ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The author tried to translate the text in a simple and lucid manner, so that the reader may understand the purport of context. This translation is destined not only for those who do not know Arabic, but also for those proficient in Arabic who might be perplexed in trying to understand this complicated text, in which even the meaning of technical terms changes depending on the context. Austin observes, 'The overall impression on the reader is lack of proper organization and continuity'. Ibn Al-Arabi's statement of book's source, it seems that its chapters consist of lectures delivered before an audience. The repetition of sentences and phrases, and mainly the reiteration of causal phrases, may support this supposition. In the latter chapters Uzayr, walaya appears as a principle preferable to legislative prophecy, and the author points out that after Muhammad legislation was given to scholars.
