Background of the Misguidance of the Children of Israel: What Is the Difference Between Jews and the Children of Israel?
The Children of Israel are one of the most frequently mentioned groups in the Quran. Although the followers of Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) are referred to as Jews today, the term “Children of Israel” historically referred to the followers of Prophet Moses and initially made up the early Jewish community. In the Quran, both terms are used to describe this group. The question then arises: Is the difference between Jews and the Children of Israel merely a matter of terminology, or does God attribute specific characteristics to each group? Is the distinction between them limited to a particular time, or does it persist today? Furthermore, with which of these two groups do modern-day Jews associate themselves?
In fact, the roots of the difference between Jews and the Children of Israel can be traced to the historical actions and changes this group has undergone over time.
The “Children of Israel” were praised or reprimanded by God based on their adherence to or deviation from the teachings of their prophet. As long as they followed their prophet, they were rewarded for their virtues or corrected for their shortcomings. However, at a certain point, when they deviated from the right path, becoming enamored with the material world and distancing themselves from the divine messengers, they went astray. This led to their rebellion and the adoption of new goals and ideals.
The ideals they sought to achieve required ignoring certain divine boundaries, and even resorting to the killing and persecution of prophets. Over time, a dangerous movement emerged from within this group, which the Quran refers to as “the Jews.” It is important to note that those followers of Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him), both in the past and present, who did not share such beliefs and did not engage in these actions, are not the focus of this article. In fact, the true followers of Prophet Moses, despite being associated with Judaism and sharing the same name and lineage as the Children of Israel, are regarded as part of the People of the Book, and as such, they are entitled to respect and their rights.
In this article, our aim is to examine the difference between Jews and the Children of Israel, and to highlight certain characteristics of the Children of Israel that led to this distinction. However, in order to better understand these factors, it is useful to take a look at the history of this group and how it formed and operated.
General History of the Children of Israel
The tribes or clans of the Children of Israel were the descendants of Prophet Jacob (Peace be upon him), who was also known as Israel, and thus they are the offspring of Prophet Isaac (Peace be upon him). They entered the region of Canaan (modern-day Palestine) through the migration of their ancestor, Prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him).
Initially, the group consisted of the children of Prophet Jacob and their families. Due to a famine in the region of Canaan during the time of Prophet Joseph (Peace be upon him), they migrated to Egypt. During Prophet Joseph’s rule, the Children of Israel enjoyed great prestige due to their religious devotion and their noble ancestry, being descendants of a prophet. However, after the death of Prophet Joseph and the Children of Israel’s neglect of the instructions he left regarding maintaining their religious identity, the growth of their population, and awaiting the promised savior of their time (Prophet Moses), they gradually lost their social standing in Egypt. Eventually, they faced oppression and attacks from the Pharaoh’s regime [1].
During the time of Prophet Joseph (Peace be upon him), the twelve tribes of the Children of Israel were a devout, religious, and united people. Prophet Joseph’s request from them was not only to preserve their religious identity and dignity as monotheists in Egypt, but also to grow in number and strength so that they would become a formidable force capable of challenging the Pharaoh’s power. This way, they could fulfill their historical responsibility by supporting the promised prophet and establishing God’s rule on earth. However, after the death of Prophet Joseph (Peace be upon him), things took a different turn. Due to the cultural assault by the Pharaoh’s regime on the religious identity of the Children of Israel and their failure to heed Prophet Joseph’s instructions, not only did their goals remain unachieved, but they also became oppressed by the Pharaohs. They were reduced to a subjugated, humiliated, and underdeveloped people. This slavery and degradation, inflicted by the Pharaohs, also played a role in shaping some of the later characteristics of the Children of Israel [2].
After the Coming of the Savior of the Children of Israel
The situation of the Children of Israel remained largely unchanged for about four hundred years after the time of Prophet Joseph (Peace be upon him), until the emergence of their promised savior, Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him). In fact, Prophet Moses not only had the responsibility of confronting Pharaoh, but also the task of freeing the Children of Israel from Pharaoh’s grip and organizing and uniting them. He sought to restore the lost willpower and courage of the Children of Israel, which had been weakened under Pharaoh’s control, and to strengthen their religious devotion while purifying them from the corrupting influences of living among idolaters. Only in this way could the scattered, defeated, dependent, corrupted, and cowardly Children of Israel be brought together and prepared for the establishment of a divine rule in the Holy Land under the leadership of Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him). For this reason, Prophet Moses took advantage of the nearly forty years of confronting Pharaoh. Through measures like instructing the Children of Israel to separate their homes from the Egyptians and build their dwellings together, he helped them break free from Pharaoh’s dominance. By commanding them to pray and strengthening their confidence through reliance on God’s power, Prophet Moses created the conditions for the Children of Israel to leave Egypt and fulfill God’s divine plans [3]. Like any other nation that experiences various ups and downs, the Children of Israel under Prophet Moses’ leadership exhibited both strengths and weaknesses, and accordingly, they were praised or reprimanded by God.
The Chosen People’s Changing Course
Although the Children of Israel were initially chosen because of their qualities and capabilities to establish a divine government and were blessed with unique gifts and numerous miracles, their reactions to God’s blessings and tests gradually led them away from their divine purpose. In fact, the beginning of their deviations and the distinction between Jews and the Children of Israel occurred after their departure from Egypt, during their period of training and empowerment. As long as they followed the commandments of Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) and acted in accordance with his instructions, they were approved by God. However, when they strayed from the guidance of their leader, Prophet Moses, weakened in their faith, and turned to false beliefs, they were reprimanded for their actions. Thus, their continued status as the Chosen People depended on their faith and their acceptance of the later prophets [4].
In truth, in the Quran those who claim dominion over the world through non-divine means and believe that God’s will is restricted by human actions are referred to as the “Jews”. According to this group’s beliefs, God has destined global dominion for the Jews, and those who oppose them have no place in this world. Furthermore, those who align with the Jews must serve them. In this sense, the Jews described in the Quran have an ideology that mirrors the current thinking of Zionism. Thus, although the Quran does not draw a clear, distinct line between Jews and the Children of Israel, by examining the historical context and content of these verses, we can conclude that the Children of Israel, after deviating in belief, engaging in idol worship, drinking alcohol, and other misdeeds, became the Jews and this is what led to the distinction between Jews and the Children of Israel.
The Factors Behind the Decline of the Children of Israel
The Quran refrains from condemning the Jewish race entirely and instead directs its focus toward the sinful and disgraceful actions of this group. It even speaks positively of a faction within the Children of Israel that did not join the corrupt majority and submitted to faith and truth [5]. Several characteristics of the Children of Israel are mentioned in the Quran, some of which relate to the time of Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him), while others laid the foundation for later deviations and the distinction between Jews and the Children of Israel. Below, we will highlight some of these significant factors.
The Inclination Toward Idol Worship or Worshiping the Golden Calf
Despite the prolonged efforts of Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) to guide the Children of Israel, Surah Al-A’raf, verse 138, refers to a time when the Children of Israel crossed the sea and saw a people engaged in idol worship. Upon witnessing this, they requested Prophet Moses to provide them with a god like the one the other people had.
Additionally, the delay of Prophet Moses’ return from Mount Sinai and his absence from his people led the majority of the Children of Israel, who appeared to be monotheists, to gather around a golden calf and adopt it as their deity. In this way, many of the Children of Israel disregarded their prophet’s forty years of efforts to promote monotheism and prepare them for the establishment of a divine government. In his absence, they resorted to the worship of the calf.
Variety-Seeking as a Factor in Decline
Despite the fact that the Children of Israel were blessed with divine favors like manna and quails after their departure from Egypt, they requested variety in the blessings from Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him), creating unnecessary needs for goods that were not essential in their daily lives. As a result, this desire for variety led to a shortage of resources, which eventually caused them to fall into debt, bringing them back into a state of subjugation.
Interestingly, the undesirable consequences of their desire for variety later led the Jews to consider using diversity and luxury as tools to weaken their enemies. They adopted this as a strategy to advance the goals of Zionist Judaism, turning it into a means to achieve their political aims.
Pointless and Excuse-Seeking Questions
Another negative characteristic of the Children of Israel was their tendency to engage in pointless and baseless questioning. These questions only served to complicate issues and deviate them from their main purpose. The Quran addresses the story of the sacrifice of a cow in Surah Al-Baqarah, where the Children of Israel, through their unreasonable demands and futile questions, turned a simple matter into a complex and difficult one. Actually, the practice of raising groundless questions is something that was later used, alongside exaggerations and misrepresentations, as a psychological and media tool by Zionist Jews to overcome their enemies and manipulate public perception.
Materialism and the Pursuit of Comfort
At the very moment when the long efforts of Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) were about to come to fruition—specifically, when the Children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land—they turned away from his command. Instead of obeying his instruction to fight the Amalekites and take the land, they chose a life of ease and comfort. Despite all the experiences and skills that they had gained after leaving Egypt, this decision led to forty years of wandering in the desert [6].
According to verse twenty-four of Surah Al-Ma’idah, when Moses instructed them to enter the sacred land, they made an unusual request: They asked him to go into battle with his Lord while they stayed behind, waiting for the outcome. This surprising response reflected their deep attachment to material comfort and worldly life—a tendency widely observed among many of them throughout history. This materialistic mindset also played a role in encouraging practices such as usury, which were motivated by the desire for wealth accumulation. These behaviors represent one of the key aspects in the difference between Jews and the Children of Israel, as the distinction often lies in the spiritual disobedience and worldly priorities that emerged later in their history [7].
Racism
Although the Quran, in some verses, mentions that the Children of Israel were favored over others, this favor was conditional. It was tied to their obedience to God and to Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him), and to their efforts in upholding the divine law. Their later deviation can be traced back to their refusal to follow Moses as their appointed leader.
This divine favor was not based on their race or lineage but on their righteous actions at a particular time. The Quran clearly states that piety—not ancestry—is the true measure of a person’s worth [8]. However, when the Children of Israel began to adopt racist views and believed themselves inherently superior, they fell into further moral and spiritual decline to keep their power. This sense of superiority led to a shift in power away from divine guidance, which in turn opened the door to further corruption—such as lying, idol worship, and distracting society with temptations like alcohol, lust, and the pursuit of wealth [9].
Rebellion and Disobedience
The Quran repeatedly highlights the rebellious nature and disobedience of the Children of Israel. One clear example is found in verse ninety-three of Surah Al-Baqarah, where their refusal to obey divine commands is condemned. This pattern of disobedience appears in many situations—except when their own lives were in danger. In such cases, they would temporarily comply, but otherwise, they resisted guidance.
As stated in verse seventy of Surah Al-Ma’idah, God describes a troubling trait among the Jews: “Whenever a prophet brought them something they did not desire, they denied some and killed others.”
Deception and Distortion
One of the major reasons the Children of Israel are reproached in the Quran is for their distortion of God’s word. The Quran openly criticizes this behavior, stating that “they wrote texts with their own hands and falsely claimed they were from God—all to gain a small worldly benefit” [10]. Some of the teachings that were altered include laws related to murder, retribution (qisas), and even stories of prophets such as Jacob, David, and Solomon (Peace be upon them) [11].
Breaking Covenants
The Children of Israel repeatedly broke the promises and agreements they had made—especially those involving the Muslim community. Among the most well-known examples are the betrayals of the Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayzah tribes. These groups violated their treaties, which had prohibited them from aiding the polytheists or working against the Muslims.
Their disloyalty went far beyond political agreements. Not only did they fail to uphold their covenant with God, but they also actively concealed divine truths. Even after recognizing the truth of God’s revelations, they deliberately altered His words. Their stubbornness reached such extremes that they openly declared: “We have heard God’s words, and we disobey [12].”
In this article, we explored the difference Between Jews and the Children of Israel. We explained that the Children of Israel were once regarded as the Chosen People as long as they had faith and obeyed the commands of their prophets and leaders. However, when they abandoned divine principles and gave in to the causes of spiritual and moral decline, they lost that privileged status. In this way, some of them became the reason for the distinction between the Jews and the children of Israel. In fact, the “Jews” referred to in the Quran are not the same as those who are considered followers of prophet Moses (Peace be upon him). The Jews in the Quranic context are those who, in terms of both thought and action, share many similarities with the movement we today recognize as Zionism.
References
[1]. Exodus 1:6–11 (ESV).
[2]. Titus Flavius Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. Trans. William Whiston, Book II, Chapter 6, Sections 1–2 (on Joseph’s honor and subsequent oppression).
[3]. Heinrich Graetz, History of the Jews. vol. 1, e-artnow, 2021, p 29-30 (epub version).
[4]. Joel S. Kaminsky, “Can Election Be Forfeited?” in The Call of Abraham – Essays on the Election of Israel in Honor of Jon D. Levenson, ed. Joel S. Kaminsky & Gary A. Anderson (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2013): 44–66.
[5]. Quran 7: 159.
[6]. “Forty Years Wanderings of the Israelites in the Wilderness.” Nave’s Topical Bible. BibleHub, 2023.
Heinrich Graetz, History of the Jews. vol. 1, e-artnow, 2021, p 27-30 (epub version).
[7]. Werner Sombart, The Jews and Modern Capitalism. 2001, p 143-155, 167-176, 218-224.
[8]. Quran 2: 247.
[9]. David Duke. “Jewish Professor Boasts of Jewish Pornography Used as a Weapon Against Gentiles.” 2023.
[10]. Quran 2: 79.
[11]. Maulana M. Rahmatullah Kairanvi, Muhammad Wali Raazi, Izhar-ul-Haq. London: Ta-ha Publishers Ltd, 1989, pp. 22, 303, 405.
Ibn Hazm. Al-Fasl fi al-Milal wa al-Nihal (The Book of Religions and Sects). Trans. A. S. A. S. A. Hassan.
[12]. Quran 2: 93, 4: 46.
