The Zionist Qur’an Condemns All Who Oppose Jewish Return to the Land of Israel

If there was one word you could use to describe the Qur’an, few would suggest that this word would be “Zionist.” In spite of that assumption, however, the text penned from oral transmission of sermons (khutbat) orated by Muhammad are incredibly Zionist, and thus, by extension, it is only reasonable to say that Muhammad himself was too.

We can arrive at the above conclusion regardless of whether one approaches the Qur’an as a work of literature or Divine Inspiration (Ilham) and Revelation (Wahy).

This may seem a strange assertion, for a few significant reasons. First, it is taught by the dominant paradigms of Islamicate Orthodoxy, that Muhammad was restoring a “lost religion” that Judaism is seen as a deviation from.

As such, it is believed that Judaism is in contradiction to this religion, and is thus separate from it. Furthermore, and consistent with this dominant Islamicate view, it is taught that the Qur’an says a lot of really negative things about the Jewish people. One need look no further than any one of the mainstream English translations of the Qur’an to see clear evidence of this.

It is far beyond the scope of this work to address all of the above, but needless to say, I would not be writing the article at hand, had I not already done so elsewhere. All of these topics, and many more relevant to them, are discussed in the first of my masters theses, later published in People of the Book: What the Religions Named in the Qur’an Can Tell Us About the Earliest Understanding of “Islam” (2012). For those seriously interested in an answer to all of those contentions, I would highly recommend reading this work. Particular attention should be paid to the sections on The Religious Milieu of the Qur’anic Audience and Polemic Translations of “Those Who Turn” as “Jews”, as well as the analysis of Muhammad’s wording in the Constitution of Medinah regarding his followers, the Muhajirun (Gerim, Immigrants or “Converts” in Hebrew) being of an Ummatan Wahidatan – One Religious Nation – with the Jewish People.

Orthodox Muslim (or mutaslim, rather) dogma maintains that the Qur’an abrogated previous scriptures and that “Islam” is a proper noun for a separate and unique religion. In actuality, Al-Islam is nothing more than the masdar of the verbal aslama – a word barely mentioned in the Qur’an. These things, like the deliberate mistranslation of negatively used verbal references to “turning away” into the noun of “Jews”, are hardly accidental. They are part of a deliberate and highly-successful attempt by the scholars of the Muslim world to promote antisemitism, and rationalize the centuries of antisemitic persecution and pogroms against the Jewish people by the Caliphate.

Such translatory obfuscations are hardly limited to the above. There are numerous overtly and extremely Zionist references to the Children of Israel being assigned, by Allah, the Land of Israel as residence (5:20-26), as an eternal “inheritance” from Allah to the Children of Israel (7:136-137; 26:52-59; et al.). In fact, therein, it is said that the Land of Israel is an “inheritance” (wa-‘awrathna al-Qawma) for the Children of Israel, who had been oppressed, and were “Raised to Stand Up” (al-Qawma).

Interestingly, the Qur’an here specifies that the Land of Israel inherited was both to the East. This would seem to indicate the Land of Israel on the Jordanian side of the river today, as well as to the West (Mashariq al-Ardh wa Magharibaha). If so, then this is a very familiar reference to Sefer Berashit, referencing Eretz Yisrael Hashlamah, on both the Eastern and Western regions of the Jordan River (Genesis 15:18-21).

We see this as well in one particularly interesting passage, wherein the two exiles from the Land of Israel are mentioned, and it is explained that if the Jewish People decide to return after the destruction of the Second Temple, then the Divine Powers, which we call Elohim in Hebrew, will return in protection with us.  Furthermore, it explains that all who oppose us in returning will be opposed by Allah and those Divine Protective Powers, and will in fact be assigned to a “Prison in Hell,” as we will see.

Muhammad’s Admonition Against Racists “Raised With the `Arabs of Ignorance”

These things are not “lost in translation,” they are deliberately hidden. In the passage to be examined below, we find an even more audacious translation of  `alaykum or “upon you all” being rendered as “raised against you.” Examples like this show beyond any doubt that the translators in question are deliberately contorting the Qur’an to fit their `Asabiyah (racism) and Wataniyah (nationalism). And what does Ja`far as-Sadiq say that his great, great, great grandfather Muhammad, said about `Asabiyyah?

Whoso­ever possesses in his heart `asabiyyah, even in the quantity of a mustard seed, Allah will raise him on the Day of Resurrection with the `Arabs (أَعْرَابِ) of the [Age of] Jahiliyyah (Ignorance).

 مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ حَبَّةٌ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ عَصَبِيَّةٍ، بَعَثَهُ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ أَعْرَابِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ

Naturally, translators never render the word `Araab here as “Arabs.” Instead, they usually add qualifiers like “the Desert `Arabs” or “Beduins.” I have even had `Arab Muslims tell me “there is no plural for `Arab in `Arabic.” This has become a common popular misconception in the Modern Arab world, in their attempt to dodge such critiques of `Arab racism and the like from Muhammad, his family and progeny, as well as the Qur’an itself (see chapter IV of my aforementioned thesis).

Does this come as a surprise to you? Once you understand these deliberate obfuscations and mistranslations to prop up Arab racism and nationalism, then you will realize that everything in Islamicate history that is anti-Jewish was borne of the Caliphate itself, in order to distance the Qur’an from its roots as midrash to a miliue of Mizrachi Jews sects in the era following the fall of the Himyarite Yemeni Jewish Empire.

The Qur’an says that `Arabs are worst in disbelief (kufr) and hypocrisy (nifaq) (9:97) and that they should refrain from calling themselves “Believers” or Mu’minin (the common historical self-designation, at the time, by the Jewish People for fellow-practicing Jews (Ma’minim, in Hebrew). Instead, it explains, they should only call themselves muslimin – essentially Noachide gerei toshav – as Iman (Emunah, in Hebrew), has not yet entered into their hearts (49:14).

The Qur’an Says Allah Will Destroy Our Enemies When We Return to Israel

Perhaps the most deliberately contorted translations in all of the Qur’an are to be found in Surat al-Isra’ (17:4-8) – which is commonly rendered “The Night Journey.” The term Isra’, however, is clearly the first half of “Israel.” This is a clear reference to Muhammad claiming a similar visionary ascent as that of Ya`qov son of Yitzchaq – Kabbalistically, even, up the Sullam Ya`qov or “Jacob’s Ladder.”

The translations of this passage in all English renderings I have examined, are incredibly anti-Jewish. It might then strike the reader as odd that the `Arabic of these ayat do not reflect one word of such disparagement. The Children of Israel are said to have sinned twice, turning away from the Torah and Ha’Shem Ha’Eloah (Al-Ilah, or “Allah” in Arabic). In Yahadut, Judaism, we agree. Because we turned away temporarily, our enemies were able to overtake us. The Qur’an then tells us that if we hearken to the Torah, we will be able to return to the Land and if and when we do, we will be protected and our enemies cursed and crushed.

These are the words of the Qur’an, not mine. The Qur’an is far more Zionist than I personally feel comfortable with. But this does not give me license to water the Qur’an down and make it sound more like the peacenik that I am by nature (unless forced to be otherwise in defense of myself or other innocents). Unfortunately, the Muslim Ummah does not realize that they do not have such license either, to contort the Qur’an – in tafsir and translation – to suit what they yearn to hear.

The way I translate the passage is as follows. I have translated this in accordance with the literal roots and cognates of some Qur’anic terms with no Arabic precedence, and otherwise consistent with the usage of such terms, as they are used elsewhere in the Qur’an – in non-Jewish-related passages.

And We foretold and fulfilled (waqadhayna) for the Children of Israel in the Bible (Kitab) that you will become morally corrupt (latuf’sidunna) in the Land twice (marratayni). And [then] surely you will reach Great (Kabiran) Elevation and Exaltedness (`Uluwwan).

وَقَضَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَتُفۡسِدُنَّ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَّتَيۡنِ وَلَتَعۡلُنَّ عُلُوّٗا كَبِيرٗا

Thus, when the first of these promised deadlines (wa`du) came about (jaa’) We raised upon you all (`alaykum) `Ibadan – Servants of Ours: Those Virtuous Men (24:22), Near of Kin (9:113), Having No Physical Desire (24:31), those who have Vision (24:22) possessing Great Strength (28:76) – Men of Understanding (38:29; 39:18, et al), Those With Wings (35:1) (Uli).

فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمۡ عِبَادٗا لَّنَآ أُوْلِي 

And then entered [new invading] inhabitants with Military Might (Basin), Severe Ones (Shadidin [subject to El Shaddai], Sheddim, Demons) and they entered the Innermost Part of their Homelands (Diyari) [of the regions of the Land allocated to the various Tribes of Israel].

بَأۡسٖ شَدِيدٖ فَجَاسُواْ خِلَٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِۚ

And it was a Promise and Deadline (wa`dan) Fulfilled (maf’ulan). Then We gave it back to you (Radadna lakumu) – you returned victorious (al-karrata) over them (`alayhim) [who removed you from the Land assigned] and We reinforced and fortified you, Blessing you all (amdadnaakum) with the wealth (bi-amwaalin) and children (wabanina) making you even more numerous [than before] (waja `alnaakum akthara nafiran)

وَكَانَ وَعۡدٗا مَّفۡعُولٗا ثُمَّ رَدَدۡنَا لَكُمُ ٱلۡكَرَّةَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَأَمۡدَدۡنَٰكُم بِأَمۡوَٰلٖ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ أَكۡثَرَ نَفِيرًا

If you do good then you do good for your very selves (ahsantum ahsantum li-anfusikum)

إِنۡ أَحۡسَنتُمۡ أَحۡسَنتُمۡ لِأَنفُسِكُمۡۖ

And if you do harm to yourselves [and bring] shame [upon yourselves] (7:20-27; 20:121) then the result will be [the same] promise that is a deadline (wa`du) [like] the last (al-akhirati) [time that will] sadden your faces. And [then] they will enter the Masjid [the Place of Prostration that is the Temple] just as they entered it the first time – to destroy it (waliyutabbiru). [For] what they conquered they destroyed (`alaw tatbiran). 

 وَإِنۡ أَسَأۡتُمۡ فَلَهَاۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ لِيَسُـُٔواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ وَلِيَدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٖ وَلِيُتَبِّرُواْ مَا عَلَوۡاْ تَتۡبِيرًا

[But] it may be [through Doing Works of Righteous, through the `Asaa, the `Oseh] that your Lord has Mercy upon you all (yarhamakum) [after the destruction of the Temple].

But if you return [to the Land] (`Udttum) then We – [the Divine] – too will return (`Ud’na). But for the Kaffirin, the Concealers of Truth, who know the Truth and Cover It Up [as Koferim Ba’Torah] We have made the Pit of Hell, Jahannam (Gehinnom) a Prison wherein they will be restrained, wrapped up (2:273) and held back (2:196) [from harming you this time – when We will be with you] (Hasiran).”

وَإِنۡ عُدتُّمۡ عُدۡنَاۚ وَجَعَلۡنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ حَصِيرًا

As you can see, the literal, suppressed meaning of the Qur’anic language here not only promises that if there is a return after the destruction of the Temple, then the Divine will be with us in the Land and all who oppose us to try to exile as before will be restrained from it and sent to Jahannam, the “Pit” of “Hell” or Gehinnom, as their recompense for opposing us.

What does this mean? It means that if Palestinian Muslims oppose us, or other Muslims throughout the world claiming to support Palestine at the expense of Jewish rights to return to our ancestral, Indigenous Land of Israel, for that matter, then they are not merely opposing the Jewish People, they are in fact defying the clearly-stated Will of Allah, as articulated and proclaimed in the Qur’an.

Could this be the reason why after over a century of massacring us for returning to join our existing Jewish communities in the Holy Land of Israel, and 75 years of trying to drive us into the Sea, neither the Palestinian people, nor the Arab nations who have fought with them against us, have been able to do anything but lose more and more ground?

Perhaps this is a Message from the Creator. Perhaps the answer to all of these Prayers for Palestine is a harsh and resounding “No!” from Allah. Perhaps the Children of Yishma`el would do good to “Listen to God,” as the very name of their progenitor instructs. Perhaps then, when there is true Submission to Allah, as indicated in the term Islam and Muslim, then Allah will allow the Palestinian People a chance to live in Salaam, Shalom, Peace with us, as Gerei Toshav “Muslimin” – allied residents in the Land.

As it is written: And Allah Knows Best.