Three persons set out on a journey. They were overtaken by rain and they had to find protection in a mountain cave where at its mouth there fell a rock of that mountain and thus blocked them altogether. One of them said to the others: Look to your good deeds that you performed for the sake of Allah and then supplicate Allah, the Exalted, that He might rescue you (from this trouble). One of them said: 0 Allah, I had my parents who were old and my wife and my small children also. I tended the flock and when I came back to them in the evening, I milked them (the sheep, goats, cows, etc.) and first served that milk to my parents. One day I was obliged to go out to a distant place in search of fodder and I could not come back before evening and found them (the parents) asleep. I milked the animals as I used to milk and brought milk to them and stood by their heads avoiding to disturb them from sleep and I did not deem it advisable to serve milk to my children before serving them. My children wept near my feet. I remained there in that very state and my parents too until it was morning. And (0 Allah) if Thou art aware that I did this in order to seek Thine pleasure, grant us riddance from this trouble. (The rock slipped a bit) that they could see the sky.

The second one said: 0 Allah, I had a female cousin whom I loved more than the men love the women. I wanted to have sexual intercourse with her; she refused but on the condition of getting one hundred dinirs. It was with very great difficulty that I could collect one hundred dinirs and then paid them to her and when I was going to have a sexual intercourse with her, that she said: Servant of Allah, fear Allah and do not break the seal (of chastity) but by lawful means. I got up. 0 Allah, if Thou art aware that I did this in order to seek Thine pleasure, rid us from this trouble. The situation was somewhat eased for them.

The third one said: Allah, I employed a workman for a measure of rice. After he had finished his work I gave him his dues (in the form of) a measure of rice, but he did not accept them. I used these rice as seeds, and that gave a bumper crop and I became rich enough to have cows and flocks (in my possession). He came to me and said: Fear Allah, and commit no crueltv upon me in regard to my dues. I said to him: Takeaway this flock of cows and sheep. He said: Fear Allah and do not make a fun of me. I said: I am not making a fun of you. You take the cows and the flocks. So he took them. 0 Allah, if Thou art aware that I did it for Thine pleasure, case the situation for us. And Allah relieved them from the rest of the trouble.

The preamble to the Battle of the Trench... or the Siege of Medina. Same thing. Setting the table with some historical parallels, and also looking at the reasons for the battle and the strengths of the combatants. Muhammad has a week to prepare for an alliance of Arab tribes coming right at Medina -- that's the good news. The bad news? They have 600 horses. He has none.

By those angels stripping out evil souls harshly,

and those pulling out good souls gently,

and those gliding through heavens swiftly,

and those taking the lead vigorously,

and those conducting affairs obediently!

Consider the Day when the quaking Blast will come to pass,

followed by a second Blast.

The deniers’ hearts on that Day will be trembling in horror,

with their eyes downcast.

But now they ask mockingly, “Will we really be restored to our former state,

even after we have been reduced to decayed bones?”

Adding, “Then such a return would be a total loss for us!”

But indeed, it will take only one mighty Blast,

and at once they will be above ground.

Has the story of Moses reached you O Prophet?

His Lord called him in the sacred valley of Ṭuwa,

commanding, “Go to Pharaoh, for he has truly transgressed all bounds.

And say, Would you be willing to purify yourself,

and let me guide you to your Lord so that you will be in awe of Him?’”

Then Moses showed him the great sign,

but he denied and disobeyed Allah,

then turned his back, striving against the truth.

Then he summoned his people and called out,

saying, “I am your lord, the most high!”

So Allah overtook him, making him an example in this life and the next.

Surely in this is a lesson for whoever stands in awe of Allah.

Which is harder to create: you or the sky? He built it,

raising it high and forming it flawlessly.

He dimmed its night, and brought forth its daylight.

As for the earth, He spread it out as well,

bringing forth its water and pastures

and setting the mountains firmly upon it—

all as a means of sustenance for you and your animals.

But, when the Supreme Disaster comes to pass—

the Day every person will remember all their striving,

and the Hellfire will be displayed for all to see—

then as for those who transgressed

and preferred the fleeting life of this world,

the Hellfire will certainly be their home.

And as for those who were in awe of standing before their Lord and restrained themselves from evil desires,

Paradise will certainly be their home.

They ask you O Prophet regarding the Hour, “When will it be?”

But it is not for you to tell its time.

That knowledge rests with your Lord alone.

Your duty is only to warn whoever is in awe of it.

On the Day they see it, it will be as if they had stayed in the world no more than one evening or its morning.