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the theory of limits 181also connotes the meaning of ‘strong and mighty’ (qawÊy). This doublemeaning of ‘putting straight’ and ‘being strong’, which already indicatesthe dialectical nature of ‘straightness’ and ‘curvature"—the truestrength of the Islamic religion—can be found in the followingverses:[Al-rij§l] are the protectors and maintainers [qaww§mån] of [ al-nis§"]… 4( Al-Nis§" 4:34)God! There is no god but He, the living, the self-subsisting [ al-qayyåm],eternal… ( Al-Baqara 2:255)‘Curvature’As for the term ‘curvature’, this occurs in the Book primarily in theform of the noun ÈanÊf (sing.) or Èunaf§" (pl.), referring a) to those whoare ‘true in their faith’ and b) to the religion the faithful adhere to.We hear from the Book:So [Prophet] as a man of pure faith, stand firm and true in your devotionto the religion [li’l-dÊn ÈanÊf an ]. This is the natural disposition [ fiãra]God instilled in mankind—there is no altering God’s creation—andthis is the right religion [ al-dÊn al-qayyim], though most people do notrealize it. ( Al-Råm 30:30, AH)And they have been commanded no more than this: To worship God,offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith) [ al-dÊn Èunaf§"]; toestablish regular prayer; and to practise regular charity; and that is thereligion right and straight [dÊn al-qayyima]. ( Al-Bayyina 98:5)Being true in faith to God [Èunaf§" li-ll§h], and never assigning partnersto Him… ( Al-\ajj 22:31)Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self toGod, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in faith[ÈanÊf an ]? For God did take Abraham for a friend. ( Al-Nis§" 4:125) 5human being. Lane (Book I) gives as a second meaning ‘the thick part of the forearm;the half next to the elbow, of the forearm, in which is the [main] muscle’. Itseems that MS concurs with this ‘second meaning’ when he defines #aíama asstrength.4AH: ‘who take good care’; AA: ‘who are the managers of the affairs’; MP: ‘whoare in charge’; AhA: ‘who are the support’; AB: ‘who have charge of’; MS definesthe qaww§mån as ‘those in charge’ or ‘those with power and competence’. Likewise,Lane (Suppl.) describes qaww§m ( al-amr) as someone who manages and orders a thingor an affair, whereby it subsists; also as someone who has the power to withstand s.th.; but MS does not support the conventional understanding—and that of all translators—thatal-rij§l means ‘men’ and al-nis§" means ‘women’. See chapter 5 for adetailed explanation.5See also: ‘And further (thus): “set your face towards religion with true piety[li’l-dÊn ÈanÊf an ], and never in any wise be of the unbelievers”’ (Yånus 10:105); ‘Abra-