see also JEWISH.

See the section on Non-Muslims under Islamic Rule for articles regarding the situation of Jews under Islam.

The article Muhammad and the Jews examines the reasons for the Muslim hatred for Jews.

The Qur'an about Jews:

• and Christians, al-Baqarah 2:120,139-140; Âl 'Imran 3:75; al-Ma'idah 5:68-69

• apes: some Jews were turned into apes for breaking the Sabbath, al-Baqarah 2:65, for pride, al-A`raf 7:166, or some people (Jews?) turned into apes and pigs for unspecified reasons, al-Ma'idah 5:60.

  Masud Masihiyyen's article, Solving a Quranic Puzzle, investigates possible sources for the mysterious claim that Jews have been turned into apes for breaking the Sabbath.

• apostle comes to them, al-Ma'idah 5:32

• asked to judge by/observe the Scriptures, al-Ma'idah 5:43-44,47,68

• concealing part of the scriptures, al-Baqarah 2:42,140,146,159-160,174; Âl 'Imran 3:71; al-Ma'idah 5:15; al-An`am 6:91

  Note: "him" in al-Baqarah 2:146 has been interpreted (according to Al-Baidawi) variously as refering to 1) Muhammad or 2) means "it" (Qur'an). reason: fear that it be used against them, al-Baqarah 2:76-77

  "made God hath revealed to you" = "made manifest to you in the Pentateuch regarding the description of Muhammad" (Al-Baidhawi and Jalaluddin)

  • and the coming of Muhammad, al-A`raf 7:157; as-Saff 61:6

    Muslims usually use Deuteronomy 18:15 and John 16:7. see here for various articles discussing this issue.

• cursed by Allah for worshipping at graves of prophets,

  * Narrated 'Urwa:
  Aisha said, "The Prophet in his fatal illness said, 'Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their Prophets as places for praying."' Aisha added, "Had it not been for that the grave of the Prophet would have been made prominent but I am afraid it might be taken (as a) place for praying. (Sahih Bukhari 2.414, see also Sahih Bukhari 2.425, Sahih Bukhari 2.472)

• do not take them as friends, al-Ma'idah 5:51

• enmity and hatred among them, al-Ma'idah 5:64

• fights between, al-Baqarah 2:113

• food restrictions, al-An`am 6:146

• habitually read Scriptures, Yunus 10:95

• have no rights to claim God's bounty exclusively, al-Hadid 57:29

• heaven not only for them, al-Baqarah 2:111

• irreconcilable enemies, al-Baqarah 2:113

• labeled as fools, Sahih Bukhari 1.392

• Muslims allowed to marry Jews or Christians,

  * Muhammad allowed this. Muslim jurists, however, only permit Muslim man this privilege, while women do not.

• punishment for, at-Taubah 9:34-35

• say they are "God's Children", al-Ma'idah 5:18

• some believe in baseless mysteries and powers of evil, an-Nisa' 4:51

• some have broken scriptures into parts, al-Hijr 15:90

  • deny truth of some scriptures, al-Baqarah 2:85; Âl 'Imran 3:23; an-Nisa' 4:44,51

• some pursue the right course, al-Ma'idah 5:66

• studied Scriptures, al-Baqarah 2:113

• usury and hoarding (withholding) money meant for charity, at-Taubah 9:34

  • punishment for, at-Taubah 9:34-35

• vie with them in doing good deeds, al-Baqarah 2:227; Âl 'Imran 3:114; an-Nisa' 4:58; al-Ma'idah 5:48

• who does not believe in Muhammad nor affirm his belief will be in Hell,

  ``Abu Huraira related that Allah's Messenger said: "He who amongst the community of Jews and Christians hears about me, does not affirm his belief in what I have been sent with, and dies in this state (of disbelief), shall be but one of the inmates of Hell-Fire"'' (Muslim).

• asked why they came to Muhammad when they have the Torah, al-Ma'idah 5:43

  This verse clearly implied that the Torah among the Jews are authentic, and should be their guide and arbiter in disputes instead of having to come to Muhammad.

• believe in but few things, an-Nisa' 4:155

• claim that they alone are close to God, al-Baqarah 2:94; al-Jum`ah 62:6

• denied good things of life, an-Nisa' 4:160

  • reasons for, an-Nisa' 4:161

• do not take Jews and Christians for friends, al-Ma'idah 5:51

• fate of those who do not live by Torah, al-Jum`ah 62:5

• foods which are forbidden for, al-An`am 6:146

  • restrictions as punishment, an-Nisa' 4:160

    * QN: if the food restrictions on Jews were pubishment, why are Muslims being punished for their strict diet? What (if any) is the difference?

• good deeds of ancestors don't count, al-Baqarah 2:136

• hurting themselves by their misinterpretations, al-Ma'idah 5:64

• ignorant (ummiun) and does not know Scripture, but foolish stories, al-Baqarah 2:78

• Jewish doctors, at-Taubah 9:34

• mistaken to believe in their own revelations only, al-Baqarah 2:91

• most have forgotten what they've been told to bear in mind, al-Ma'idah 5:13

• most hostile to Muslims, al-Ma'idah 5:82
  * Most of Bani Qaynuqaa at Yathrib were hoping that the Quraysh would end the Muslims after the battle of Badr. Âl 'Imran 3:118,120

• pervert after understanding Scriptures, al-Baqarah 2:75

  Here again is the Qur'an's testimony that these Jews knew and understood the Scriptures (which were with them). Their crime is that they deliberately perverted (distorted) it after they read and understood it.

• possess scripture, al-Baqarah 2:91; an-Nisa' 4:47

• possess Torah, 5:43

• punished in their graves, Sahih Bukhari 2.457

• ransoming each other during the Prophet's life, al-Baqarah 2:85

• religious commandments, al-Baqarah 2:43,84-85; al-Ma'idah 5:32

• retribution given in the Torah, al-Ma'idah 5:45

• reward with the Lord, al-Baqarah 2:62; al-Ma'idah 5:65,69

• righteous will be rewarded, al-Baqarah 2:62; al-Ma'idah 5:65,69

• say "Ezra is God's Son", at-Taubah 9:30

  This has never been a tenet of any branch of Judaism, and is obviously an error.

• say "Our hearts are full of knowledge", al-Baqarah 2:88; an-Nisa' 4:155

• sell own scriptures, al-Baqarah 2:174

• slaying prophets, al-Baqarah 2:61; Âl 'Imran 3:21,112,181,183; an-Nisa' 4:155,157; al-Ma'idah 5:70

• some

  • distort meanings of all revelations, al-Baqarah 2:75; an-Nisa' 4:46; al-Ma'idah 5:13,41

    • forgive them, al-Ma'idah 5:13

  • have turned away from the Torah, al-Ma'idah 5:43

• twisting of tongues, an-Nisa' 4:46-47.
  Raina = dislocating/perverting (Jalalludin)

• warning to, an-Nisa' 4:47

• write scripture with own hands, al-Baqarah 2:79.

  Many Muslims therefore say that the Jews (and Christians by association) added to the Bible. But a Muslim replies:

  ``What is "the Book"? There are many interpretations of this verse. I will point out, again, that it could apply to what brother XXX has done: to claim that his opinion is God's opinion, and to claim that the Qur'an says something (stated explicity) which it does not state (except as might be derived through implication).

  In this case the likely interpretation, which I note in Maududi, is that commentaries and histories were added to the Book and given (a pretense) of divine authority. So, for example, the histories in the Bible are not necessarily part of the Book.'' (Daniel Lomax, 31 May 1995, in soc.religion.islam)

  We have, however, noted that never did once did the Qur'an or the hadith have any warning or reprimand that the scriptures in their possession is corrupt.

• al-Baqarah 2:62,111,113; Âl 'Imran 3:23; an-Nisa' 4:46,153; al-Ma'idah 5:6,18,41,64,82,92; al-Hajj 22:17; al-Hashr 59:2.

Go Back to Main Index