In the name of Allāh the Beneficent, the Merciful. Weseek His assistance for attaining general providenceand complete guidance. Āmīn. Praise be to Allāh, Whomade the heart of the people of dhikr the place of certitude and faith;and the heart of the people of ghaflah fertile ground for doubt andShayṭān. Blessingsand peace be upon the best of all creation,Muhammad, the master of the descendants of `Adnānand upon all the prophets and saints (awlīyah) and the family, andtheir followers from among the people of dhikr who are deserving ofthe Mercy of Allāh. Āmīn.

We have named this treatise Tuḥfatal-Amr fī Faḍīlat al-Dhikr. We beseechAllāh, the Exalted, that it should be beneficial –if Allāh, the Exalted, wills – to the sagaciousstudent who is a sincere lover. Verily this treatiseemanated from a question by one of the people ofdistinction (a`yān),adherents and eminent members (akābir) of the order from among thebeloveds; may Allāh, the Exalted, make him reach hisgoal and make him one of the best of His servants.Āmīn, O Lord of the Worlds. Those who desirebeneficence and are in quest of acquiring blessingssubmit themselves to this.

It is incumbent on a servant, who is a seeker (sālik) and devotee (dhākir), if he wishes to beamong the akābir, tochoose the best adhkārwhich is the dhikr “Lā ilāha illalāh” in accordance with his 8words,“The most virtuous dhikr is Lā ilāhaillalāh”; and also his words,”The mostexcellent thing that I and the Prophets before meuttered were the words Lā ilāhaillalāh”; and his words,“Whoever uttersLā ilāha illalāhwill enter Jannah” and in another report, “Whoeversincerely and candidly stipulates (this) will enterJannah”; and his words , “Lāilāha illalāh protects him from theFire”; and his words, “He whose last words areLā ilāha illalāhwill enter Jannah” and his words, “There is nothingthat protects from Allāh's punishment (that isgreater) than Lā ilāhaillalāh”