: As a master of the Shafi'i school of law, Nawawi's rulings in this book are considered highly authoritative.

There are three main reasons this text is a standard curriculum in Islamic seminaries (madrasas) and study circles globally:

Unlike his larger works, Al Maqasid is a short, manual-sized text. It does not delve into lengthy debates or rare legal issues. Instead, it focuses on — the individual obligatory knowledge that every accountable Muslim (mukallaf) must know.

Rulings on wudu, ghusl, and removing impurities.