Habib Muhammad Al-‘Aydarus will be reading and discussing sections from his book, “The Polished Mirror – The Meanings of Chivalry in Islam”. In the West, chivalry is often thought of as an informal social and moral code embedded within society demonstrating, amongst other things, one’s standing and conduct within that society. Some of these meanings are also found in Muslim societies but chivalry in Islam also has unique meanings which are derived from the Qur’an and the Prophetic Traditions (Hadith).
“The Polished Mirror” contains extracts from the Qur’an, the Prophetic Traditions, and many light-hearted stories from medieval and modern times which are retold to bring out the understanding of chivalry in Islam. The book ends with a discussion of the beautiful traits of honour and generosity, and how these traits relate to chivalry and one’s relation to God for the betterment of society.