Early History of the Jewish Nation

 The history of the plots, conspiracies and misdeeds of the Jews as a nation in the heart of the world is well known. In the Qur'an Karim they are identified as a cursed and humiliated nation. They also have an identity as usurers and moneylenders. This nation has been hated by people for their apostasy, blasphemy and their evil activities for ages.

Being very clever and cunning by birth, this race adopts various tricks to subjugate people. Through this they have sustained their own existence over the ages. Almighty Allah says, 'Insults and humiliation have been imposed on them. They wandered under the light of Allah.

Because they disbelieved in the law of Allah and killed the prophets unjustly. Because they were disobedient and transgressors.' (Surah: Baqarah, verse: 61)

Jewish nomenclature and early history of the Jewish nation

The descendants of Hazrat Yaqub (as) son of Hazrat Ishaq (as) are known as Bani Israel. Bani Israel is a branch of the descendants of Ibrahim (A.S.) who was specially favored by Allah.

A part of this branch later identified themselves as Jews. One of the sons of Hazrat Yaqub (a.s.) was Yahuda. From that part of the name 'Jew' was named. (Tafseer Mawardi: 1/131)

The Misdeeds and Historical Punishment of the Jews Through the Ages

Hazrat Musa (a.s.) suffered the most with the Jewish nation. It is described in detail in many places in the Qur'an.

At the beginning of Surah Baqarah, God's mercy on the Jewish nation and about 12 evil deeds and their punishment by God are described.

After Allah saved them from the Pharaoh of Egypt, when Musa (A.S.) went to Mount Tur to bring the Torah from Allah,

 they started worshiping the calf of the cow. After Allah forgave them with their punishment, they again sat earnestly to see Allah with their own eyes. For this, they were threatened with punishment by raising the mountain of Tur through angels.

They were ungrateful and refused to eat natural food after the dua of Musa (a.s.).

Sometimes they accuse Musa (AS) of bad illness and adultery. Thus Hazrat Musa (A.S.) suffered with them for a lifetime.

Hazrat Dawood (A.S.) recited Zabur from the Book of Allah every Saturday, at that time even the fish of the sea came to the shore to listen to his recitation. But the Jews caught the fish at that time. If fishing was forbidden on that day by Allah, they also revealed their cunning in Allah's law, they surrounded the fish on Saturday and caught it on Sunday. Allah turned some of them into monkeys as punishment. After three days, the group of monkeys all died. (Surah Baqarah, verses 49-73)

After the death of Hazrat Sulaiman (A.S.), the Jewish nation resorted to mutual disunity and apostasy and wickedness. Even though some prophet came and warned the Jews about the dire consequences of such activities at the command of Allah, they disobeyed him and instead rebelled against him. Then, as the wrath of Allah, an Egyptian king attacked them and carried out extensive killing and looting.

After that they did fairly well for some time, but their material evil did not allow them to stay well. They started worshiping idols out of blasphemy. Hazrat Ilyas (A.S.) started a movement against the idolatry of the Jews. Not only did he suffer persecution to the displeasure of the Jews, but they even conspired to kill him. Finally, an Egyptian king attacked them and killed and plundered them. Then the situation improved dramatically.

After that, if they were involved in misdeeds again, they were punished by the Babylonian emperor. The emperor attacked Baitul Maqdis and destroyed the Aqsa Mosque. The city was laid waste by massacre and plunder. The Jews were then exiled from Bait al-Maqdis to Babylon. There he spent 70 years in extreme humiliation and misery. Then an Iranian emperor captured Babylon and took mercy on the Jews and sent them back to Syria. At this time they built the Aqsa Mosque again.

Then 170 years before the birth of Jesus (A.S.), when they indulged in sin again, the emperor of Antioch attacked them and killed 40 thousand and imprisoned 40 thousand. The emperor also insulted Aqsa in the mosque. Many years later, when Baitul Maqdis was captured by the Roman Emperor, he helped the Jews. Eight years after this, Isa (AS) was born.

In this way, the condition of the Jewish kingdom reached a deplorable level, but they continued to disobey God. When the prophets warned them, they started killing those prophets. (Tafseer Bayanul Qur'an: 2/367-368)

When Hazrat Yahya (A.S.) opposed the obscene activities of the Jews, they cut him in two and killed him. According to Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Masud (RA), Bani Israel killed 300 Prophets of Allah. (Tafseer Ibn Abi Hatim: 1/126)

Jewish conspiracy against Christianity

Hazrat Isa (A.S.) displeased them, fell into the fire of their anger and was accused of a false case and ordered to be hanged. But Allah, in His majesty, saved Hazrat Jesus (A.S.) from their hands and raised him to heaven.

After the ascension of Hazrat Jesus (AS), the religion of Jesus (AS) fell. Then a radical Jew created a new religion in the name of Christianity by ensnaring the companions of Jesus (AS). His name was 'Saul'. Later he changed his name to 'Paul'. This Jew named 'Paul' was the worst enemy of Jesus (AS). Because of this, he disguised himself among the Christians and distorted Christianity. Christians fall into his trap and he succeeds 100%. It can be said that the current Christianity is not the Christianity left by Jesus (pbuh), rather it is Paul's religion. (Source: Isaiyat Kiya Hai, pp. 103-106)

Author: Fatwa Researcher, Islamic Research Center