Islamica moralia: appunti sulla gentilezza o rifq (Islamica moralia: notes on kindness or rifq).

Certain contemporary Islamic thought insists on the idea that the good be-liever must conform his behaviour not only to the Prophetic model, but also to the divine model (see the doctrine of the Beautiful Names). Beginning with the definition of the term rifq in Lisan al-‘arab by Ibn Manzur, this essay reflects on several occurrences of rifq and of the attribute al-rafiq - an attribute equally divine as it is human - in principal Traditional literature. That which emerges is the high religious regard for the form of kindness named rifq, which assumes a variety of forms: courtesy and politeness, en- dearment and care for others (even in the sense of medical care), and solidarity among believers and between spouses - without omitting the sense of tenderness and consideration with regards to the more feeble, specifically children and animals.