# Introduction

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, our master Muhammad, son of Abdullah, and upon his family and all his companions. To proceed: Many brothers, men of virtue, knowledge, literature, and influence have requested that I undertake the printing of the book "Tabaqat" by the late jurist "Wadd Madi Allah," due to its valuable religious and historical recordings, its biographies of righteous men, its dissemination of knowledge, its etiquette of conduct, and its miracles throughout Sudan, and the status of those who spread these principles in the land. So I responded to the request and sought guidance from God Almighty in the work, and consulted those whose opinions I trust in this matter, from men of knowledge and insight, foremost among them the great Orientalist, the trusted scholar, His Excellency Mr. Helson, formerly Professor of History at Gordon College and currently Assistant Secretary for Administration in the Sudan Government. I found from them encouragement for the idea, which spurred me to hasten the work. So I proceeded to print the book as they suggested. I have taken care, to the best of my ability, to ensure accurate transcription and to select the most precise copies. After research and investigation, I found that the most accurate and correct one is that in the possession of the esteemed Professor, Khalifa Hasab El Rasoul, son of the late, perfect saint and knower of his Lord, Sheikh Wad Badr, in Um Daban. I have taken care to fully preserve the colloquial language of the book as it was originally written, so that it may be a true replica and preserve for history a picture of the language of its era. This will also make it easier for the general public to understand and benefit from what it contains. And it brings together those who were primarily intended by it. I have refrained from commentary and explanation of place names or biographies, in order to preserve the original format of the book. The speed at which I published the book did not allow me the detailed research and comprehensive investigation that should be available for such matters. In conclusion, I ask God the Generous to guide us all to what is right and to make our work purely for the sake of God Almighty, and to make the book beneficial to those of understanding and lovers of research and investigation. He is the guide to the most upright path. Written by the one in need of God Almighty - Suliman Dawood Manzil.