Which is better: Al-Tibi’s commentary or Ali al-Qari’s commentary on Mishkat al-Masabih? And which is better: Subul al-Salam, or Tawdih al-Ahkam, or Al-I’lam bi Fawa’id Umdat al-Ahkam?

The preference for books is relative and depends on the reader's school of thought, level, and capacity for understanding. The best book might be the easiest to comprehend, or the concise one, or the authenticated one, or the one that collects various issues, or the one free from innovations. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar transmitted that Al-Tibi's commentary on "Al-Masabih" and "Al-Mishkat" is the best ever written on them. As for Al-Qari's commentary (Al-Mirqat), it appeared two centuries after Al-Tibi, and Al-Qari frequently quoted from him. Therefore, Al-Mirqat is recommended because it combines the benefits of Al-Tibi's commentary and adds more to them.

As for the commentaries on "Bulugh al-Maram": Al-Bassam's commentary is the easiest and best in presentation, Al-San'ani's commentary is medium-sized, highly beneficial, and an abridgement of Al-Husayn Al-Maghribi's commentary, while Ibn al-Mulaqqin's commentary is the most extensive and most beneficial.