Islam for Christians

When Earth is shaken with her (final) earthquake And Earth yieldeth up her burdens, And man saith: What aileth her? That day she will relate her chronicles, Because thy Lord inspireth her. That day mankind will issue forth in scattered groups to be shown their deeds. And whoso doeth good an atom's weight will see it then, And whoso doeth ill an atom's weight will see it then.

A look at Jonah, the not so minor prophet. He has a surah in the Quran named after him, and his story casts an outsized shadow on Islam as it does Judaism and Christianity. We'll look at the differences in the characters, including Jonah's motivation and who he was actually running from when he found himself inside a whale.

The Prophet said, "Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits tall. When He created him, He said to him, "Go and greet that group of angels, and listen to their reply, for it will be your greeting (salutation) and the greeting (salutations of your offspring." So, Adam said (to the angels), As-Salamu Alaikum (i.e. Peace be upon you). The angels said, "As-salamu Alaika wa Rahmatu-l-lahi" (i.e. Peace a...

A selection of stories from Islamic History: The Muslims draw first blood An attempted bribe… and the ultimate in cynical politics An Islamic lesson in how miracles work

By the galloping, panting horses, striking sparks of fire ˹with their hoofs˺, launching raids at dawn, stirring up ˹clouds of˺ dust, and penetrating into the heart of enemy lines! Surely humankind is ungrateful to their Lord— and they certainly attest to this— and they are truly extreme in their love of ˹worldly˺ gains. Do they not know that when the contents of the graves will be spilled out, and...

Elijah's role in Islam, and his role in the religious imagination in general. Elijah as John the Baptist, Jesus, Muhammad... and maybe just some random guy on the street.

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."

Muhammad finds some converts from Yathrib... and they pledge not only their hearts to God -- but will put Muhammad in charge of their city. An Islamic missionary goes ahead of Muhammad with tremendous success, setting up the Hijra, or Islamic migration, in 622.

The Calamity! What is the Calamity? Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Calamity is! A day wherein mankind will be as thickly-scattered moths And the mountains will become as carded wool. Then, as for him whose scales are heavy (with good works), He will live a pleasant life. But as for him whose scales are light, A bereft and Hungry One will be his mother, Ah, what will convey unto thee what...

All the stories of Solomon more familiar to Biblical readers, such as the baby, the Queen of Sheba, Solomon's great works and his controversial later life.

Allah's Messenger said, "When the people of Paradise have entered Paradise, and the people of the Fire have entered the Fire, Allah will say. 'Take out (of the Fire) whoever has got faith equal to a mustard seed in his heart.' They will come out, and by that time they would have burnt and became like coal, and then they will be thrown into the river of Al-Hayyat (life) and they will spring up just...

Muhammad's marriage to two women. A solid and ordinary woman named Sawdah, and Abu Bakr's six-year-old daughter -- Aisha. This will explain how that happened and the controversy surrounding Aisha.

Rivalry in worldly increase distracteth you Until ye come to the graves. Nay, but ye will come to know! Nay, but ye will come to know! Nay, would that ye knew (now) with a sure knowledge! For ye will behold hell-fire. Aye, ye will behold it with sure vision. Then, on that day, ye will be asked concerning pleasure.

The Islamic Solomon shows up David with his wisdom, learns quick lessons, tends to his animals and commands his jinn -- even after he is dead.

The Prophet said, "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink...

There and back again -- Muhammad's night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, including visions of heaven, hell, Jesus and even a slight glimpse of God. This was hugely consequential for the Muslims at the time, and would be just as consequential for us in the 20th Century.

Our limited time on earth... and the specter of eternity. By the declining day, Lo! man is in a state of loss, Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.

David brings down the Psalms, is a holy blacksmith, and may or may not have committed adultery. The Islamic David comes off as a better individual than the Biblical David, but is not as flawless as you may think.

“A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, show me a deed which, if I do it, Allah will love me and people will love me. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Be indifferent towards this world, and Allah will love you. Be indifferent to what is in people’s hands, and they will love you.”

The year of sorrow comes to a merciful end, but he is unable to find a new home. Muhammad re-enters Mecca with an unlikely ally, and is on the cusp of receiving a tremendous gift.

Woe unto every slandering traducer, Who hath gathered wealth (of this world) and arranged it. He thinketh that his wealth will render him immortal. Nay, but verily he will be flung to the Consuming One. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Consuming One is! (It is) the fire of Allah, kindled, Which leapeth up over the hearts (of men). Lo! it is closed in on them In outstretched columns.

Details on the Islamic versions of Joshua, Saul, and a Saul-like archetype named Talut. And a brief cameo from David and Goliath. The Islamic version pretty much skips the conquest of the Promised Land, and God grants Israel a king.

I said, "O Allah's Messenger! Which mosque was first built on the surface of the earth?" He said, "Al- Masjid-ul-,Haram (in Mecca)." I said, "Which was built next?" He replied "The mosque of Al-Aqsa ( in Jerusalem) ." I said, "What was the period of construction between the two?" He said, "Forty years." He added, "Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer there, fo...

The worst year of Muhammad's life begins with the loss of Khadija and Abu Talib. A breakdown of what may have killed them and the impact of Muhammad, Islam, and the political situation in Mecca.

Hast thou not seen how thy Lord dealt with the owners of the Elephant? Did He not bring their stratagem to naught, And send against them swarms of flying creatures, Which pelted them with stones of baked clay, And made them like green crops devoured (by cattle)?