a month’s journey.”

David went on to declare that this Promised One would receive a revealed Law and statutes, and he addressed him with the term al-jabbār (the Mighty Conqueror), an unmistakable pointer to his strength and his domination of Allah’s enemies—utterly unlike someone who is weak and defeated.

He—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is both the Prophet of Mercy and the Prophet of Battle. His community are “strong against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves” (Q 48:29); “humble toward the believers, mighty against the disbelievers” (Q 5:54).

This is the very opposite of those who are servile before both camps—such as the Christians who live in subjugation alongside the unbelievers—or of the Jews who act high-handedly toward the believers. Rather, they were arrogant: “Whenever a messenger came to them with something their souls did not desire, they denied some of them and killed others” (Q 5:70).