Unlike other books concerned with legal Islamic issues, here Al-Ghazali aims to teach his readers firstly the theory of what is lawful and what is unlawful and how to deal with dubious or ambiguous issues, and secondly how to apply the knowledge they have gained to their everyday lives. Ghazali also details the case of prudence or caution (wara) and its various degrees, including prudence of the upright and prudence of the saintly. Further helping to understand how the practice of what is lawful and desisting from that which is not becomes part of one's spiritual life. As ever he uses Quranic principles and examples of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions to justify his work.
Translated along with an introduction and notes by scholar Yusuf T. Delorenzo.