In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to God, unique in Unicity and singular in Divinity. He has designed His slaves with Gnosis of Him. Tongues lack the precision to describe Him, and eyes are veiled from seeing Him— Him who is exalted above the attributes of creation and is lofty over the meanings of the defined. Therefore, there is none like Him among all His creations, and there is no deity for any world other than Him. I bear witness that there is no god but God - Alone and without partner - witnessing with a testimony declaring His Unicity; desiring His Generosity; and repenting of my sins against Him. And I bear witness that Muḥammad is His slave and His Messenger - He chose him to bear His message, and He has entrusted to him the charge of the markers of His religion. He sent him with His Book as a Proof for His slaves. And I bear witness that ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib is Muḥammad's Legatee, and that he is the best creation after him; he is in charge of his affairs; and he calls to Muḥammad's way. And that ʿAlī is the Commander of the Faithful, the chief of the Legatees, and the most worthy person after the Prophets. And I bear witness that ʿAlī's wife, Fāṭimah al-Zahrāʾ, is the leader of the women of all the worlds. And that al-Ḥasan, al-Ḥusayn, and the [nine] Imams from the lineage of al-Ḥusayn are the Imams of Guidance, the signs of piety, and the Proofs of God over the people of the world. And I bear witness that whoever follows them is saved, and whoever opposes them has perished. May the Blessings of God and His Mercy be upon them, upon their souls and their bodies. Now then, I have found that my teachers and predecessors - may God have mercy on them - have composed books on the various fields encompassed in learning; however, they have neglected to produce a work centered on numbered categories and those characteristics which are praised and found blameworthy. As I found great benefit in compiling such a work for the one seeking knowledge and the one desiring good, I decided to compile this book to become closer to God - exalted be His Name-, while seeking to attain His rewards and desiring the victory of acquiring His Mercy. I ask God not to disappoint me in what I have hoped and expected from Him through His Abundance and His Grace. Truly He is potent over all things.