the People of Guidance,
the Jewish People of the Book
From a book:
The Children of Israel in the land of Kush
Sheikh El-Nayyal Abu Groon
It is necessary to clarify the Quranic terms related to the Children of Israel, as the above-mentioned names have been mentioned many times in the Quran in describing the conditions of people from the tribes of "Israel" (Prophet Jacob, peace be upon him) and Moses, peace be upon him. The Children of Israel have been mentioned, sometimes in praise and sometimes in criticism, such as God's saying: "O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you, and I that favored you over all nations." [Qur'an 2:47]
"And We conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture: You will commit evil on earth twice, and you will rise to a great height." [Qur'an 17:4] " Those who believe, and the Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians—whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and does what is right—they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve." [Qur'an 5:69] "Those who believe, and those who are Jewish, and the Sabeans, and the Christians, and the Zoroastrians, and the Polytheists—God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. God is witness to all things." [Qur'an 22:17]
The term "Children of Israel and the Jews" may correspond to the term "those who believed" in the final message. God Almighty did not address those who were sent before Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, as Muslims or those who had converted to Islam, but rather addressed those who believed. This does not mean only believers, but it requires them to have faith in God and His Messenger, and not just refraining from opposition. As God Almighty said: " O you who believe! Shall I inform you of a trade that will save you from a painful torment * That you believe in God and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of God …" [Qur'an 61: 10 – 11]
The term "Jews" has been mentioned eight times in seven verses where it was never used in a positive context, as in the following verse: "The Jews say, “God’s hand is tied.” It is their hands that are tied, and they are cursed for what they say..." [Qur'an 5:64] and here God Almighty made them equal with the polytheists: "You will find that the people most hostile towards the believers are the Jews and the polytheists." [Qur'an 5:82] Perhaps the word "Jews" mentioned in the Quran is a term that includes those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved as well. The Most High says: "Cursed were those who disbelieved from among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and Jesus son of Mary. That is because they rebelled and used to transgress." [Qur'an 5:78] The curse included those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved, just as it included the Jews from other than the Children of Israel.
Therefore, the word "Jews" refers to those who were among the people of Moses but do not attribute themselves to the Prophet of God, Israel peace be upon him, and among them are those who were in the Arabian Peninsula and who allied themselves with the polytheists to fight against the Prophet Muhammad may God bless him and his family. This is clear in the Qur'an's mention of the people of Moses, among whom are those who believed and those who disbelieved. The Qur'an mentions the Jews without praise or commendation, and it is not correct to include "the Children of Israel" within the word Jews except for those among them who disbelieved.