The Quran about Jews

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.

Religious controversy among Muslims often turns into a discussion of Judaism, because most of the mentioned messengers in the Quran are associated with this religion. Let us analyse this topic by considering information about the Jews:

The Jews say “The Christians have nothing to stand on!” and the Christians say, “The Jews have nothing to stand on!” although they recite the Prescription. Those who do not know have said like they say. Their words are similar. God will judge between them on the day of standing before Him concerning that over which they used to differ. (2:113)

This passage clearly shows the religious-ideological struggle between the two “biblical” directions. This is understandable, because the later came to level some of the previously accepted religious norms: such as circumcision, forbidden food, worship images, etc. The struggle “for the souls” of people led to their separation into two institutes of religions – Judaism and Christianity, despite a single platform of formation – the Torah.

Over time, the Quran was sent down to humanity, declaring the truth of what had been revealed earlier. And since the one sent before was subjected to distortion, and so the truth was shown in different ways, the last divine message was met with disapproval:

And the Jews or the Christians will never be pleased with you until you follow their community. Say, “Indeed, the guidance of God is the Guidance.” If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against God no patron or helper. (2:120)

The rejection of the latter message of the Creator is justified by the opinion of the exclusive status before the Creator:

But the Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of God and His beloved.”

Say, “Then why does He punish you for your trespasses?” Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the return. (5:18)

Such remarks beat on the ground all the ideas of exclusivity, and therefore on the attractiveness of the religious system. Moreover, the foundations of their ideologies were shaky when fundamental deviations from the truth were pointed out:

The Jews say, “Ezra is the son of God”;

And the Christians say, “The anointed is the son of God.”

That is their statement from their mouths like the saying of those who closed themselves earlier! God will strike them, wherever they say falsehood! (9:30)

An additional “irritant” for both religious doctrines was an indication that the last divine message refers to the common ideological founder for all – Abraham:

Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, humble and he was not ascribing partners to God! (3:67)

The consequence of a negative attitude towards the last Prescription of the Creator was the following instruction to the believers:

O you who have believed! Do not take the Jews and the Christians as patrons. They are patrons of one another. And whoever takes them as patrons, he is one of them. Indeed, God guides not the obscurant people! (5:51)

However, the Creator draws attention of the believers to the fact that not everyone is in the same relation to them:

…and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. (5:82)

The hatred of the Jews was evident from their insults not only to Muhammad, but to the Most High:

And the Jews say, “The hand of God is chained.” Chained are their hands, and cursed are they for what they say. Rather, both His hands are extended; He spends however He wills. And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord will surely increase many of them in transgression and closed nature. And We have cast among them animosity and hatred until the day of standing before God. Every time they kindled the fire of war, God extinguished it. And they strive throughout the land with corruption, and God does not like those who spread corruption. (5:64)

We have before us the causes of the contradictions between the followers of the Quran and the Jews. These reasons are not fundamental; rather they are caused by the struggle for primacy in the doctrinal space. Only artificially created human barriers hinder the equal relationship between Muslims and Jews.