Concerning Jews

December 2020

Muhammad tried to conciliate the Jews. He related Islam to Abraham, associated the patriarch and his son Ishmael with the Ka’ba; a handful of them became Muslims but the Jews as a body remained aloof. Gradually Muhammad was forced to the conclusion that the Jews were hostile towards him. It was plain that they resented their suggestion that he, an ummi, an unlearned fellow, could be in the line of the proph ets. And so there arose a bitter conflict. The Jews criticized, and poured scorn on Muhammad’s claims, while he sought to bring them into discredit.

Here we list hadiths that refer to certain Jews

Conversion of a Jewish boy

> “Narrated Anas: A young Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet and he became sick. So the Prophet went to visit him. He sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islam. The boy looked at his father, who was sitting there; the latter told him to obey Abu-l-Qasim and the boy embraced Islam. The Prophet came out saying: Praises be to Allah who saved the boy from the Hell-fire. (Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 438)

Jews being punished in their graves

> “Narrated Abi Aiyub: Once the Prophet went out after sunset and heard a dreadful voice, and said, The Jews are being punished in their graves. (Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 457)

Jews cursed for selling and eating fat

> “Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, May Allah curse the Jews, because Allah made fat illegal for them but they sold it and ate its price.” (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 34, Number 427)

> “Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: I heard Allah’s Apostle, in the year of the Conquest of Mecca, saying, Allah and His Apostle made illegal the trade of alcohol, dead animals, pigs and idols. The people asked, O Allah’s Apostle! What about the fat of dead animals, for it was used for greasing the boats and the hides; and people use it for lights? He said, No, it is illegal. Allah’s Apostle further said, May Allah curse the Jews, for Allah made the fat (of animals) illegal for them, yet they melted the fat and sold it and ate its price. (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 34, Number 438)

Jewess poisoned Muhammad

> “Narrated Anas bin Malik: A Jewess brought a poisoned (cooked) sheep for the Prophet who ate from it. She was brought to the Prophet and he was asked, Shall we kill her? He said, No. I continued to see the effect of the poison on the palate of the mouth of Allah’s Apostle. (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 47, Number 786)

Jews changed into rats

> “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, A group of Israelites were lost. Nobody knows what they did. But I do not see them except that they were cursed and changed into rats, (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 54, Number 524)

Jews invited to accept Islam or be exiled

> “Narrated Abu Huraira: While we were in the mosque, Allah’s Apostle came out and said, Let us proceed to the Jews. So we went out with him till we came to Bait-al-Midras. The Prophet stood up there and called them, saying, O assembly of Jews! Surrender to Allah (embrace Islam) and you will be safe! They said, You have conveyed Allah’s message, O Aba-al-Qasim Allah’s Apostle then said to them, That is what I want; embrace Islam and you will be safe. They said, You have conveyed the message, O Aba-al-Qasim. Allah’s Apostle then said to them, That is what I want, and repeated his words for the third time and added, Know that the earth is for Allah and I want to exile you from this land, so whoever among you has property he should sell it, otherwise, know that the land is for Allah and His Apostle. (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 92, Number 447)

Dialogue with Jews

> “Narrated Anas bin Malik: A Jew passed by Allah’s Apostle and said, As-Samu ‘Alaika. Allah’s Apostle said in reply, Wa ‘Alaika. Allah’s Apostle then said to his companions, Do you know what he (the Jew) has said? He said, ‘As-Samu ‘Alaika.’ They said, O Allah’s Apostle! Shall we kill him? The Prophet, said, No. When the people of the Book greet you, say: ‘Wa ‘Alaikum.’ (Muslims comment that As-Samu Alaika means death be upon you’. Notice its similarity to the greeting, As-salamu’Alaika Peace be upon you). Wa Alaika or Wa Alikum means And upon you. (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84, Number 60)

> “Narrated Abu Huraira: When Khaibar was conquered, Allah’s Apostle was presented with a poisoned (roasted) sheep. Allah’s Apostle said, Collect for me all the Jews present in this area. (When they were gathered) Allah’s Apostle said to them, I am going to ask you about something; will you tell me the truth? They replied, Yes, O Abal-Qasim! Allah’s Apostle said to them, Who is your father? They said, Our father is so-and-so. Allah’s Apostle said, You have told a lie. for your father is so-and-so, They said, No doubt, you have said the truth and done the correct thing. He again said to them, If I ask you about something; will you tell me the truth? They replied, Yes, O Abal-Qasim! And if we should tell a lie you will know it as you have known it regarding our father, Allah’s Apostle then asked, Who are the people of the (Hell) Fire? They replied, We will remain in the (Hell) Fire for a while and then you (Muslims) will replace us in it Allah’s Apostle said to them. ”You will abide in it with ignominy. By Allah, we shall never replace you in it at all. Then he asked them again, If I ask you something, will you tell me the truth? They replied, Yes. He asked. Have you put the poison in this roasted sheep? They replied, Yes, He asked, What made you do that? They replied, We intended to learn if you were a liar in which case we would be relieved from you, and if you were a prophet then it would not harm you. (Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 669)

Hadiths Concerning the Corruption of the Scriptures

Mo st Muslims profess that the Bible now in circulation is not trustworthy, on the ground that it has been tampered with. This objection, as commonly stated, has nothing to do with the results of textual criticism, but reflects the traditional attitude which we read about in the Quran and Hadith.

The Quran the newest and latest revelation which has not been distorted by the ‘People of the Book’

>” Narrated Ubaidullah: Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Why do you ask the people of the scripture about anything while your Book (Quran) which has been revealed to Allah’s Apostle is newer and the latest? You read it pure, undistorted and unchanged, and Allah has told you that the people of the scripture (Jews and Christians) changed their scripture and distorted it, and wrote the scripture with their own hands and said, ‘It is from Allah,’ to sell it for a little gain. Does not the knowledge which has come to you prevent you from asking them about anything? No, by Allah, we have never seen any man from them asking you regarding what has been revealed to you!” (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 92, Number 461)

> “Narrated ‘Ubaidullah bin ‘Abdullah: ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas said, “O the group of Muslims! How can you ask the people of the Scriptures about anything while your Book which Allah has revealed to your Prophet contains the most recent news from Allah and is pure and not distorted? Allah has told you that the people of the Scriptures have changed some of Allah’s Books and distorted it and wrote something with their own hands and said, ‘This is from Allah, so as to have a minor gain for it. Won’t the knowledge that has come to you stop you from asking them? No, by Allah, we have never seen a man from them asking you about that (the Book Al-Quran) which has been revealed to you. (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 614)

People of the Book believe some parts of their book but not the whole

> “Narrated Ibn Abbas: They, the people of the Scriptures, divided this Scripture into parts, believing in some portions of it and disbelieving the others. (Bukhari Volume 5, Book 58, Number 281)

A One-eyed Jew distorts the Torah

> ” Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: A Jew and Jewess were brought to the Prophet on a charge of committing an illegal sexual intercourse. The Prophet asked the Jews, “What do you (usually) do with them?” They said, “We blacken their faces and disgrace them.” He said, “Bring here the Torah and recite it, if you are truthful.” They (fetched it and) came and asked a one-eyed man to recite. He went on reciting till he reached a portion on which he put his hand. The Prophet said, “Lift up your hand!” He lifted his hand up and behold, there appeared the verse of Ar-Rajm (stoning of the adulterers to death). Then he said, “O Muhammad! They should be stoned to death but we conceal this Divine Law among ourselves.” Then the Prophet ordered that the two sinners be stoned to death and, and they were stoned to death, and I saw the man protecting the woman from the stones. (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 633)

Jews relate the Torah in Arabic

> “Narrated Abu Huraira: The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah’s Apostle said (to the Muslims). Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, ‘We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.’ (Bukhari Volume 9, Book 92, Number 460)