The chapters of the book are twenty-four in number and include in all eighty-five sections.

Chapter one. Enumeration of the chapters of the book, as follows here.

Chapter two. May the word ʿishq (eros) be applied to (love for) God [and from God]?

Chapter three. Preliminary considerations, comprising six sections: the excellence of beauty; [the excellence of the beautiful];the excellence of that which is perceived to be beautiful; the excellence of love (ḥubb); the excellence of the one who perceives beauty, namely the lover; the excellence of the beloved.

Chapter four. On the derivation of the word love, comprising three sections: the opinions of the belletrists; the opinions of the Sufis; our opinion.

Chapter five. On the origin and beginning of love, comprising six sections: [the opinions of the divine philosophers among the ancients]; [6] the opinions of the astrologers; the opinions of the physicians; the opinions of the theologians; the opinions of the Sufis; our opinion.

Chapter six. On the essence and quiddity of love, comprising five sections: the opinions of the philosophers; the opinions of the theologians; the opinions of the Sufis; our opinion; [the kinds of love].

Chapter seven. On the diverse views people hold about love, comprising seven sections: those who hold that love is obedience; those who hold that love is fascination; those who hold that love is beholding; those who hold that love is will; those who hold that love is a natural disposition; [those who hold that love is knowledge]; those who hold that love is a commingling. These seven groups are divided within themselves into many others.

Chapter eight. On the description of eros and love, comprising two sections: the opinions of the belletrists; the opinions of the Bedouin Arabs.

Chapter nine. On the description of praiseworthy love, comprising four sections: the opinions [7] of the jurists and the scholars; the opinions of the Bedouin Arabs; the opinions of the Sufis; our opinion.

Chapter ten. On those who have disparaged love [for some cause],comprising three sections: those who disparaged love because their natures were not suited to it and out of ignorance of its essence; those who disparaged love because they were unable to bear it; those who disparaged it because their rank exceeded it.