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.

A review of the Jesus portion of the series.... emphasizing key concepts and being brutally honest of the possibility of Christian-Muslim dialogue about Jesus.