Jews

At a glance

The Quran dedicates extensive discourse to examining the history, religious deviations, and divine accountability of the Jews. Through precision in language, divine revelation carefully distinguishes between Banu Isra'il (the Children of Israel as a genealogical lineage originating from the Prophet Jacob) and the religious community of the Jews who adhered to specific beliefs and practices across different historical eras.

While Banu Isra'il were granted immense, historic favors, including liberation from Pharaoh, divine sustenance, and a long succession of prophets, many among them met these blessings with ingratitude, breach of covenants, and blatant opposition to the truth. Over time, their religious leaders engaged in deliberate textual alterations, concealment of prophecy, and theological excess, claiming exclusive salvation while rejecting the final messenger sent to verify what they possessed.

Studying this Quranic portrayal is essential for believers because it is not merely a chronicle of past nations; it serves as a profound mirror and warning. It illustrates how ungratefulness, theological arrogance, and worldly corruption can strip a community of divine favor, replacing honorable standing with humiliation, divine wrath, and spiritual ruin.

Key verses

1. Ali 'Imran 3:93: This verse demonstrates the chronological distinction between Israel's personal dietary abstentions before the Torah and the later false claims made by the Jews regarding divine prohibitions.
2. Al-Ma'idah 5:64: This verse exposes their brazen theological insolence regarding Allah's limitless generosity, which brought down upon them ongoing enmity, curse, and failed warmongering.
3. Al-Baqarah 2:79: This verse delivers a severe three-fold warning of ruin to those who alter scripture with their hands, falsely attribute it to Allah, and trade divine guidance for transient worldly gain.

Words to know

اليَهُود `al-Yahud`

Those who adhere to the Jewish religion, deriving either from repentance, bodily swaying during recitation, or Judah the son of Jacob.

Appears 30 times in the Quran.

Most common forms: هادُ (11), هُود (10), يَهُود (9)

Root: ه و د

أَهْل الكِتَاب `Ahl al-Kitab`

The communities granted a verified revealed scripture from Allah, specifically the Jews and the Christians.

بَنُو إِسْرَائِيل `Banu Isra'il`

The genealogical descendants and twelve tribes stemming from Prophet Jacob, also named Israel.

بَنِي إِسْرَائِيل `Bani Isra'il`

The genitive and accusative grammatical form of the name referring to the lineage and descendants of Jacob.

Definition of the Jews

From the paper: «التعريف باليهود»

A critical Quranic distinction must be drawn between the Jews and Banu Isra'il, as many mistakenly treat them as identical. Linguistically, scholars propose several roots for the name al-Yahud: some relate it to swaying while reading the Torah, others trace it to Judah (the fourth son of Jacob), and others derive it from repentance and turning back to truth, as reflected in Al-A'raf 7:156 and Al-An'am 6:146.

In contrast, Banu Isra'il denotes the physical descendants of the Prophet Jacob, whose title was Israel (meaning 'servant of Allah'). The Quran mentions Bani Isra'il forty-one times across distinct historical periods: before Moses Ali 'Imran 3:93, during Moses's era Al-A'raf 7:138, after Moses 2:246}, {5:78, during Jesus's ministry Al-Ma'idah 5:72, and during the Prophet Muhammad's lifetime An-Naml 27:76.

As Ibn Kathir and Ibn Ashur explain, Banu Isra'il divided when Jesus arrived As-Saff 61:14: a small minority believed in him, forming the Christians who sought to spread their faith, while the vast majority rejected him, retaining their tribal exclusivity as Jews. Thus, while the Jews descend from Banu Isra'il, not every member of Banu Isra'il throughout history was a Jew 62:6}, {2:135}, {5:64.

Allah's blessings upon the Children of Israel

From the paper: «نعم الله على بني إسرائيل»

Allah granted Banu Isra'il exceptional favors unmatched by any other people of their time, demanding gratitude and righteous governance.

• Preeminence over their contemporaries: As al-Baghawi notes, Allah favored them above the worlds of their era Al-Baqarah 2:47, a historic honor tied to that period that ended when they broke their covenants.
• Prophets and Scriptures: Allah sent continuous prophets from among their own people, beginning with Jacob and Joseph, followed by Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Zechariah, John, and Jesus 4:165}, {5:70. They were entrusted with the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel, yet many met these messengers with denial or murder, and concealed their texts 2:79}, {3:187.
• Deliverance from Pharaoh: Allah miraculously rescued them from brutal subjugation, infanticide, and enslavement by parting the sea before their eyes while drowning Pharaoh's army Al-Baqarah 2:49-50.
• Sustenance in the Wilderness: When thirsty, Allah caused twelve springs of fresh water to gush from a rock, and provided heavenly food of manna and quails 2:60}, {20:80-82.

Tragically, many met these unmistakable favors with arrogance, disputation, and idol worship Al-Baqarah 2:60.

Deviations of the Jews

From the paper: «انحرافات اليهود»

The Quran exposes profound ideological and behavioral corruptions that developed among them.

Their theological deviations reached shocking extremes: they insolently claimed that Allah is poor 3:181}, {2:245 and asserted that His hands are chained Al-Ma'idah 5:64, expressing foul, stingy hearts driven by the love of wealth. Some deified Ezra as the son of Allah At-Tawbah 9:30, while others hypocritically aligned with polytheism, believing in al-Jibt and al-Taghut and flattering idolaters out of sheer envy of the Prophet An-Nisa 4:51-52. They declared enmity against the angel Gabriel Al-Baqarah 2:97-98 and rejected new revelation while claiming to follow their own Al-Baqarah 2:91.

Moral deviations were equally severe. They harbored bitter envy toward believers Al-Baqarah 2:109 and actively sought to mislead them Ali 'Imran 3:69. Their scholars concealed clear divine proofs regarding the Prophet's description 3:187}, {2:159. Economically, they consumed usury and people's wealth unlawfully despite clear prohibitions 4:160-161}, {5:62-63. They exhibited an obsessive clinging to life Al-Baqarah 2:94-96 and displayed cowardice, fighting only from behind fortified walls or high barricades 3:111}, {59:14.

Internally, their unity is an illusion, as their hearts are utterly divided Al-Hashr 59:14, leading them to violate their sacred pacts by shedding each other's blood Al-Baqarah 2:84-85 and spreading relentless corruption across the earth 5:64}, {5:82}, {3:72.

Distortions by the Jews

From the paper: «تحريفات اليهود»

The Jews went to extreme lengths in altering, forging, and misinterpreting divine revelation Al-Baqarah 2:75.

They displaced words from their contexts, rearranging texts and twisting meanings to hide prophecies concerning Jesus and Muhammad 5:41}, {5:12-13. Leaders authored texts with their own hands and sold them to the Arabs, claiming they were from Allah to preserve their social status and financial gains Al-Baqarah 2:79.

Furthermore, they invented baseless theological claims. They asserted that only Jews would enter Paradise Al-Baqarah 2:111, claimed to be Allah's beloved children 5:18}, {48:10, and presumed the Fire would only touch them for a few numbered days 2:79-80}, {3:23-24. They cast monstrous slander against the chaste Mary 4:156}, {66:12 and boasted arrogantly that they had killed Jesus, though Allah clarifies that they neither killed nor crucified him, but another was made to resemble him in his place An-Nisa 4:157.

The Jews and divine punishments

From the paper: «اليهود والعقوبات الإلهية»

Because of recurrent treachery and defiance, Allah subjected them to severe divine retributions across history.

Worldly punishments included the order of mutual execution to expiate their calf worship Al-Baqarah 2:54, being stricken with humiliation and spiritual misery (al-maskanah) across generations except when holding a rope from Allah or men 2:61}, {3:112, physical transformation into apes and swine for Sabbath violations 2:65}, {7:166}, {5:60, wandering lost in the wilderness for forty years Al-Ma'idah 5:26, and being deprived of wholesome foods previously made lawful 4:160}, {3:93}, {6:146.

Additionally, Allah decreed that oppressors would be sent to subject them to severe torment across eras Al-A'raf 7:167, fulfilled through historical invasions by Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans, and European expulsions. The Quran also foretells a final retribution when believers enter the holy sanctuary to dismantle their towering corruption 17:4-8}, {17:104.

In the Hereafter, corrupt scholars who concealed the scripture face eternal fire, divine silence, and no purification 2:174}, {98:6, enduring compounded divine wrath, cursing, and displeasure in both worlds 2:90}, {2:88}, {2:159}, {47:28}, {5:80.

Takeaways

1. Blessings Demand Gratitude, Not Complacency

   Divine election is tied to obedience and ethical responsibility. Taking Allah's gifts for granted leads directly to spiritual downfall, just as Banu Isra'il lost their preeminence when they rebelled against divine guidance Al-Baqarah 2:47.

2. Religious Knowledge Must Never Be Traded for Wealth

   Concealing the truth or twisting religious rulings to satisfy worldly desires or maintain leadership brings severe condemnation. Scholars and learners must preserve divine integrity regardless of cost 2:79}, {3:187.

3. Salvation Rests on Sincere Faith and Righteous Works

   Claiming salvation based merely on communal affiliation or lineage is an empty delusion. Allah evaluates hearts through submission and upright deeds, not self-proclaimed favoritism 2:111}, {5:18.

4. Greed and Usury Corrupt the Soul

   Consuming unlawful wealth and living by usury blinds the spiritual heart, resulting in inward poverty (al-maskanah) and cowardice, regardless of material abundance 4:160-161}, {2:61.

Reflect

• In what ways might I be treating Allah's guidance with complacency, assuming salvation simply through communal belonging?
• Do I ever compromise or conceal what I know is right simply to protect my status, wealth, or comfort?
• When faced with material temptations, do I trust in Allah's bounty, or do I turn to questionable gains out of fear of poverty?

Go deeper

Linguistic meaning

The term derives either from bodily swaying during the recitation of the Torah, from Judah the son of Jacob through phonetic transformation, or from the Arabic root signifying repentance and turning back to the truth.

Technical meaning

The followers and adherents of the Jewish religion, who predominantly descend from Banu Isra'il, though not all of Banu Isra'il throughout history adhered to Judaism.

How it differs from related terms

أهل الكتاب People of the Book

Refers broadly to religious communities possessing a verified revealed heavenly scripture, specifically the Jews (Torah) and the Christians (Gospel). Thus, the Jews represent a specific subset of the People of the Book.

بنو إسرائيل Children of Israel (Nominative)

A genealogical designation identifying the biological offspring and twelve tribes descending from Prophet Jacob. Unlike the religious term 'Jews', it encompasses all his lineage across history, including those who followed Moses, accepted Jesus, or lived before Judaism formed as a distinct group.

بني إسرائيل Children of Israel (Accusative/Genitive)

The grammatical inflection of the same tribal lineage of Jacob, occurring forty-one times in the Quran to address their historic communities across the eras of Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.

Every verse in the paper

All 84 verses the research paper discusses, grouped under its own headings.

Definition of the Jews «التعريف باليهود»

Definition of the Jews «أولًا: التعريف باليهود»

7:156, 6:146

The difference between the Children of Israel and the Jews «ثانيًا: الفرق بين بني إسرائيل واليهود»

3:93, 7:138, 2:246, 5:78, 5:72, 27:76, 19:34, 61:14

The Jews in Quranic usage «اليهود في الاستعمال القرآني»

62:6, 2:135, 5:64

Related terms «الألفاظ ذات الصلة»

Technical meaning of the People of the Book «أهل الكتاب اصطلاحًا»

6:156

Technical meaning of the Children of Israel «بنو إسرائيل اصطلاحًا»

3:93, 2:211

Allah's blessings upon the Children of Israel «نعم الله على بني إسرائيل»

Favor over the people of their time «أولًا: التفضيل على عالمي زمانهم»

2:47

Prophets of the Children of Israel and their scriptures «ثانيًا: أنبياء بني إسرائيل وكتبهم»

4:165, 5:70, 2:79, 3:187

Deliverance from Pharaoh's tyranny and destruction of their enemy «ثالثًا: النجاة من بطش فرعون وإهلاك عدوهم»

2:49-50

Springs of water and the provision of manna and quails «رابعًا: تفجير ينابيع المياه لهم، وإنزال المن والسلوى عليهم»

2:60, 20:80-82

Deviations of the Jews «انحرافات اليهود»

Deviations in belief «أولًا: انحرافات في العقيدة»

3:181, 2:245, 5:64, 9:30, 4:51-52, 2:97-98, 2:91

Deviations in morals and conduct «ثانيًا: انحرافات في الأخلاق والسلوك»

2:109, 3:69, 3:187, 2:159, 4:160-161, 5:62-63, 2:94-96, 3:111, 59:14, 5:64, 5:82, 3:72, 2:84-85

Distortions by the Jews «تحريفات اليهود»

2:75, 5:41, 5:12-13, 2:111, 5:18, 48:10, 2:79-80, 3:23-24, 4:156, 66:12, 4:157

The Jews and divine punishments «اليهود والعقوبات الإلهية»

7:168, 2:54, 2:61, 3:112, 2:65, 7:166, 5:60, 5:26, 7:167, 4:160, 3:93, 6:146

Worldly punishments awaiting them «ثانيًا: عقوبات دنيوية تنتظرهم»

7:167, 17:4-8, 17:104

Punishments in the hereafter «ثالثًا: عقوبات أخروية»

2:174, 98:6

Punishments in both worlds «رابعًا: عقوبات في الدارين»

3:112, 2:90, 2:88, 2:159, 47:28, 5:80

About this source

Volume

18

Research paper

«اليهود» (Jews)

Read the full paper (Arabic)

Encyclopedia of Thematic Tafsir of the Noble Quran, published by the Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

This study guide summarizes the Arabic research paper. For full scholarly detail, refer to the original. This preview has not been reviewed yet.

Related topics

• People of the Scripture أهل الكتاب
• Children of Israel بنو إسرائيل
• The Gospel الإنجيل
• The Torah التوراة
• Jewish Expeditions غزوات الرسول مع اليهود
• Prophet Moses موسى عليه السلام
• Christians النصارى