against his brother in hostility, the dependent (13) of the household, one upon whom false testimony has been proven, or one suspect in his loyalty or kinship (14)." Abu Dawud also narrated it (15), and it contains: "The testimony of a treacherous man or a treacherous woman, an adulterer or an adulteress, or one who holds a grudge against his brother, is not permitted." As for minor sins, if one persists in them, his testimony is rejected. However, if obedience is the predominant state of his affairs, it is not rejected, due to what we have mentioned regarding the impossibility of avoiding them entirely. As for chivalry (muru'ah), it is the avoidance of lowly matters that are disparaging to one's character, and this is of two types. First, regarding actions: such as eating in the marketplace—meaning one who sets up a dining table in the market and eats while people are watching. It does not refer (17) to eating a small thing, such as a piece of bread or the like. If one exposes what is customarily covered of his body, stretches his legs in a public gathering, makes a mockery of things that make people laugh, addresses his wife, slave-girl, or others in the presence of people with obscene language, or tells people about the sexual intercourse (18) with his spouse, and similar lowly actions, then the one who does this has his testimony rejected. This is because such behavior is foolish and base; whoever is satisfied with it for himself and considers it good lacks chivalry, and therefore trust in his word is not achieved. Ahmad said, regarding a man who swore at an animal: The righteous said his testimony is not accepted until he repents. Abu Mas'ud al-Badri narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Indeed, among what people have attained from the words of the early prophethood is: If you feel no shame, then do as you wish (19)." Meaning, whoever does not feel shame (20) does as he wishes. This is because chivalry prevents lying and restrains one from it; thus, a person of chivalry avoids it even if he were not a religious person. It is narrated of Abu Sufyan that when Heraclius asked him about the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his attributes, he said: "By Allah, were it not that I would dislike for a lie to be reported about me, I would have lied about him (21)." He was not, on that day, a religious person.