Hast thou seen the one who belieth religion? He is the one who repelleth the orphan and urgeth not the feeding of the poor. So woe be to those who pray, those who are heedless of their prayer, who want only to be seen, and withhold small kindnesses (107: 1–7). This short sūra makes it clear that to be ‘religious’ in one’s formal acts of devotion has no value whatsoever unless these acts be integrated into a life of virtue, and unless one is performing one’s devotion with the right intention, that is, with ikhlāṣ
