The following is an English translation of some extracts from the introduction to the travelogue

“At the onset of Ramadan ul Mubarak 1309 H (1892 CE) I embarked on a journey to Constantinople as a humble student of knowledge. Since this was not an extraordinary event, nor was there an exceptional tale to be narrated about the journey, I, initially, abstained from the thought of composing a travelogue. However, ever since my return, elders and friends I interacted with prodded me to document my journey.

“It’s been a while since our community was exposed to travel and tourism, and due to this the real affairs of the Islamic countries remains oblivious to the masses. I was also reminded of the time before I embarked on my journey, when I used to excitedly inquire, for hours, from travellers returning from Constantinople, about the state of affairs of that city. These factors persuaded me to compose this narrative; otherwise, such an ordinary and hastily organized journey did not deserve to be compiled in the form of a travelogue.

“The necessary components of a typical travelogue include synopsis of current affairs, state of the administration, legal procedures, trading patterns, illustrations of buildings, etc. Not one of these is present in this travelogue.

Nonetheless, narratives about the social conditions and educational affairs of the nation are included. But, these too are summary narratives, and not as detailed accounts, as should be expected. Hence, whoever wants to peruse this composition as a typical travelogue, will not enjoy it much.

But for those who relish information about even mundane incidents that transpire in Islamic countries, I offer this book for their enjoyment, in line with the maxim which says, that if everything cannot be covered in full, the remaining should not be discarded”.