Aslam

Praise be to Allah.

The Jews did not originate in Egypt; rather they originated

in Palestine, but Egypt was one of the significant stages in the history of

the Jews. That is because the Jewish religion began at the time of the

Prophet of Allah Ya‘qoob (peace be upon him), who was born and lived in the

holy land, and was granted the honour of Prophethood there. Allah blessed

him with many children, and part of his story is what Allah, may He be

glorified and exalted, tells us of in detail in Soorah Yoosuf, when the

brothers of Yoosuf (peace be upon him) plotted against their brother. The

story led to him becoming a governor in Egypt, and ended with Ya‘qoob (peace

be upon him) and his sons coming to Egypt and settling there under the

auspices of Yoosuf (peace be upon him), as Allah, may He be glorified and

exalted, tells us (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then, when

they entered unto Yoosuf (Joseph), he betook his parents to himself and

said: ‘Enter Egypt, if Allah wills, in security’”

[Yoosuf 12:99].

They did not leave Egypt until they left with the Prophet of

Allah Moosa, and after wandering in the wilderness for forty years, until

they entered the holy land of Palestine, where they were ruled by Sulaymaan

(peace be upon him) and where they had a glorious history.

The Muslims and Jews do not differ concerning this general

history. In fact the Torah – as it exists in the print editions today –

clearly states the connection of Ya‘qoob (Jacob – peace be upon him) – also

known as Israa’eel or Israel – to the land of Kan‘aan (Canaan), the land of

Palestine, as it says in the Torah:

“And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings, in

the land of Canaan”

Genesis 31:1.

We referred to a number of historical books that deal with

the history of the Jews or the Children of Israel, and we found that they

are unanimously agreed on this historical summary, despite the fact that

these books based their information on so many sources. But this overview is

proven and confirmed.

See:

Al-‘Arab wa’l-Yahood fi’t-Tareekh

by Dr Ahmad as-Soosah, Dar al-‘Arabi

Al-‘Arab wa’-s-Saamiyyoon wa’l-‘Ibraaniyyoon wa Bani

Israa’eel wa’l-Yahood by

Dr Ahmad Dawood, Dar al-Mustaqbal

Tareekh Filasteen al-Qadeem

by Zafar Islam Khan, Dar an-Naqqaash

We will quote here a medium-length overview of Jewish

history, by Dr Mahmoud Qadah, who said:

Our history begins with Israa’eel (Israel) – namely Ya‘qoob

ibn Is-haaq ibn Ibraaheem al-Khaleel (Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham the

Close Friend of Allah – peace be upon them all) – who grew up and lived in

the land of the Canaanites (Palestine), who had twelve sons from four wives,

as follows:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun – their

mother was Leah

Joseph (Yoosuf – peace be upon him) and Benjamin (Binyameen)

– their mother was Rachel (Raaheel)

Dan and Naphtali – their mother was Bilhah, the handmaid of

Rachel

Gad and Asher – their mother was Zilpah, the handmaid of

Leah

The twelve sons were the origin of the Israelite tribes.

Then comes the famous story of Joseph (Yoosuf – peace be upon

him) with his brothers and their father Jacob (Ya‘qoob – peace be upon him),

and how Israel (Jacob) and his sons moved to live in the land of Egypt,

where they were honoured and respected under the auspices of Joseph (peace

be upon him).

After the deaths of Jacob and Joseph (peace be upon them),

with the passage of time and the succession of kings, the situation of the

Children of Israel in Egypt changed from one of honour and respect to one of

humiliation and ignominy, because the Pharaoh of Egypt persecuted and

enslaved the Israelites. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of

the meaning):

“And

(remember) when We rescued you from Firauns (Pharaoh) people, who were

afflicting you with the worst torment, killing your sons and letting your

women live. And in that was a great trial from your Lord”

[al-A‘raaf 7:141]

Then Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, sent Moses and

Aaron (peace be upon them), the two sons of Amram son of Kohath son of Levi

son of Jacob (‘Imraan ibn Qahaat ibn Laawi ibn Ya‘qoob – peace be upon him)

to Pharaoh and his people, supported with miracles, to call them to believe

in Allah alone, and to stop persecuting the Children of Israel. But Pharaoh

and his people rejected the message, disobeyed Allah and disbelieved in Him

and his signs. So Allah commanded His Messenger Moses to depart from Egypt

with the Children of Israel. Pharaoh pursued them with his troops, and Allah

drowned them in the sea, but He delivered Moses and his people into the land

of Sinai.

The people of Moses (peace be upon him), the Children of

Israel – with whom he departed from Egypt – had lived in a state of

servitude, humiliation and idolatry for many years. Their beliefs had become

corrupted, their souls had been tainted with evil, and their resolve have

weakened. Their stubbornness, laziness, fatalism, carelessness and

disobedience to the command of Allah and His Messenger became obvious…

Despite the many signs and miracles that Allah, may He be glorified and

exalted, bestowed upon the people of Moses, they showed an attitude of

stubbornness and arrogance, and refused to believe unless they saw Allah

with their own eyes. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the

meaning):

“And

(remember) when you said: ‘O Moosa (Moses)! We shall never believe in you

till we see Allah plainly.’ But you were seized with a thunderbolt

(lightning) while you were looking.

Then We raised you up after your death, so that you might be

grateful”

[al-Baqarah 2:55]

“The people

of the Scripture (Jews) ask you to cause a book to descend upon them from

heaven. Indeed they asked Moosa (Moses) for even greater than that, when

they said: ‘Show us Allah in public,’ but they were struck with thunder clap

and lightning for their wickedness. Then they worshipped the calf even after

clear proofs, evidences, and signs had come to them. (Even) so We forgave

them. And We gave Moosa (Moses) a clear proof of authority”

[an-Nisa’ 4:153].

After these miracles and clear signs that Allah bestowed upon

the Children of Israel, when Moses (peace be upon him) went to meet his Lord

and receive the Torah on Mount Sinai, and they thought that he was taking

too long to return to them, they reverted to what they were familiar with of

idolatry in Egypt, and they took the calf for worship.

They continued to be impatient lazy, demanding, stubborn and

rebellious, until they said what Allah, may He be glorified and exalted,

tells us about in the Holy Qur’an, where He says (interpretation of the

meaning):

“And

(remember) when you said, ‘O Moosa (Moses)! We cannot endure one kind of

food. So invoke your Lord for us to bring forth for us of what the earth

grows, its herbs, its cucumbers, its Foom (wheat or garlic), its lentils and

its onions.’ He said, ‘Would you exchange that which is better for that

which is lower? Go you down to any town and you shall find what you want!’

And they were covered with humiliation and misery, and they drew on

themselves the Wrath of Allah. That was because they used to disbelieve the

Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah

and killed the Prophets wrongfully. That was because they disobeyed and used

to transgress the bounds (in their disobedience to Allah, i.e. commit crimes

and sins)”

[al-Baqarah 2:61].

Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, instructed them to

enter the holy land (Bayt al-Maqdis – Jerusalem – and the land of goodness)

and promised them victory, and Moses asked his people to do that. Allah, may

He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And

(remember) when Moosa (Moses) said to his people: ‘O my people! Remember the

Favour of Allah to you, when He made Prophets among you, made you kings, and

gave you what He had not given to any other among the Alameen (mankind and

jinns, in the past).

‘O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has

assigned to you, and turn not back (in flight) for then you will be returned

as losers.’

They said: ‘O Moosa (Moses)! In it (this holy land) are a

people of great strength, and we shall never enter it, till they leave it;

when they leave, then we will enter.’

Two men of those who feared (Allah and) on whom Allah had

bestowed His Grace (they were Yoosha (Joshua) and Kalab (Caleb)) said:

‘Assault them through the gate, for when you are in, victory will be yours,

and put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed.’

They said: ‘O Moosa (Moses)! We shall never enter it as long

as they are there. So go you and your Lord and fight you two, we are sitting

right here.’

He (Moosa (Moses)) said: ‘O my Lord! I have power only over

myself and my brother, so separate us from the people who are the Fasiqoon

(rebellious and disobedient to Allah)!’

(Allah) said: ‘Therefore it (this holy land) is forbidden to

them for forty years; in distraction they will wander through the land. So

be not sorrowful over the people who are the Fasiqoon (rebellious and

disobedient to Allah).’”

[al-Maa’idah 5:21-26].

Therefore Allah decreed that they should wander in the

wilderness of Sinai for forty years, constantly travelling and not finding

their way out of it, until that disobedient, careless generation that had

left Egypt with Moses died, from whom he had encountered indescribable

offence and disobedience. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says,

describing the offence they caused to Moses (interpretation of the meaning):

“And (remember) when Moosa (Moses) said to his people: ‘O my

people! Why do you hurt me while you know certainly that I am the Messenger

of Allah to you?’ So when they turned away (from the Path of Allah), Allah

turned their hearts away (from the Right Path). And Allah guides not the

people who are Fasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)”

[as-Saff 61:5].

Aaron died, followed by Moses (peace be upon them both) in

the wilderness, and Allah brought forth among the Children of Israel Yoosha‘

ibn Noon (Joshua son of Nun), the servant of Moses (peace be upon them

both), as a Prophet and successor to Moses (peace be upon him).

When their sojourn in the wilderness ended, Joshua (peace be

upon him) brought the Children of Israel out to Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem),

which they besieged and Allah granted them the conquest thereof. Allah, may

He be glorified and exalted, commanded them, when they entered the holy land

(interpretation of the meaning):

“And

(remember) when We said: ‘Enter this town (Jerusalem) and eat bountifully

therein with pleasure and delight wherever you wish, and enter the gate in

prostration (or bowing with humility) and say: Forgive us, and We shall

forgive you your sins and shall increase (reward) for the good-doers.’

But those who did wrong changed the word from that which had

been told to them for another, so We sent upon the wrong-doers Rijzan (a

punishment) from the heaven because of their rebelling against Allah’s

Obedience.”

[al-Baqarah 2:58].

After they entered the holy land, Joshua (peace be upon him)

began to complete the conquest thereof, and he divided the conquered lands

among the twelve Israelite tribes.

After the death of Joshua (peace be upon him), leadership of

the Children of Israel was taken over by their judges.

End quote from Majallat al-Jaami‘ah al-Islamiyyah

(issue no. 107, p. 246-253)

And Allah knows best.