—When He narrated the story of Joseph in full and only sketched the stories of the other prophets (1), He said: “Surely in their stories there is a lesson for people of insight; it is not a tale that has been fabricated” (Yusuf 111). In other words, the narratives set forth in the Book are nothing like the invented tales people concoct, such as the apocryphal accounts circulated about wars in (2) spurious biographies.

And when He mentioned the story of Pharaoh, the Exalted said: “So Allah seized him with exemplary punishment, in the Hereafter and in this world. Indeed, in that there is a lesson for whoever fears” (al-Naziʿat 25–26).

Regarding the life of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with his enemies at Badr and elsewhere, He said: “There was a sign for you in the two forces that met: one force fighting in the path of Allah and the other unbelieving. They saw them as twice their own number with their very eyes. And Allah supports with His help whom He wills. Surely in that there is a lesson for people of perception” (Ali ʿImran 13).

And about His besieging of the Banu al-Nadir He said: “He it is who drove those of the People of the Book who disbelieved out of their homes at the first banishment. You did not think they would depart, and they themselves thought their fortresses would protect them from Allah. Then Allah came upon them from where they had not expected, and He cast terror into their hearts. They were destroying their houses with their own hands and with the hands of the believers. So take heed, O people of insight” (al-Hashr 2).

Thus we have been commanded to draw lessons from the conditions of those who came before us (3) in this community, and of those (4)