Last week's readings discussed the piety of women and roles as defined by Islam and the Quran. Barbara Stowasser's writings dealt with hadiths and Quranic stories featuring exemplary Muslim women. These scriptures are important because the Quran and its stories are used to extrapolate laws and codes of conduct for both men and women. Eve's role in the Garden of Eden as revealed in the Revelation of Muhammad differs slightly from the Christian account of the same story. This seems like a small change with much bigger implications. Mary's role in the Quran is interesting because her story is suggested as something that Muslim women can aspire to, but at the same time Mary's example is seen as beyond human and divinely perfect. Finally, the interactions between Muhammad and his wives, in the Hadith and in the Scriptures, play a central role in judging what is acceptable and appropriate in the domestic sphere. These three examples influence the role of women both positively and negatively depending on their relevance to modern sensibilities. One person's piety is another person's...