The Appearance of the Jews in the Holy Quran (Part 7)
The distorted beliefs of the Jews
The mirror of divine revelation is the only unfailing reference for humanity, and adhering to its verses illuminates the visions of the seers and the thoughts of the thoughtful; as it itself always invites people to reflect on the divine verses and introduces them as special for people of knowledge and reason. One of the important and emphasized topics of the Holy Quran is the history and practices of the Jews, which Allah regularly reminds Muslims to take advice and counsel from.
The Jews also attributed polytheism to Allah like a group of Christians. The Holy Quran states: “وَقَالُواْ اتَّخَذَ اللّهُ وَلَداً” Translation: “And they (the Jews and Christians) say: Allah has taken for Himself a son!” [1]
This superstitious belief that Allah has a son was believed by both Christians and a group of Jews and polytheists. In another place of the Qur’an, it is stated: “وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللَّهِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ قَوْلُهُمْ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۖ يُضَاهِئُونَ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ ۚ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ.” Translation: “And the Jews say: ‘Uzair is the son of Allah.’ And the Christians say: ‘The Messiah is the son of Allah.’ This is a saying (without proof or evidence) that they utter, and it is similar to the saying of those who disbelieved before. May Allah destroy them, how they deviate (from the truth to falsehood).” [2]
In response to their words, Allah says: “مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ مِنْ وَلَدٍ ۖ سُبْحَانَهُ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ.” Translation: “It is not fitting for Allah to take for Himself a son; Glory be to Him; when He intends a thing, He only says to it: Be, and it is.” [3]
Since the Jews had lost their power after the advent of Islam, they attributed this to Allah and believed that Allah’s hand was tied and He would not forgive us: “وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ يَدُ اللَّهِ مَغْلُولَةٌ” Translation: “And the Jews say: The hand (power) of God is tied (to control the affairs of creation, legislate laws and provide sustenance).” [4]
Allah also says in response to them in the continuation of the verse: “غُلَّتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَلُعِنُوا بِمَا قَالُوا.” Translation: “May their hands be tied and may they be cursed for their false speech.” [5]
The ancient plan of the Jews is to always consider themselves superior to others. So much so that when the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) wrote a letter to the Jews of Banu Qaynuqah’ and invited them to perform prayers and pay zakat and spend (in charity) (loan to Allah), they said: “If Allah were not poor, He would not have asked us for a loan.”
«قَالُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ فَقِيرٌ وَنَحْنُ أَغْنِيَاء.» Translation: “They said: Allah is in need and we are free from need”. [6]
We see that the Jews have no qualms about attributing undue attributes to Allah Almighty and even consider themselves superior to Allah.
From the history of Jewish life (in addition to the verses of the Holy Quran), it is clear that they considered themselves a superior race and believed that they were the cream of crop of humanity, that Paradise was created for them, and that the fire of Hell has nothing to do with them.
They are the children of Allah and His special friends. This foolish selfishness is reflected in various verses of the Quran where the Jews are mentioned; for example: “وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ نَحْنُ أَبْنَاءُ اللَّهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ.” Translation: “And the Jews and the Christians say: We are the children of Allah and His special friends.” [7]
Allah also continues the verse in response to them: “قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُمْ بِذُنُوبِكُمْ ۖ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ بَشَرٌ مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ ۚ يَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ.” Translation: “Say: (If your statement is true) then why does Allah punish you for your sins? Rather, you are only human beings among the creatures that allat created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, and to Him is the return”. [8]
And they say: “وَقَالُوا لَنْ يَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَىٰ” Translation: “And they say: No one will enter Paradise unless he is a Jew or a Christian.” [9]
These delusions, on the one hand, called them to oppression, treachery, sin, and rebellion, and on the other hand, to arrogance, conceit, and selfishness. Since the method of the Quran is always based on logic and argument, in response to their excessive ambition, Allah also says to them in the continuation of the verse: «تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ ۗ قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ.» Translation: “These are their desires. Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful.” [10]
The false claims of the Jews are one of the clear reasons for their selfishness, and this pursuit of superiority is not compatible with any logic, as the Quran reveals their hypocrisy and lies. Because they are not willing to leave the life of this world in any way: «وَلَتَجِدَنَّهُمْ أَحْرَصَ النَّاسِ عَلَى حَيَاةٍ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ أَنْ يُعَمَّرَ وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ.» Translation: “You will find them (the Jews…) the greediest of people, even greedier than the polytheists, for the life of this world and the accumulation of wealth, to the point that each of them would like to live a thousand years, while this long life will not save him from the punishment of Allah, and Allah is Seer of what they do.” [11]
