In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Fakhr al-Dīn Muhammad ibn `Umar al-Razī is without a doubt one of the
most influential Muslim scholars of all time. He played a huge role in restructuring
the relationship between philosophy and religious sciences, notably, Kalam
(theology). His monumental Qur’an commentary Mafatih al-Ghayb (Keys to the
Unknown) is packed with spiritual and philosophical insights. One could argue that
it was an early demonstration of the synthesis of Kalam, Philosophy and Sufism
that became prevalent in the Islamicate world, especially during the Ottoman
period. Scholars for centuries considered his commentary a reservoir of deep
meanings of al-Qur’an, especially the elaborative volume, which covers his
commentary of the most important and most commonly read chapter of the Qur’an,
Surat al-Fatīha. This volume, for its magnificence and brilliance, was often
transcribed and later-on printed independently of the remaining thirty one volumes.
One could also argue that it inspired a tradition of al-Fatīha commentaries in both
the Islamic East and West.

In these selected narratives and excerpts from Mafatih al-Ghayb –

extracted, translated and illustrated by Shaykh Allie Khalfe – the reader can begin
to appreciate the depth and transformative power of what is perhaps the most
encompassing exegesis of al-Qur’an ever written. Shaykh Khalfe has an incredible
skill of rendering complex texts and topics in a much simpler, easy-to-digest forms.
He has provided the English-speaking world, especially Muslim youth, an
immeasurable service with this transformative work. Islam: A Tradition of Mercy
not only lays out, in an accessible language, the pearls of a renowned Qur’an
commentary, it also demonstrates these gems in graphical representations,
allowing the mind to move beyond gazing at their beauty to actually owning them!

I would highly recommend this volume to anyone interested in learning

about the core of Islam, because it traces the thread of mercy as it is weaved within
Surat al-Fatīha and its exegesis; and to anyone looking to know more about Imam
al-Razī’s epic commentary. Perhaps this work could be a stepping stone to a much
wider works serving al-Razī’s Mafatih al-Ghayb.

I, personally, thank Shaykh Khalfe, for his extremely insightful work. Clearly,
he has put great time and effort in compiling and carefully illuminating these finely
selected passages. May Allah reward him abundantly in this world and the next for
providing this inspiration and may He make it a source of benefit for all.

Ahmed Hussein El Azhary

Cairo, 9 Ramadan 1440 | 14 May 2019