The wisdom of the repeated mention of Banu Israa’eel (Children of Israel) in Quran
Fatwa No: 21104

Question

Why are Banu Israa’eel mentioned in the Quran more than others?

Answer

 

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Allaah The Almighty mentioned many peoples and nations in the Quran other than the Banu Israa’eel. He related the stories of the people of Nooh (Noah) ‘Aad, Thamood, Saalih, Yoonus (Jonah), Loot (Lot) and Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allaah exalt their mention, and all of them came before the Banu Israa’eel.

These nations were mentioned to teach people a lesson when learning about the punishment that was inflicted upon them because they rejected their prophets' call to Tawheed (monotheism) and divine legislation.

There is no doubt that the one who reads the Quran carefully will find that the Banu Israa’eel were mentioned more than other nations. There are two reasons for this:

The first reason is that most of the prophets who were mentioned in the Quran were from the Banu Israa’eel, and this justifies why they were mentioned repeatedly.

The second reason is that some of the Banu Israa’eel were living in the Arabian Peninsula and were against the new religion of Islam. Since they were followers of a previous divine religion, the Quran mentioned the stories of their ancestors' interaction with their prophets to prove the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and to educate them beyond the excuses of ignorance and doubt.

Also, the Quran intended to inform the Muslims of the state of these people - who were most probably liars harboring deep animosity towards others. This was not something strange on the part of people who had murdered their prophets and attributed unbecoming characteristics to Allaah The Almighty, who is far above their lies and false words. That is why the Quran exposed all of their heinous acts so that Muslims will be on their guard and be aware of their true nature.

Some of their evil characteristics that were mentioned in the Quran were their consumption of usury and their breaking of covenants and treaties. However, the strangest and most evil two characteristics of the Jews, which are manifest nowadays, are mentioned in the Quran. The first is mentioned in the verse (what means): {Is it not [true] that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away?}[Quran 2:100]

This verse expresses exactly what is happening in the era in which we live.

Also they make every possible endeavor to spread corruption on the earth and Allaah The Almighty does not like corruptors who follow their lusts. He Says (what means): {But those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.}[Quran 4:27]

In fact, the accursed Jews stand behind every single vice found on the earth today. They corrupt human morals and drag people to the most depraved levels of conduct.  

And Allaah Knows best.

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