. As for the prophetic Hadiths related, they are accepted as authentic by

----------------------------
(1) ’Coincidence’ (tawâfuq) refers to the unintentional corres pondence of letters or words in lines or patterns on one several pages.(Tr.)