Qur'ānic Piety

Like all scriptures, the Qur'ān includes a great diversity of material and touches on many them es. Its contents can be classified, on grounds of form and content, into three main categories. The first of these, which we can call paraenetic, consists of ecstatic exhortations, usually cast in the form of a series of short, strikingly rhymed phrases called saj’ , which are often imbued with powerful imagery. Usually these passages warn the hearer of the impending Last Judgment and enjoin him to believe in God and to do various kinds of good works, such as caring for the poor, widowed, or orphaned. Typical are the following:

1. In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful: the Calamity! What is the Calamity? And what will make you understand what the Calamity is? A day [when) p eople shall be like scattered moths, and the mountains be like puffy wool. He whose scales are heavy (i.e. with good deeds) shall be in a pleasant life; but he whose scales are light shall be embraced by the pit. What will make you understand what it is? It is a burning fire.

2. In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful: Have you seen him who denies the Last Judgment? He is the one who ignores the orphan, and is not moved to feed the miserable. Woe to those praying who are inattentive in their prayer, those who make a show [to be seen] but who withhold a pittance.

The second kind of material contained in the Qur'ān can be called legal, for it spells out , sometimes in considerable detail, particular relationships among members of the community of Believers-husbands and wives, masters and slaves, transgressors and victims, etc. These verses sometimes stipulate the exact punishment to be exacted for a particular offense, or the procedure to be followed in certain social situations.

The following verses are typical:

1. If a woman fears abuse or avoidance by her husband, it is no sin for them to come to a settlement between them, for a settlement is best. Human souls are touched by greed, but if you do good works and are God-fearing [that would be better for you], for verily God is cognizant of what you do.