Islam for Christians

The Prophet said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time."

The Meccans come to conquer the Muslims on the outskirts on their own city, and once again, the Muslims are facing towering odds. Muhammad and his companions work out a strategy and head out to face the enemy at the foot of Mount Uhud.

Introducing the concept of abrogation, which is first seen -- classically speaking -- in this surah. The main question in this surah is, "who is the Quran speaking to?" The answer depends on who you ask and their opinion on abrogation.

Possible Biblical sources in the Quran, and its role in the religious free-for-all in Arabia.

The Prophet said, "Your life in comparison to the lifetime of the past nations is like the period between the time of `Asr prayer and sunset. Your example and the example of the Jews and Christians is that of person who employed laborers and said to them, "Who will work for me till the middle of the day for one Qirat (a special weight)?' The Jews did. He then said, "Who will work for me from the m...

Medina waits for the inevitable attack, the Muslims remove a potential traitor to the south, and Muhammad's family undergoes some major changes.

Has the news of the Overwhelming Event reached you ˹O Prophet˺? On that Day ˹some˺ faces will be downcast, ˹totally˺ overburdened, exhausted, burning in a scorching Fire, left to drink from a scalding spring. They will have no food except a foul, thorny shrub, neither nourishing nor satisfying hunger. On that Day ˹other˺ faces will be glowing with bliss, ˹fully˺ pleased with their striving, in an...

Jesus speaks from the cradle in the Arabic infancy Gospel, and perhaps -- maybe -- part of that makes its way into the Quran. Or, is it the other way around? The final episode regarding the apocryphal Gospels and how they relate to the Quran.

The Prophet said, "Allah will not accept the excuse of any person whose instant of death is delayed till he is sixty years of age."

Abu Sufyan, more powerful than ever, picks up the pieces in Mecca. He's raising an army for a move on Muhammad.

A warning about destruction, examples from history, and an invitation to join God in his hidden garden.

The Gospel of Pseudo Matthew picks up with the holy family's flight to Egypt.... a story that came about 600 years after Jesus was born. Dragons and miracles and dead children -- this imaginative tale is one unfamiliar to Christians and Muslims alike. Well... most of it.

Certainly, the time of prayer shall come and then Jesus (peace be upon him) son of Mary would descend and would lead them. When the enemy of Allah would see him, it would (disappear) just as the salt dissolves itself in water and if he (Jesus) were not to confront them at all, even then it would dissolve completely, but Allah would kill them by his hand and he would show them their blood on his la...

Cleaning up after the battle... and deciding who lives and who dies. The captives are brought back to Mecca.

I do swear by this land This land where you are free to dwell And by the parents and their children We have created man into a life of pain and distress and toil and trial Yet he thinks nothing can overpower him He boasts: I have wasted great wealth Does he think no one sees him? Did we not give him two eyes And a tongue? And two lips? And guided him to the parting of two paths. But he has not tak...

The Protoevangelium of James tells us about Mary in the temple.... how she came to be with Joseph and a wildly graphic story about confirming the virgin birth.

Allah's Messenger said, "The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts).

The duals heat up with Muhammad's family facing another prominent family... the Muslim army displays its fervor... the result is a bloody rout... Bilal gets his revenge... one of history's most consequential military upsets is complete.

Some nature metaphors and an introduction to Thamud: By the sun and his brightness, And the moon when she followeth him, And the day when it revealeth him, And the night when it enshroudeth him, And the heaven and Him Who built it, And the earth and Him Who spread it, And a soul and Him Who perfected it And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it. He is ind...

Introduction to the apocryphal gospels that may have contributed to the Quranic Jesus. The second part goes over one of those gospels -- The Infancy Gospel of Thomas. Also... an introduction to the general concept of literary criticism in religious texts.

The Prophet said, "Allah said, 'I will be an opponent to three types of people on the Day of Resurrection: -1. One who makes a covenant in My Name, but proves treacherous; -2. One who sells a free person and eats his price; and -3. One who employs a laborer and takes full work from him but does not pay him for his labor.' "

The two sides prepare for the battle. Meccans debate whether to fight, but Muhammad has no doubts. A man tries to drink from the contested well. The first duel begins.

By the night when it covers, and the day when it shines! By (the mystery of) the creation of male and female;- Surely the ends you strive for are diverse. As for the one who is charitable, mindful ˹of Allah˺, and ˹firmly˺ believes in the finest reward, We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss. But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, And gives the lie to the bes...

A look at Jesus' both in the Quran and Islamic Mariology... and why Joseph is not only unnecessary but an impossible character.

There was an eclipse of the sun, and the Messenger of Allah got up in a rush, fearing that it might be the Hour. He went to the masjid, where he stood and prayed, standing, bowing and prostrating for the longest time that I ever saw him do in prayer. Then he said: 'These signs that Allah sends do not occur for the death or birth of anyone, but Allah sends them to strike fear into His slaves. If yo...