May 2024
Zionists often claim the phrase “children of Israel” is mentioned 47 times in the Quran yet the word Palestine is not mentioned anywhere. We Muslims therefore need to ask what words did Allah use to reference Palestine, who the children of Israel are and what conditions did Allah put in place for their refuge. By grouping the phrase “children of Israel” broadly into 6 subheadings and analysing all 47 verses, the matter becomes as clear as day.
By Siddiq Bazarwala
There are at least twelve verses in the Quran that make it clear the phrase “children of Israel” is not always about Jews but at times refer to Jews, Christians and Muslims as a collective group. At least 12 verses focus on this grouping (5:72, 17:104, 46:10, & 61:14) including in verse 61:14 where Allah specifically splits the children of Israel into two clear factions: one who believe and the other who disbelieve, proving this covers Jews who adhered to the original teachings of the Torah, Christians who embraced the original Gospel and lastly, Muslims who came later and embraced the Quran when and after it was revealed.
Only those who claim Jesus-Isa (A.S) is the son of Allah, or disbelievers at the time of Muhmmad (PBUH) and after, who reject the Quran are categorically excluded from this group. Almost as if to reemphasise this very point again, there are 8 verses (3:49, 17:2, 19:58, 26:197, 27:76, 32:23, 40:53, & 45:16) that spells out guidance was sent to the children of Israel (some verses addressing the Jews while others referring to Jews, Christians and Muslims as a composite group).
In 3:49, Allah specifically refers to Isa (A.S) as the apostle as a form of guidance to the children of Israel, targeting Jews and Christians. In 32:23 & 40:53, we are told the Torah was given to Moses-Musa (A.S) as a guidance to the children of Israel. In 26:197, Allah elaborates the Quran and equivalent revelations (referring to Torah and the Gospel) were given to the children of Israel, to guide them, again proving children of Israel refers to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
In fact in 27:76, Allah reaffirms the Quran (as the last revelation) was meant to provide guidance and clarification on matters that were sources of disagreement or confusion among the children of Israel, therefore proving unequivocally through these 12 verses children of Israel interchangeably means Jews or Jews, Christians and Muslims.
However, there are at least 10 verses in the Quran that specifically address the Jews alone including 7 verses (2:40, 2:47, 2:211, 2:122, 10:90, 20:80 & 44:30), where Allah specifically reminds Jews (but as a clear message to Christians, Muslims and others alike) about the repeated favours he bestowed on them, including deliverance from the tyranny of Pharaoh, their liberation from oppression, taking them across the red sea, food and sustenance provided, all in exchange of the Covenant between Allah and the children of Israel. This Covenant was with the Jews but clearly meant to serve as a warning or lesson to Christians and Muslims as well.
To help understand the Covenant (a condition in exchange for the favours given to the children of Israel by Allah), we find 3 verses (2:63, 2:83 & 5:70) where Allah demands the children of Israel (addressing the Jews alone) to honour their part of the deal. One verse (2:83) says the same except Allah mentions many Jews reneged and turned away while in 5:70, we are told children of Israel were sent apostles, messengers and prophets but some children of Israel not only denied them but also killed them as well.
In the third grouping, we find 12 verses that involve Allah rebuking the children of Israel, here referring to the Jews but again warning Christians and Muslims who came much after. In 3:93, Allah rebukes the children of Israel for making food that was lawful, unlawful by bringing innovation to religion. In 7:138, the children of Israel are rebuked again for asking Musa (A.S) to make a God for them as other idol worshippers do. In 7:141, Allah commanded children of Israel not to transgress on the Sabbath, as part of their covenant with Allah except some did thereby breaking their covenant with Allah and incurring His wrath. In 7:160, Allah describes how He divided the Israelites into twelve tribes, and provided further sustenance by shading them with clouds and sending food from heaven. But later rebukes the children of Israel for their disobedience and ingratitude for Allah’s blessings.
In 2:246, the elders of the children of Israel wanted to fight in the cause of Allah but when the time came to fight, they faltered, except for a few among them who remained steadfast, demonstrating hypocrisy and inconsistency in faith. On the importance of leadership, 20:93 focuses on how some among the children of Israel had begun to worship a golden calf when Musa (A.S) had gone to mount Sinai, when Aaron-Harun (A.S) was left in charge of the people. In the subsequent verse (20:94), Moses cautioned his brother Harun (A.S) not to take any action that could cause division or misunderstanding among the children of Israel.
Furthermore, verse 7:134 talks about how the children of Israel would ask Musa (A.S) for help when facing adversity but forget Allah during good times. Verse 5:78, talks about how the children of Israel were bent of denying the truth and rebelling against prophets sent to them. In 7:171, Allah raised a mountain above the children of Israel like a dark cloud, to remind them to have reverence, awe, and obedience towards Allah. And in two remaining verses (43:59 & 61:6) in this grouping, Allah rebukes the children of Israel for rejecting Isa (A.S) who was sent to guide them. While these twelve rebukes are about the Jews, the lessons are clearly aimed towards Christians, Muslims, and others alike.
Moving across to the fourth grouping, or 13 remaining verses, there are 7 verses that deal with divergent range of subjects including 4 verses (7:105, 20:47, 26:17 & 26:59) involving Pharoah being asked to release the children of Israel but he was defiant and arrogant. In 5:110, Allah reminds Isa (A.S) of His favour upon him including his ability to heal and when Allah restrained the children of Israel from killing him. In 17:101, Muhammad( PBUH) is told to list nine signs of Musa (A.S)’s prophethood in the presence of children of Israel (Jews) and in 5:12, another reminder for the children of Israel to be constant in prayer, charity, and to aid apostles.
Remarkably, none of these 41 verses above say anything about the state of Israel but as we move towards the remaining 6 verses, we find 2 verses that touch on references to Palestine.
The word “Palestine” is not found anywhere in the Quran but references such as holy land, blessed land, goodly abode, etc., are used instead. In fact, in 7:137, Allah says the children of Israel in exchange for the Covenant were provided a place to live “as eastern and western parts of the land”, widely believed to be Palestine after they were released from bondage and slavery but some started deviating from the truth. In 10:93, Allah reminds the children of Israel how he fulfilled his promise to the Jews by granting them “goodly abode” again widely interpreted as the land of Canaan, which later came to be known as Palestine.
Muslims of course, do not dispute Allah granted the land of Canaan (Palestine) to the Jews then, as one of his favours following their release from slavery. It is a historical fact no one denies but it also an undisputed historical fact that over centuries after that, Jews left Palestine for better opportunities in Europe and elsewhere and centuries later following events that followed the Holocaust, Zionists (not Jews) came back to Palestine and forcibly retook what was no longer theirs.
Which brings us to the last 4 remaining verses (5:32, 14:6, 17:4 & 26:22) that might be directly relevant to current affairs today, as the events in Gaza unfold. In 5:32, Allah warns children of Israel (applicable to Jews, Christians, Muslims and others alike), that to kill an innocent human being is equivalent to killing mankind and to save a life is to save mankind. In 14:6, Musa (A.S) reminds the children of Israel of Allah’s favour for saving them from the clutches of Pharaoh and how the brutal oppressor indiscriminately killed newborns. In 26:22, Pharaoh questions who is the lord of the world for the children of Israel except him, exhibiting arrogance as the oppressor. Last but not least in 17:4, Allah foretells the children of Israel will cause corruption twice and it will reach heights of superior arrogance before it is brought down.
Truly, a lesson to those who take heed.
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SUMMARY: 47 verses mentioning the “children of Israel”:
- 12 verses focus on guidance was sent to the children of Israel, and who the children of Israel are (Jews, Christians and Muslims as a collective group);
- 10 specific verses about children of Israel, are directed to the Jews alone (but serving as lessons for Christian, and Muslims, others)
- 12 verses involve Allah rebuking the children of Israel or Jew alone (but again serving as warnings for Christian, and Muslims, others)
- 7 verses relate to wide ranging subjects including Moses demanding the release of the children of Israel from bondage and slavery, a reminder that the Quran is the true word of Allah; a reminder to Isa (A.S) of Allah’s favour upon him including how Allah restrained the children of Israel from killing him; & lastly, a reminder for children of Israel to be constant in prayer, and charity.
- 4 verses contain clear warnings to the children of Israel including, one could argue what is happening today in Gaza and Palestine (but these warnings are just as applicable to Jews, Christians, Muslims, others, alike);
- 2 key verses (7:137, 10:93) refer to “eastern and western parts of the land” & “goodly abode” for children of Israel, to settle – widely believed to be referring to Palestine today.
Siddiq Bazarwala 