 in this book i have committed myself to stopping at your limit and to limit myself to what i have seen or what i have found to be true through the transmission of trustworthy people. leave me alone with the news of the ancient bedouins for their path is not our path and there are many stories about them. my approach is not to mount others nor to adorn myself with borrowed jewelry. god is the one who seeks forgiveness and help there is no god but him.
والتزمت في كتابي هذا الوقوف عند حدك، والاقتصار على ما رأيت أو صح عندي بنقل الثقات، ودعني من أخبار الأعراب المتقدمين، فسبيلهم غير سبيلنا، وقد كثرت الأخبار عنهم، وما مذهبي أن أنضي مطية سواي، ولا أتحلى بحلي مستعار، والله المستغفر والمستعان لا رب غيره.