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548glossary of terms and conceptsTERMINARABICTRANS-LITERATIONENGLISH TRANSLATIONالاستقامةal-istiq§ma Straightness This is an attribute of al-isl§m and the oppositeterm to ‘Curvature’ with which it stands in adialectical relationship; it contains the fixedelements (‘the Straight Path’) around or withinwhich the more flexible elements move; these areonly to be found in the ‘Mother of the Book’.الحنيفيةal-ÈanÊfiyya Curvature This is an attribute of al-isl§m and the oppositeterm to ‘Straightness’ with which it stands in adialectical relationship; it is the more dynamic partthat contains changes and alterations (of legislationand human behaviour in general) within the limitsof the fixed parts of ‘Straightness’.حدود االلهÈudåd All§h God’s limits These refer to the ‘Straightness’ in al-isl§m; they arethe outward boundaries of human behaviour whichAllah has set down in the Book and which humansare not allowed to step over but are permitted tomove between.الحد الأدنىal-Èadd al-adn§ Lower limit This defines the lowest denominator of acceptable(legitimate) human behaviour (or of legal punishment)that no one is allowed to step under.الحد الأعلىal-Èadd al-a#l§ Upper limit This defines the most extreme possible amount oflegality in human behaviour (or of legal punishment)that no one is allowed to step over.الزكاةوالصدقاتوالرباal-zak§hwa’l-ßadaq§twa’l-rib§Duty of alms tax, general charity; and usuryDuty of alms is an act of charity that contains noobligation for a return of the amount given (moneyor otherwise); it forms the lower limit of generalcharity and belongs to the pillars of al-Êm§n. Generalcharity is a much broader term. Duty of alms isperformed by and for followers of MuÈammad’s (ß)messengerhood, while general charity can be givenby and to any person of whatever belief or religiouscommunity. Usury is the abuse or misuse of thecharity system, however small the amount is. It isalso to wrongly give interest-free loans to peoplewho do not need them (businessmen, farmers,traders, etc.). Finally, it is also to falsely reduce orincrease the amount of debt a person hasaccumulated.