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126chapter three6. General notifications, nonbinding instructions in the Book introducedby the phrase ‘O you Prophet!’ (e.g., instructions for thedress code of women); 127. Specific notifications, likewise nonbinding as they were specificallyand exclusively revealed for MuÈammad’s (ß) time (e.g.,rules of behaviour for the Prophet’s wives). 13MuÈammad (ß) received the umm al-kit§b from God and, by way ofhis sunna, applied it immediately to the historical context of seventhcenturyArabia. Unlike the other part of the book, al-qur"§n, it doesnot require a theoretical understanding but allows for a practicalexegesis that considers the needs of society. Such exegesis howeverrequires the qur"§n to approve and confirm it. Unlike the verses ofthe qur"§n, the verses of umm al-kit§b do not contain Allah’s wordsthat are eternally valid and to be enforced by necessity. Nowhere inthe Book do verses of the ‘definite book’ start with the opening phrase‘And God said:’ (q§la All§h); therefore the verses of umm al-kit§b are:A. A moral commandment:God commands [All§h ya"amur u ] justice, the doing of good, andliberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds,and injustice and rebellion. He instructs you, that you mayreceive admonition. ( Al-NaÈl 16:90)B. A prohibition stated as an imperative:‘Do not come close [ fa-l§ taqrabåh§]…’ ( Al-Baqara 2:187)C. A legal rule:God (thus) directs you [ yußÊkum All§h] as regards your children’s(inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of twofemales… ( Al-Nis§" 4:11)12‘O you Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, thatthey should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is mostconvenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And God is oftforgiving,most merciful’ ( Al-AÈz§b 33:59).13‘O you who believe! Enter not the prophet’s houses—until leave is given you—for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation; but when you areinvited, enter; and when you have taken your meal, disperse, without seeking familiartalk. Such (behaviour) annoys the prophet. He is ashamed to dismiss you, butGod is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth. And when you ask (his ladies) for anythingyou want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for yourhearts and for theirs. Nor is it right for you that you should annoy God’s apostle, orthat you should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is inGod’s sight an enormity’ ( Al-AÈz§b 33:53).