Al-Maqasid (lit. 'the goals' or 'the purposes') is a guide to Islam written by Imam Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi in his book "Al-mowafaq'at". It covers purposes of Islamic faith, Zakat (charity tax), pilgrimage or even of the Qur'an's and Sunnah's text,[1] as well as frequently asked questions[2] and can be used as a primer for students of Islam.[3] Newer editions contain essays on modern issues. It is also known in English as the Manual of Islam and is one of the easier to understand translated works on Islam.