I testify that there is only one God, and that he has no associate. I shall adhere to his precious testimony to the days of the last judgment.
I likewise testify as to our lord and master, Mohammed, the servant and ambassador of God, the greatest of the prophets (the benediction and pity of God be with him and with his family and disciples!).[1] I keep prayers and benedictions for the day of retribution, that terrible moment.
THE ORIGIN OF THIS WORK.
I have written this magnificent work after a small book, called "The Torch of the World," which treats of the mysteries of generation.
This latter work came to the knowledge of the Vizir of our master Abd-el-Aziz, the ruler of Tunis.
This illustrious Vizir was his poet, his companion, his friend and private secretary. He was good in council, true, sagacious and wise, the best learned man of his time, and well acquainted with all things. He called himself Mohammed ben Ouana ez Zonaoui, and traced his origin from Zonaoua.[2] He had been brought up at Algiers, and in that town our master Abd-el-Aziz el
- ↑ Mohammed, in verse 56, chap, xxxiii., with the heading "The Confederates," asks the believers to pray for him to God, and salute his name. It is in pursuance of this precept that the Mussulmans neither pronounce nor write the name of their prophet, without adding the sacramental formula, which runs: "Upon whom be benedictions and blessings of God."
- ↑ The Zonaoua were an independent Kabyl tribe, occupying the high peaks of Djurjura. The land of Kon-kon, represented by the Spanish writers as a kingdom, is simply the district belonging to the Zonaoua tribe, who had frequent conflicts with the Turks on their first arrival in Tunis.
