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40chapter oneabsolutely no connection between the number of children andGod’s provision of help and support; in fact, one child wouldbe enough to secure God’s sustenance.4. ‘ Come not nigh to shameful deeds, whether open or secret’:This fourth moral commandment perhaps illustrates best theevolutionary development of moral values and ethical ideals.Sexually ‘shameful deeds’ were first defined in the messengerhoodof Lot through the prohibition of homosexuality. This wasexpanded by the prohibition of fornication by the ProphetMoses and finally further expanded by a ban on public acts ofhomosexuality by the Prophet MuÈammad (ß). Similarly, thelessening of the punishments for these sins evolved, as theyunderwent several changes from, for example, the most severeform, execution, to lighter ones such as flogging. What we alsolearn from this commandment is that chastity is one of the highestmoral ideals, and that it lies at the root of human nature andthe innate disposition ( al-fiãra) instilled into humans by God.5. ‘ Take not life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice andlaw’:In the fifth moral commandment we notice that to kill anotherperson is against the natural instincts of human beings. It impliesthat, unless provoked, humans will always refrain from suchacts of violence. We know from psychological research thatsoldiers who have returned home from war face enormous difficultiesin readjusting their daily life to the normality of humansociety. It shows how extraordinary was their life as soldiers.6. ‘ And come not nigh to the orphan’s property, except to improve it’:The sixth moral commandment is further elaborated in Såratal-Nis§", for example, by the instruction that one is only allowedto marry more than one wife if it is the intention of a man tobetter care and protect the life and property of orphans. Thisis fully explained in chapter 5.7. ‘Give measure and weight with ( full) justice’:This seventh moral commandment implies that one shouldimpose control and restrictions on how to set up the standardmeasures in trade transactions, and that one should imposeharsh penalties against those who transgress against the officiallyaccepted limits (of weights and measures)—as we hear inthe Book: ‘Woe to those who give short measure, who demandof other people full measure for themselves, but give less than