THE SHARI’AH

Your Lord has commanded that you should worship none but Him, and show kindness to your parents. If either or both of them attain old age with you, say no word of contempt to them and do not rebuke them, but always speak gently to them and treat them with humility and tenderness and say, ‘Lord, be merciful to them both, as they raised me up when I was little.’ Your Lord knows best what is in your hearts; if you are righteous, He is most forgiving to those who constantly turn to Him. Give to your relatives their due, and also to the needy and the wayfarer. Yet do not spend extravagantly; spendthrifts are the brothers of Satan, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord—but if, while waiting for your Lord’s bounty which you are expecting, you turn them down, then at least speak to them kindly. Be neither miserly, nor so open-handed that you suffer reproach and become destitute. Your Lord gives abundantly to whom He will and sparingly to whom He pleases. He is informed and observant about His servants. You shall not kill your offspring for fear of want. It is We who provide for them, and for you. Indeed, killing them is a great sin. Do not commit adultery,a for it is an indecent thing and an evil course. Do not take life which God has made inviolate—except by right. If anyone is killed wrongfully, We have given authority to his heirs to demand retribution, but let them not transgress the prescribed limits in exacting retribution; for then he will be assisted [by the law]. Do not go near the orphans’ property, except with the best of intentions, until they reach maturity. Keep your promises; you will be called to account for every promise which you have made! Give full measure, when you measure, and weigh with accurate scales. That is fair, and better in the end. Do not follow what you do not know; for the ear and the eye and the heart shall all be called to account. Do not walk proudly on the earth. You cannot cleave the earth, nor can you rival the mountains in height. All that is evil in the sight of your Lord, and is detestable. This is part of the wisdom that your Lord has revealed to you. Do not set up any other deity with God, lest you be cast into Hell, condemned and rejected.

(17:23-39)