Islam for Christians

The newly militarized Muslims target a Meccan caravan. Mecca scrambles an army. The stage is set for the first clash in what will be the years-long war between the Muslims and the Quraysh of Mecca.

God talks to Muhammad once again... after a long, long absence. By the morning sunlight, and the night when it falls still! Your Lord ˹O Prophet˺ has not abandoned you, nor has He become hateful ˹of you˺. And the next life is certainly far better for you than this one. And ˹surely˺ your Lord will give so much to you that you will be pleased. Did He not find you as an orphan then sheltered you? Did...

Learn about Mary... the ascetic Islamic figure who was not only a virgin -- she had no husband, either. And a very, very small nativity scene.

If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon,...

The Muslims unite as a fighting force as they increase their will to fight and their total military force. The Quran would prove a very useful recruiting tool, urging Muslims to take up arms. This period would mold the new warrior spirit that would change both Islam and the Arabian peninsula during the run up to The Battle of Badr in 624.

Have We not uplifted your heart for you ˹O Prophet˺, relieved you of the burden which weighed so heavily on your back, and elevated your renown for you?1 So, surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with ˹that˺ hardship comes ˹more˺ ease.1 So once you have fulfilled ˹your duty˺, strive ˹in devotion˺, turning to your Lord ˹alone˺ with hope.

John the Baptist's role in Islam. Yahya, as Muslims call him, is a Quran-affirmed prophet, although his actual role in the Islamic story is vague.

The similitude of mine and that of the Apostles before me is that of a person who built a house quite imposing and beautiful and he made it complete but for one brick in one of its corners. People began to walk round it, and the building pleased them and they would say: But for this brick your building would have been perfect. Muhammad said: And I am that final brick.

The Emigrants from Mecca turn from refugees to raiders, and this becomes the preamble to the Battle of Badr. Smaller raids from the Emigrants give way to larger operations as religious commitment and Quranic revelations foster a more militant atmosphere. God Himself changes the rules of warfare in Arabia.

By the fig and the olive, By Mount Sinai, And by this land made safe; Surely We created man of the best stature Then we reduced him to the lowest of the low, Save those who believe and do good works, and theirs is a reward unfailing. So who henceforth will give the lie to thee about the judgment? Is not Allah the most conclusive of all judges?

The stories about the parents of Mart and John the Baptist: Zechariah and Imran -- and the wives of Zechariah and Imran... the wives did not get their names in the Quran. The stories should sound mostly familiar, except the Quran gives Zechariah a much larger role in the lives of both John the Baptist and Mary.

The Prophet said, "Whoever has (the following) four characters will be a hypocrite, and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up. These are: (1 ) Whenever he talks, he tells a lie; (2) whenever he makes a promise, he breaks it; (3) whenever he makes a covenant he proves treacherous; (4) and whenever he quarrels, he behaves...

There were 5 factions in Medina in 622. Then 3. Then 2. This is their story, and also a vital foundation for understanding what will come. Wars, rivalries, massacres... this episode is meant to help make sense of it all -- on both a human and religious level.

Read, ˹O Prophet,˺ in the Name of your Lord Who created— created humans from a clinging clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen— taught humanity what they knew not. Most certainly, one exceeds all bounds once they think they are self-sufficient. ˹But˺ surely to your Lord is the return ˹of all˺. Have you seen the man who prevents a servant ˹of Ours˺ from praying?1 What...

Job makes a velated appearance in our series... and some golden locusts gall from the sky.

The Prophet said: If anyone acquires knowledge that should be sought seeking the Face of Allah, but he acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the arf, i.e. the fragrance, of Paradise.

Muhammad enters phase two of the escape from Mecca, gets some help from nature and perhaps a miracle or two, and finally makes it to his new home.

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace!... This until the rise of morn!

Ezra is an overlooked Biblical figure, but was not entirely overlooked in Islam. He is mentioned at most twice in the Quran, but also represents the spirit of Ezra in the Bible -- returning and rebuilding the faith.

It was narrated from abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: "No one who commits Zina (an immoral sexual act) is a believer at the moment when he is committing Zina; no one who steals is a believer at the moment when he is stealing; no one who drinks wine is a believer at the moment when he is drinking it; and no robber is a believer at the moment when he is robbing and the people are looki...

Muhammad remains a human shield in Mecca until he escapes in the night, foiling an assassination plot with the help of the Angel Gabriel.

Those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters could not have stopped (erring) till the clear proof came unto them, A messenger from Allah, reading purified pages Containing correct scriptures. Nor were the People of the Scripture divided until after the clear proof came unto them. And they are ordered naught else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men...

Mysterious figures that may or may not be related to Ezekiel -- Dhu al-kifl, Dhu-al-Qarnayn and Yajuj and Majuj. The Quran mentions only one of the major prophets -- maybe -- but does offer a very different version of Gog and Magog. And, perhaps, a reference to Alexander the Great.

Sahih Muslim 2284 A person lit a fire and when the atmosphere was aglow, moths and insects began to fall into the fire, but I am there to hold them back, but they are plunging into it despite my efforts, and he further added: That is your example and mine. I am there to hold you back from fire and to save you from it, but you are plunging into it despite my efforts.

Part 2 of the historical notebook: Muhammad Wrestles Mecca’s Strongest Man… and Moves a Tree Gabriel Goes on a Killing Spree IYAS… a young sage with Old Fools The Idol in the Cesspool Al Tufayl came to the Kaaba. Muhammad converts 20 Christians