The jews call their state "Israel",the Quraan refered to the jews as children of "Israel" 1400 years ago

· 28 Jumada I 1423 AH1 min readFatwa 6268English

Question

The jews call their state "Israel",the Quraan refered to the jews as children of "Israel" 1400 years ago.Why have they named there state after the exact Quraanic reference ? Please give detailed explanation.

Answer

Israel is a Hebrew word, the equivalent of Abdullah in Arabic, which means the 'servant of Allah'.

This was the title given to Hadhrat Ya'coob (Alayhis salaam) by the Jews. He had 12 sons by which the Qur'aan makes reference to as 'al-Asbaat' (12 sons of Ya'coob) (Baqar Aayat136). The 12 tribes of Israel emerged from the progeny of these 12 sons. Hence, they are addressed in the Qur'aan as 'Banu Israaeel' (children of Israel, i.e. Ya'coob (Alayhis salaam)). So, it is clear that the Jews have been synonymous with the name Israel since before Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), thus, before the revelation of the Qur' aan.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Answered by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, please ask a Mufti. Report an issue

For corrections or mistakes, please email us at fatawasa786@gmail.com.