The Masnavi (Mesnevi)

And of the war of the men with the elephants Refers to the "Year of the Elephant" (c. 570 CE), when an army from Yemen, led by Abraha and including elephants, marched on Mecca but was miraculously defeated by birds.,
And of the great victory of the little swallows,
Of Solomon and his magnificence
And how he courted the Queen of Sheba original: Sabas Königin; referring to Bilqis, the ruler of Saba/Sheba.,
Of David, the Psalms original: Psalter, and Uriah,
And of Shu’ayb A prophet in the Quran, often identified with the biblical Jethro, known for his piety and exhortations to fair trade., the faster, who almost never ate,
Of Jonah’s journey in the belly of the fish,
Of Lot and the evil customs of his people,
Of Mary’s original: Mirjam; the Quranic Maryam. wonderful motherhood
And how the sap of the dry palm tree nourished her In the Quran, during the pains of childbirth, Mary is told to shake the trunk of a withered palm tree, which drops fresh dates for her to eat.,
How Zechariah desired a son
And how John John the Baptist, known as Yahya in the Quran. was granted to him there,
Of Salih and the excellent camel Refers to the miraculous She-Camel of God sent to the people of Thamud as a sign, which they ultimately hamstrung.,
Of Idris A prophet mentioned in the Quran, usually identified with the biblical Enoch., the prophet without flaw,
Of the Water of Life that Elijah original: Elias; in Islamic tradition, the prophet Ilyas is often associated or identified with Khidr, the immortal figure who drank from the Fountain of Life. drinks,
And of Korah original: Karun; a figure of immense wealth who was swallowed by the earth as punishment for his arrogance., who sinks into the earth,
Of Job’s heavy suffering and patience,
And of the distress of the Jews through their own fault,
And how God lent them His aid
And redeemed them from the Desert of Tih The "Wilderness of Wandering" (the Sinai Peninsula) where the Israelites wandered for forty years.,
Of Moses’ burning bush and miracle staff,
And how God original: Allah gave him the laws,
How Jesus ascended into heaven,
Of Alexander Refers to Dhul-Qarnayn ("The Two-Horned One") mentioned in the Quran, traditionally identified by many scholars as Alexander the Great. and the "Ever-Young" The "Ever-Young" is a poetic reference to Khidr, the immortal spiritual guide.,
And of Muhammad’s glorious form
And how he split the moon through a crack Refers to a miracle attributed to the Prophet Muhammad where the moon appeared split in two..
"This is indeed child’s play and obviously
Clear to even the simplest mind!
Whoever wished to commentate on these things
Would not lose their mind over it."
But the Prophet, in full tranquility of soul,
Listens to this foolish talk;
Then he says to one of these mockers: "Shallow
God’s Book appears to you, and child’s play!"