Sublime

if we are Muslim and we take the historical evidence of Christian origins seriously, we have to conclude that Jesus was an incompetent Messiah and Allah is a deceptive God.

a few generations after Qusayy, under the directive of his grandson and Muhammad’s great-grandfather, Hashim, the Quraysh had managed to create a modest but lucrative trading zone in Mecca, one which relied almost entirely on the Ka‘ba’s pilgrimage cycle for its subsistence.

The Quran cannot be used as miraculous proof to convince someone who has carefully scrutinized the evidence.

poverty and commands you to do foul deeds. But God promises His forgiveness and His bounty. God is bountiful and all knowing.

He makes plain His revelations to men of understanding.

To each is a goal to which Allah turns him; then strive together (as in a race) towards all that is good.

Nor did We send before you (as messengers) any but men, whom We did inspire,—(men) living in human habitations.