Jews in the Noble Quran

Allah Almighty says: “O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you, and fulfill My covenant, and I will fulfill your covenant, and fear only Me” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:40).

When we look into the Noble Quran, we find numerous verses speaking about the Jews, predominantly in Surah Al-Baqarah, as it is the first Surah revealed in Medina, as some scholars declare. The Jews were the most prominent among the People of the Book residing in Medina. They were awaiting a messenger, as foretold in their religious texts, prior to the advent of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). They also held substantial economic stature, thus having profound influence in Medina.

The verse reminds the Jews of Allah’s numerous blessings upon them, such as choosing prophets from amongst them like Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, Solomon, Job, Ezra, Zechariah, John, and others, including Mary, the mother of Jesus (peace be upon them all), whose lineage traces back to David. However, the Jews do not acknowledge Jesus Christ, the son of Mary (peace be upon them), claiming that the Messiah foretold in the Torah has not yet come.

Among His blessings were bestowing upon them the Torah and the Psalms, liberating them from Pharaoh, saving them from drowning, showering them with manna and quails, granting them dominion and authority during the reign of Solomon, and other blessings that necessitate faith and gratitude, not denial and disbelief. The Quran reveals their breach of covenants and vows, and Allah willing, we will discuss this further.

The Meaning of Jew

‘Jews’: This term is derived from ‘Hadoo’, meaning they became Jews. Allah, the Exalted, says, “And to those who are Jews, We prohibited every animal of uncloven hoof” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:146), signifying their entry into Judaism.

‘Hawwada ar-rajul’ (to Judaize a man): It means to convert someone to the Jewish faith. There’s a narration that says, every child is born upon natural inclination (Fitrah), until his parents convert him to Judaism or Christianity. This implies that parents teach their child the religion of Judaism or Christianity and integrate them into it.

‘At-tahweed’ (Judaization): Refers to a person converting to Judaism.

The names ‘Haad’ and ‘Muhtawid’ are used to refer to someone who becomes a Jew. It is said that the name ‘Jews’ could be derived from ‘Hood’, which means repentance. It could also refer to their association with Judah, the eldest son of Jacob, with an Arabic adaptation of the name. Another interpretation is that they are named Jews (‘Yahood’) because they veered away from Islam and the religion of Moses (peace be upon him). The name could also suggest their motion during the recitation of the Torah, expressing that the heavens and earth moved when Allah gave the Torah to Moses (peace be upon him).

As for why Jews are called ‘Bani Israel’ (Children of Israel)?

The answer is that ‘Israel’ is one of the names of Jacob, the father of Joseph (peace be upon them). Some non-Muslim historians have mentioned reasons mixed with superstition regarding why Jacob (peace be upon him) was named ‘Israel’, which we have disregarded.

Our scholars say that ‘Israel’ is Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham (peace be upon them). ‘Isra’ means ‘servant’, and ‘El’ refers to Allah; hence ‘Israel’ translates to the ‘Servant of Allah’.

A Brief History of the Jews

Following the migration of Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him) and his descendants from Palestine to Egypt, where his son, Joseph (peace be upon him), resided as the vizier of Pharaoh at the time, they were endowed with fertile land in Egypt as an honor to Joseph. They flourished there for a substantial period. However, subsequent Pharaohs oppressed the Jews, subjecting them to hardship and torment by killing their sons, dishonoring their women, and enslaving them.

Allah then sent them a prophet, Moses, the son of Imran (peace be upon him), who liberated them from oppression and enslavement. He asked them to return to Palestine, to fight its inhabitants, promising them victory. Due to their reluctance and fear, Allah decreed that they wander the deserts of Sinai for forty years. During this period, Aaron passed away, followed by his brother Moses (peace be upon him), leaving his nephew, Joshua son of Nun, as his successor.

Around the thirteenth century BC, they invaded the lands of Palestine, conquering and devastating most of its inhabitants, dispersing the remaining survivors, replicating the Zionist actions in Palestine in 1948 and subsequent atrocities, such as the massacres at Deir Yassin, Sabra, and Shatila, and the Ibrahim Mosque acts that continue in the occupied territories of Palestine today.

Post-Joshua, numerous prophets were sent amongst them by the Almighty. In 596 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, invaded Palestine, deposing its rulers, and slaying and capturing many. Under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar until 538 BC, the Jews suffered until the Persian king overcame Nebuchadnezzar, leading to the Jews’ liberation. They remained under Persian control for nearly two centuries, followed by the rule of Alexander the Great’s successors, and then the Romans.

In 135 BC, the Jews rebelled against Roman rule, but the Romans quelled their rebellion, expelling them from Palestine, and dispersing them across various regions, east and west—from Egypt to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and the Hijaz. The Jews also ventured to Yemen for trade during the reign of Solomon (peace be upon him), who was married to the Queen of Sheba.

With the advent of Islam, which opposed their unlawful interests, deviations, and arrogance, they stood against the message of Islam, conspiring against it, a struggle that persists to this day.

The Breach of Covenant by the Children of Israel

Allah the Almighty says, “And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], ‘Do not worship except Allah, and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah.’ Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing. And [recall] when We took your covenant, saying, ‘Do not shed each other’s blood or evict one another from your homes.’ Then you acknowledged [this] while you were witnessing.” [02:83-84]

The terms of this covenant, which the Children of Israel acknowledged but violated, are as follows:

1 – Monotheism and sincere worship of Allah alone.

2 – Showing kindness to parents.

3 – Showing benevolence to relatives, orphans, and the poor.

 4 – Proper conduct and behavior towards others.

5 – Observing and establishing prayers.

 6 – Giving zakah (charity).

The verse that encompasses all these matters also reminds them of their breach of the covenant, such as:

7 – Shedding blood.

8 – Evicting people from their homes.

9 – Ransoming prisoners, that is, spending money to free them.

Then, the verse that encompasses all these matters confirms their acknowledgment of the covenant. The Quran later exposes their breach of the covenant by killing each other driving each other out of their homes and conspiring against each other. It points to their contradictions when they fought against their own people and expelled them from their homes. Allah says, “Then, you are those [same ones who are] killing one another and evicting a party of your people from their homes, cooperating against them in sin and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their eviction was forbidden to you.” [2:85]

Thus, the Quran vehemently condemns the Jews for breaking these covenants, warning them that as a result of this breach, they will suffer disgrace in this life and punishment in the hereafter.

Children of Israel, the Slayers of Prophets

Allah Almighty says: “Indeed, We took the covenant from the Children of Israel and sent them messengers. Whenever there came to them a messenger with what their souls did not desire, a group [of the prophets] they denied, and another group they killed.” [05:70]

Anyone who examines the history of the Children of Israel finds that most prophets were sent to them due to their mischief, intense deceit, and deviation. They met this divine attention and Allah’s blessings with disbelief, sins, following desires and whims, due to their arrogance and insistence on practicing corruption and their thirst for bloodshed. They denied a group of prophets like Jesus, the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him), and Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and they killed another group like John, the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him), and Zechariah (peace be upon him).

And He, Glorified is He, said in this context: “So whenever a messenger came to you with what your souls did not desire, you grew arrogant, and a group [of them] you denied and another group you killed.”

And He also said Glorified is He: “That was because they disbelieved in the signs of Allah and killed the prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and were transgressing.” [02:61]

Punishment of the Jews

Their obstinacy reached such an extent that they demanded to see Allah openly as a condition for their belief. Allah Almighty says: “And [recall] when you said, ‘O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allah outright’; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on.” [02:55]

This verse, in addition to narrating the apparent arrogance and stubbornness of the Jews, which they have always been characterized by, also indicates their ignorance, as the realization of an ignorant person does not exceed his senses.

Part of their audacity in this context is that they denied all the divine scriptures at once. Allah Almighty says: “The People of the Book ask you to bring down to them a book from heaven. But they had asked of Moses [even] greater than that and said, ‘Show us Allah outright,’ so the thunderbolt struck them for their wrongdoing. ” [04:148]

Zealotry and Hypocrisy: A Jewish Enigma

Allah, in His exalted magnificence, articulates: “Do the faithful harbor a longing that they would embrace your faith, despite the reality that a faction amongst them (Jewish scholars), having been the recipients of Allah’s divine words [the Torah], subsequently manipulated them, even when furnished with understanding?’ When encountered by believers, they profess faith, yet in solitude, they query amongst themselves, ‘Would you unveil to them the divine revelations bestowed upon us by Allah, revelations that delineate the characteristics of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), enabling them to engage in theological discourse before your Lord?”[02:75-76]

History persistently illuminates the proclivity of some Jews to distort intrinsic truths and repudiate their garnered insights. Paradoxically, it was anticipated that the Jews, as custodians of the Scriptures, would herald the advent of belief in the Islamic revelation, standing as luminaries amidst the shadows of paganism, given their prior enlightenment regarding the attributes of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) within their holy texts.

Yet, the Quran graciously guides the seekers, revealing the psychological landscape dominating these individuals, illustrating their yearning for prophethood to emerge from their midst, veiled in armor of zealotry. It elucidates the realms of mental diversion, showcasing the propensity to retreat from the embrace of palpable truths, no matter how luminous their presence.

In the fabric of their actions, the threads of hypocrisy are knitted with discernment. In the theatre of the public, masks of faith are adorned, yet in the privacy of kinship, the veils are lifted, exposing the canvas of denial. Astonishingly, reproach is bestowed upon those amongst them who dare unveil the sacred secrets enshrined within the Torah to the seekers of truth.

Jewish Arrogance and False Claims

Allah, in His supreme grandeur, declares: “And they say, “The Fire will not touch us but for a few numbered days.” Say, “Have you taken a covenant from Allah, for Allah will never break His covenant? Or do you say about Allah that which you do not know?”‘ [02:80]

Allah illuminates one of the false claims that are marked by Jewish arrogance—an arrogance that underpins many of their deviations. They believe themselves to be Allah’s chosen people, their lineage superior to all human races, asserting that their sinners would only dwell momentarily in hellfire, a mere forty days corresponding to the days they worshipped the calf, thereafter to bask eternally in paradise.

Their narratives are embroidered with threads of selfishness and inflated self-worth. These claims do not resonate with rationality or divine justice, as there can be no disparity among humans in receiving divine recompense or punishment before the Majesty of Allah. Allah, in His profound wisdom, pronounces in this context: ‘And they say, “None will enter Paradise unless he is a Jew or a Christian.” These are their vain desires. Say, “Produce your proof, if you should be truthful.”‘

Such proclamations oppose the divine justice grounded in the preferential treatment of individuals based on faith, piety, and righteous deeds. Allah, glorified in His wisdom, further articulates: ‘But the Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of Allah and His beloved.” Say, “Then why does He punish you for your sins?” Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the [final] destination.’

Hence, the universal divine ordinance resonates with logic, as encapsulated in His divine words: ‘But yes, whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him – those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.’ This is the encompassing law that prevails over sinners from every community and people.

Forewarning the Jews of the Prophet, and Then Their Denial

Allah, the Almighty, says: “And when there came to them a Book from Allah confirming that which was with them – although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved – but [then] when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of Allah will be upon the disbelievers.” [02:89}

History narrates that the Jews ardently sought the genesis of prophethood, intending to be the foremost believers in the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). They migrated, choosing Medina as their dwelling after discerning signs that heralded it as the land of the awaited Messenger. There, they waited eagerly for the prophesized Prophet whom the Torah had heralded, anticipating victory and triumph against the disbelievers under the banner of this Prophet, boasting to the tribes of Aws and Khazraj that they would be among the privileged companions of the anticipated Messenger.

Yet, they stood, owing to their obstinacy and stubbornness, alongside the enemies of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), while those distant from these environments rallied around the Messenger.

Personal interests and desires played a pivotal role in veering this group away from the truth, transforming them into fierce adversaries of the believers.

Allah, glorified be He, articulates in this realm: ‘And when there came to them a Messenger from Allah confirming that which was with them, a party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know.

Stoking Discord and Wars by the Jews

Allah, the Exalted, says: “O you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back, after your belief, [to being] unbelievers. And how could you disbelieve while to you are being recited the verses of Allah and among you is His Messenger? And whoever holds firmly to Allah has [indeed] been guided to a straight path. O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims.” [03:100-102]

The Noble Quran speaks of the hostilities fueled by the Jews of Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Nadir, manipulating the tribes of Aws and Khazraj by evoking memories of their pre-Islamic conflicts, attempting to seduce them away from their faith, which had liberated them from the chaos, hatred, and vendettas of ignorance, bringing them into a realm of love, harmony, and affection.

A clash seemed imminent, but the news reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who swiftly intervened, admonishing them against reverting to the ways of ignorance, especially in his blessed presence that had graced them with the honor of Islam. They wept and embraced each other, resulting in the revelation of the blessed verses.

Thus, their history bears witness to their propensity for sowing discord. They were the instigators of World War II and numerous other conflicts in this era, driven by their machinations, spawning divisions, and clashes among various groups and sects. It is incumbent upon us to be vigilant, to thwart their conspiracies and schemes, and to turn their plots back upon them.

The Subterfuge, Deceit, and Envy of the Jews

Allah, the Almighty, speaks of them, saying: “And a party of the People of the Scripture say: “Believe in that which has been revealed to the believers at the beginning of the day and reject it at its end, so they may turn back.” [03:72]

Some exegetes mention that twelve Jews from Khaybar and other places devised a cunning plan to shake the faith of some believers. They pledged amongst themselves to appear before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the morning, feigning acceptance of Islam, and then in the evening, they would renounce it. When asked why they did this, they would say: Having observed the character of Muhammad closely, we then returned to our scriptures and found that what we saw of his qualities and conduct does not align with what is present in our books; thus, we had doubts. This would perhaps lead some to believe that these individuals, who are more knowledgeable of their divine scriptures, must be speaking the truth, thereby unsettling their faith.

In this context, Allah, the Exalted, says: “A section of the People of the Book would dearly love it if they could make you revert to being unbelievers, following your faith, out of envy on their part, after the truth has become clear to them.” [02:109]

The insistence on leading Muslims away from their religion stems from envy, bigotry, and deep-rooted malice towards Muslims, as the Almighty mentions: “Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them.” [03:69]

The Hardening of Hearts and Criminality Among the Jews

Allah, the Exalted, declares: “Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah.” [02:74]

The absence of mercy and the hardness of heart among the Jews are as apparent as the bright sun. Their actions lack compassion and humanity, transitioning from one massacre to another—from Deir Yassin to civilian aircraft, from Sabra and Shatila to Qana—with what may come next potentially being even more horrific. Nations that uphold the banner of human rights alongside the Security Council and the United Nations fail to take actions that would halt Zionist criminality but stand beside it against a people defenseless and unarmed.

Thus, their hearts being described as hard as stones or even harder is a fitting description. Their criminal mentality is affirmed further by the Almighty’s words: ‘That is why We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land—it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one—it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.’

Their commitment to committing crimes, as we have often pointed out, is exceedingly apparent. What can the world expect from a people determined to establish an ethnocentric state forcefully, through the hands of Zionist gangs that have perpetrated the most atrocious crimes against humanity, casting a shadow of disgrace over the civilized world? The leaders of these gangs, like Begin, Rabin, Sharon, and others, have become ruling ministers, embedding a ruthless and criminal disposition deeply within them, manifesting overtly for those with discerning hearts.

What lies ahead may be even more ghastly if the world and free nations do not set boundaries against such actions.

Jewish Cowardice and Their Love of Life

Allah, the Almighty, says: “You are more fearsome in their breasts than Allah. That is because they are a people who do not comprehend. They will not fight against you all except within fortified cities or from behind walls. Their violence among themselves is severe. You think they are together, but their hearts are diverse. That is because they are a people who do not reason”. [59:13]

The Holy Quran emphasizes their ancient fears and timidity. They do not confront Muslims in open battle but fight while fortified within villages, attacking from behind walls with arrows and stones. In this era, what this enemy excels in are aerial weapons, heavy artillery, and missiles. All of these affirm Allah’s words. Their humiliation was revealed by the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, and we saw through media screens the screams, cries, and confusion of the occupying soldiers due to the effects of the strikes by the Islamic resistance.

The reason for this fear and timidity is their love of life. Allah Almighty says: “Say, ‘If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is exclusively for you and not the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful. But they will never wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth, and Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers. And you will surely find them the greediest of people for life – [even] more than those who associate others with Allah. One of them wishes that he could be granted life a thousand years, but it would not remove him in the least from the [coming] punishment, and Allah is Seeing of what they do” [02:94-96]

This is considered their point of weakness, which the men of resistance, especially the martyrs among them, exploit to repel this enemy and to expel them from the land of Palestine. This has been, and continues to be, the endeavor of the men of Islamic resistance in Lebanon.

The Assassination Attempt on the Prophet (PBUH)

After the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him and his family) managed to subdue the Jews of the Arabian Peninsula – namely the Jews of Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Nadir, Banu Qurayza, Khaybar, Fadak, Wadi al-Qura, and Tayma, did the Children of Israel truly surrender to Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him and his family)? Can a serpent truly become a dove? The hearts of the Jews were filled with malice and resentment after their disgraceful defeat, and they resolved on a final attempt to assassinate the Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him and his family) by concocting the following plan:

Zeinab bint al-Harith, the widow of a Jewish leader Killed by Imam Ali (Peace be upon him), feigned a profound belief in Islam. She displayed a semblance of piety and fear of Allah and His Messenger, maintaining this facade for a long time until she thought her deception had taken hold of the prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him and his companions). Her subterfuge began to unfold as she gained renown among the Muslims for her apparent purity and virtuous qualities. The Prophet brought her close to his circles, and she became a regular visitor to his house. One day, Zeinab prepared a delicious lamb dish, presenting it as a gift to the Prophet and his companions. The Prophet took a bite of the meat and chewed it but did not swallow, declaring, “By Allah, this bone is telling me that it is poisoned.” He then spat out the chewed morsel. The companions had not yet begun eating, but one of them, Bishr ibn al-Bara, consumed a morsel and instantly passed away.

Zeinab, the so-called “virtuous believer,” was brought before the Prophet. Admitting her deceit, the Jewish woman said, “I was overwhelmed by the harm Muhammad, you have caused my people, and thought to myself: if you were a king, we would find relief in your death, but if you were a prophet, you would be informed.” To which Muhammad replied, “Now that you have been informed, what do you say?”

Some narrators say that Zeinab prostrated before the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him and his family), embraced Islam, and was pardoned. Others say a Muslim executed her after she confessed to her crime. Nonetheless, this poisoning incident left a profound impact on the Muslims, imbuing them with a lasting mistrust and wariness of Jewish deceit despite the Prophet’s judgments against them.