What is the significance of your Israelite heritage in Islam?

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ ۚ قَدْ جَاءَكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌيَهْدِي بِهِ اللَّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلَامِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

سورة المائدة 14- 15

“O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darkness into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.”

This is one of the most frequent questions asked by Hebrews who have become Muslim and are then confronted with the possibility that it might have an impact on their Islam. The irony is that the question says more about the concept of Islam they were given, and who gave it to them, rather than any imaginary problems an ethnicity will cause to a truly Islamic way of life.

Those who we learned Islam from had already created a false dichotomy which pitted Islam, which was renewed with the coming of prophet Muhammed on earth, against people who were Muslim before. The Children of Israel have been painted as the villains of monotheism and written out of the Islamic narrative and future. This has fueled a culture within the Muslims, not Islam, of rejecting any and everything Israelite. In this culture the Israelites have nothing whatsoever to contribute to Islam today and their link with Islam is expired and needs to be rejected in order to be considered truly Islamic. This toxic culture which has no basis within the Quran and the authentic sunnah and could not be further from the truth and is more to do with modern Arab superiority. The Quran paints a completely different picture and is far more nuanced but like most human inventions driven by human failings the nuances are deliberately over looked in order to push a narrative that supports Arab hegemony in Islam.

Allah pointed the blessed Prophet in the direction of the Israelites to confirm his revelation, if the Banu Israel were cursed and the true villains of monotheism then this would not have been logical.

وَلَقَدْ بَوَّأْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدْقٍ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ فَمَا اخْتَلَفُوا حَتَّىٰ جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ فَإِن كُنتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكَ ۚ لَقَدْ جَاءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

سورة يونس 92-93

“And We had certainty settled the Children of Israel in an agreeable settlement and provided them with good things. And they did not differ until [after] knowledge had come to them. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.”

What is Islam?

In order to understand why being from Banu Israel is significant to your Islam we must first understand what Islam is. If Islam is, in part for you, imitating Arab culture, Asian culture or Turkish Culture then obviously highlighting an Israelite identity would definitely be a problem. But Islam is not about imitating the culture of another people it is the submission of a creature with an independent self-directed will to the laws which are given by the Creator. It is Allah, the Creator, who created us into different tribes and nations being the same in some things and different in others as a beautiful tapestry with different colours and different languages.

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْعَالِمِينَ

سورة الروم 22

“And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colours. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.”

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

سورة الحُجُرات 13

“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”

If Allah had wanted us to be the same he would have made us the same but in His wisdom he made us different. So, what is this wisdom or policy that has been infiltrated into the Muslim mind that we should be all the same or even to imitate another people when Allah has made us all different. Pretending to be like someone else is not from Islam nor is the idea or practice of imitating other people with the understanding that it is more righteous or closer to Allah. Allah has well defined what is noble in his sight and it is to have taqwa or consciousness, there is no mention of being like any other tribes but it is to make yourself noble by refining your character. Allah made you in your likeness and therefore he has made your test to submit yourself to him as he made you, it is not to imitate another tribe and then submit. If Allah had wanted you to be something else he would have created you as such.

وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۚ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ ۖ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

سورة المائدة 48

“And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So, judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.”

Allah had intended to make humanity different and diverse with the beauty and mosaic of a picture with different colours and shades. So, any interpretation which sees Islam being a vehicle to make other tribes and nations imitate others as a way to bringing themselves closer to Allah is inconsistent with the express statements of the Creator.

How do we submit to Allah?

The act of submission is to surrender your will and choice to another who will exercise their authority over you. If your act of submission is done on your own terms then you are still exercising your own will and therefore your act of submission is invalid, it is no submission whatsoever. Submission to the understanding of another person does not equate to the submission to Allah and his messenger regardless of their claim unless that person is themselves in line with Allah and His messenger.

If we are commanded to pray and we then decide not to pray because we believe it does not apply to us or you believe you do not have to pray then this would be regarded as kufr (disbelif) which would take you out of Islam. This would be disbelief because you are aware of the truth but reject it. Any command in the Quran or even an ayah in the Quran that is rejected is seen as disbelief. If you are unsure as to whether you have to pray this is a different matter entirely because either full knowledge of your obligations have not been made clear to you or you are in a state of confusion for some other reason.

ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ هَٰؤُلَاءِ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتُخْرِجُونَ فَرِيقًا مِّنكُم مِّن دِيَارِهِمْ تَظَاهَرُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِالْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَإِن يَأْتُوكُمْ أُسَارَىٰ تُفَادُوهُمْ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِخْرَاجُهُمْ ۚ أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ – 2:85

البقرة 85

“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. So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.”

By its very nature our submission to the will of our Creator is based upon doing as He wishes rather than what we believe we should do. Seeking to do what we want is an act of worshipping our own desires rather than seeking the pleasure of Allah.

Just because Allah singles out the Children of Israel to fulfil duties over and above the rest of the Muslims why does that cause a problem. We have a covenant that must be fulfilled the Muslims don’t have a covenant in the same way. Why does this negate our Islam or become incompatible with Islam? Men have different duties to women, children have different duties to adults; so, why is it such a problem that a tribe have different duties to other tribes if Allah decrees so? This is the right of Allah and our duty is to accept his wisdom not to question it. Surely, our Islam is to submit in exactly the way that we are ordered to by Allah and His messenger.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

السورة البقرة 208

“O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.”

Have you entered Islam completely or just enough to please and fit in with your social group of non-Hebrew Muslims?

Are Israelites addressed with commands?

The Quran does address the Israelites directly and many of those are commands to fulfil their covenant. If those commands are addressed to the Children of Israel then we are only left with one Issue: whether a person is themselves an Israelite.

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ

البقرة 40

“O Children of Israel, remember My favour which I have bestowed upon you and fulfil My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfil your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.”

In this ayah Allah addresses the Children of Israel directly and he commands them to remember his favours (their history) and then he commands them to fulfil their covenant. This is a clear positive command which has to be fulfilled and this is not addressed to the Muslims as a whole but exclusively to the Children of Israel. This command like all other commands must be fulfilled and if it is referring to you as a person what right do you have to say that you do not have to fulfil this command. What is the difference between this command and the command to pray, fast or pay zakat? The sincerest response would be to find out for sure whether this command of your creator applies to you or not rather than asking what difference does it make. You must ask yourself would the creator order you to do something that had no purpose or would make no difference to you. This attitude is not an attribute of a believer.

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا

سورة الاحزاب 36

“It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.”

A natural question would be: is the command still in force? The answer is very clear that it is definitely still in force and there was no verse that came after to replace it or abrogate it expressly or implied.

A second question: Is the command a part of a narrative which is referring to the people of the past? No, the command is not historical and just being related in the Quran.

A third question: can the command be referring to the past. In Arabic it is impossible to command someone to do an action in a time that has already gone. You are not able to order someone to do an action yesterday.

Fulfilling the Covenant

Another false claim is that the covenant doesn’t apply because it is broken. This claim is demonstrably false. Allah has ordered the Children of Israel to fulfil their covenant in the Quran which was revealed to Muhammed in Mecca. If their covenant had been ended due to their breaking it in the past then why would Allah order them to fulfil their covenant in the Quran. Secondly, if Allah has ordered them to fulfil their covenant that still exist then nothing they had done before the appearance of Muhammed broke the covenant.

وَقَالُوا لَن تَمَسَّنَا النَّارُ إِلَّا أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَةً ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَهْدًا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ اللَّهُ عَهْدَهُ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

السورة البقرة 80

“And they say, “Never will the Fire touch us, except for a few days.” Say, “Have you taken a covenant with Allah? For Allah will never break His covenant. Or do you say about Allah that which you do not know?”

When Allah makes a covenant with his slaves in what situation is the slave able to opt out of that covenant? If Allah will never ever break his covenant how does the slave have the ability to break the covenant?

[For a more detailed discussion of the covenant see the covenant document and the meethaaq]

Why did Allah single us out if indeed there is no reason or benefit in doing so? This is the question you must ask if indeed the question of what difference does it make if we are Banu Israel.

In Allah’s wisdom if there was no purpose in being an Israelite then why does he single us out. Allah could have just called us just like he calls the rest of mankind without mentioning our name in the Quran it would still have applied to us as members of mankind but he did not. He called us through the Quran and the Prophet and our covenant. Why is the covenant of no consequence?