The Qur’an addressed itself to the Arabs who were its fi rst audience. It seeks to change their behavior from violent and passionate to serene. Concerning this impetuous quality the Qur’an states: “When the unbelievers instilled in their hearts fi erceness, the fi erceness of ignorance, God then sent down His serenity upon His messenger and upon the believers, and imposed on them the word of piety, since they deserved and earned it. God has knowledge of everything” (48:26). The expression “fi erceness of ignorance” (hamiyyat al-jahiliyyah) in the Qur’an refers to the proud spirit of tribal life, which led to many blood feuds in pre- Islamic Arabia. By contrast, the Book advocates the calm, relaxed, and humble path of religion, summed up in the quality of hilm, which became a dominant virtue in the Qur’an. The word hilm is absent from the Qur’an, but the adjective halim is mentioned as a divine attribute and also a quality of Abraham (9:115), Isaac (37:99), and Shu‘ayb (9:89). It is generally rendered as “slowly suffering,” “patient,” and “gifted with toleration.” This property, together with patience or steadfastness (sabr), is a significant aspect of the moral revolution brought about by Islam (Source: Islam, Key Concepts, Oliver Leamann).
Islamic Culture in Iran: Leading the Life Monotheistically
