Sublime
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One account says that the little boy began to cry during the crowning ceremony. Nader asked those nearby whether they knew why he was crying. Prudently, they said Nader surely knew best himself. Nader said Abbas was crying because he wanted to rule over the Afghans of Kandahar and the Ottoman Sultan, and declared to general acclaim that to gratify
... See moreMichael Axworthy • Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant
Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah’s (which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah.
Abdullah Ali • The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an: Complete Translation with Selected Notes
Only one member of the family did Ommaney instantly dislike. This was Zinat Mahal’s beloved son, Mirza Jawan Bakht. Spoiled and callous, Jawan Bakht soon proved himself more than willing to give evidence about any of his family’s activities during the Uprising.
William Dalrymple • The Last Mughal
Ali’s conversion was promptly followed by the conversion of Muhammad’s slave, Zayd, whom he naturally freed. Soon afterward, Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s dear friend and a wealthy Qurayshi merchant, became a follower. A deeply loyal and fervently pious man, Abu Bakr’s first act after accepting Muhammad’s message was to spend his wealth buying and freeing t
... See moreReza Aslan • No god but God (Updated Edition): The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
We gave to Abraham (to use) against his people: We raise whom We will, degree after degree: for your Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge. 84 We gave him Isaac and Jacob: all (three) we guided:105 and before him, We guided Noah,106 and among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron: thus do We reward those who do good: 85 And Zaka
... See moreAbdullah Ali • The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an: Complete Translation with Selected Notes

These were the jihadis of the underground mujahedin network, whose brotherhood, bound to fight the jihad by oaths of allegiance (or bayat) to a leader (or amir), now cast off their veil of secrecy and began to mass in Delhi, ready for the holy war they had so long dreamt of.*43 Before long the jihadis would become a significant force in the Delhi U
... See moreWilliam Dalrymple • The Last Mughal
Kabsal leaned forward, growing more somber. He was older than she—a man in his mid-twenties, confident, self-assured, and earnest. He was practically the only man near her age that she’d ever talked to outside of her father’s careful supervision.
Brandon Sanderson • The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, Book 1)
Said the disciples: “We are Allah’s helpers: we believe in Allah, and do you bear witness that we are Muslims.