Editing Al-Qadim (section)

===Fate, Enlightenment and the Loregiver===
One element of Zakharan culture, oft-mentioned yet little defined, is that of Enlightenment - the Zakharans consider themselves "Enlightened", and all non-Zakharans to be "Unenlightened". So, of course, you're wondering just what the hell is up with that.

Even in the time when Al-Qadim was written, it was considered to be too on the nose to directly refer to certain key Islamic concepts. Instead, Al-Qadim has the Loregiver, a female prophet who, instructed by Fate, wrote the Scroll of Law - a holy text that contains precepts and instructions on how to be an honorable man so clear-cut and obvious that they became the foundation of Zakhara's modern culture. Most notably, the Grand Caliph, the ruler of all Zakhara, holds that position because they supposedly claim descent from the first caliph to find the Scroll of Law and bring the teachings of enlightenment to the people.

Who is Fate? The simplest way to describe it as as the Overpower of the Zakharan pantheon. Fate is viewed as an entity whose power lies outside that of the gods; a female entity who embodies the natural force that is a part of every man and woman's future. Whilst not to be worshipped like the gods, she aids those who succeed and may comfort those who fail, and the gods themselves defer to her.