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Palestine was predestined by God Almighty to be the land from which prophets and
messengers took upon their shoulders the banner of monotheism and called upon
their people to abide by it.
In its ancient history, Palestine witnessed models of leadership by many
prophets and their subsequent command over their people. These prophets waged
violent struggles for the sake of fixing the banner of truth on this holy land.
Before plunging into details, it is important to keep in mind the fact that
Muslims do believe in all prophets, that Muslims consider the heritage of all
prophets as their own, that Muslims consider their Islamic creed as an extension
of the creed of the prophets prior to the coming of Islam and that the creed for
which all prophets previous to Mohammed had called for is the same creed for
which prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) had called.
Consequently, the stockpile of experience by all of the prophets in their call
for truth and God worshipping is not separate or different from the Muslims'
call and their stockpile of experience.
Consider the following verse taken from the Holy Qur'an (Surah [S] XVI:36) as
translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali: For We assuredly sent amongst every people an
apostle (with the command), "Serve God, and eschew Evil." It is the creed of
oneness to which every messenger had called. When a certain people reject their
messenger, they reject all messengers. Consider what God Almighty says in the
Holy Qur'an: The people of Noah rejected the apostles (S.XXVI:105); The 'Ad
(people) rejected the apostles (S.XXVI:123); The Thamud (people) rejected the
apostles (S.XXVI:141); The people of Lut rejected the apostles (S.XXVI:160); and
The Companions of the Wood rejected the apostles (S.XXVI:176).
When they encounter the contemporary Jewish allegation of their right to
Palestine, many historians engage themselves with archaeology and with the
people who had settled, ruled or passed through Palestine and how long the rule
of each one lasted. They eventually come up with the conclusion that the Jewish
dominion over Palestine throughout history was so short in time and limited in
place compared with the Arab and Muslim dominion. Although this aspect is very
useful in refuting the historical and ideological aspects of the Jewish
allegation, many writers and historians, it seems, have committed the following
two major mistakes:
1. To consider the heritage of prophets, which were sent by God to the Jews to
rule over them, as a heritage solely for the Jews (this is exactly what the Jews
want), and
2. To abuse the biographies of a number of prophets sent to the Children of
Israel by using evidences based on the deviated Torah or the Jews themselves.
When they use this reasoning, they intend to show the "shameful behaviour" of
the Children of Israel and their leaders once they settled in Palestine in order
to degrade the value of their State and to show the decline of their level of
civilization. Followers of this method of evidence talk about accusing prophets
of cheating, of lying, of adultery and of raping the rights and killing the
innocent to prove the cruelty, deceit and meanness of the Jews and to distort
their image of rule and dominion at that time.
The Holy Qur'an has sufficiently provided us with the ways to identify the
Jewish manners and has warned us regarding their debauchery and immorality. But
their prophets and their virtuous followers are something else. Prophets are the
best examples of all human beings. They should not be abused and most certainly
God Almighty should not be abused. We should not follow the deviated stories of
the Children of Israel, which abuse both prophets and God.
The deviated Torah and the Talmud, for instance, say that God (the Most High,
Exalted and Great) plays with whales and fish for three hours every day. They
also say that He cried over the demolition of the temple till His size was
diminished from seven heavens to four heavens, and that earthquakes and
hurricanes occur as a result of God's tears, which supposedly fall into the sea
in response to the demolished temple. The Holy Qur'an mention their allegations
in the following verses: The Jews say: "God's hand is tied up (S.V:64)"; God
hath heard the taunt of those who say: "Truly, God is indigent and we are rich!
(S.III:181)".
The Jews attribute Prophet Jacob with the theft from his father an idol made of
gold and with his having wrestled with God(!!) near the city of Nablus, thus he
was named Israel. In addition, he has been attributed with offering bribes to
his brother, cheating his father and keeping silent regarding the alleged
adultery and polytheism of his two daughters. Such things are understandable
considering what the Jews say about the rest of prophets.
The Jews have deviated from the Torah or the Old Testament, and they follow the
path of the deviated Torah as seen in their manners, debauchery and immorality,
under the pretence of what they had attributed falsely and untruly to their
prophets. Historians, especially the Muslim ones, should not embark rashly in
their search into Palestine's history accusing God's prophets and messengers, as
the Jews did in their fabrications, in order to prove other prophets' rights in
Palestine.
If the creed-and-faith tie is the ground upon which Moslems of all kinds and
colours are united, then Muslims have the priority to hold the heritage of the
prophets, including the heritage of the prophets of the Children of Israel.
Muslims are still holding the banner already held up by the prophets and are
still following their path. All of those prophets were Muslims and believers in
the unity of God according to the Qur'anic understanding. Consider the following
verse as spoken by God (Almighty) as revealed in the Holy Qur'an: Abraham was
not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to
God's (which is Islam), and he joined not gods with God. Without doubt, among
men, the nearest of kin to Abraham, are those who follow him, as are also this
Apostle and those who believe: and God is the Protector of those who have faith
(S.III:67-68), and God Almighty also says: … And remember Abraham and Isma'il
raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this
service) from us; for Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, Our Lord! make
of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will) and of our progeny a people Muslims, bowing
to Thy (Will) (S.II:127-128)", and God Almighty also says: And, who turns away
from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with folly? Him We
chose and rendered pure in this world: and he will be in the Hereafter in the
ranks of the Righteous. Behold! his Lord said to him: "Bow (thy will to Me)": He
said: "I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe!" And this was
the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob: "Oh my sons! God
hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam." Were
ye witnesses when Death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons:
"What will ye worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship thy God and the
God of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma'il and Isaac, the One (True) God: to Him we
bow (in Islam) (S.II:130-133)".
In general, the nation of monotheism is considered as one nation that came from
Adam (peace be upon him) till God inherits the earth and all above the earth.
God's prophets and messengers and their followers are part of the nation of
monotheism, and the call for Islam is an extension of their call. Muslims have
the priority to hold God's prophets and messengers and their heritage.
The prophets traditions are our tradition; their experiences are our
experiences; their history is our history and the legality given by God to them
and their followers to dominate over this blessed holy land is an indication of
our legality and right to hold this land and to rule it.
God Almighty had given this land to the Children Israel when they were following
the right path of God and when they were representing the nation of monotheism
in ancient times. We are not shameful, and we do not hesitate to mention this
fact, otherwise, we would contradict expressly the Holy Qur'an. For instance,
when Moses (peace be upon him) said to his people: "O my people! enter the holy
land which God hath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then
will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin (S.V:21)". This legality was linked with
the commitment by the Jews for monotheism and conformity with God's method. But,
when they rejected to believe in God, disobeyed His messengers, slew His
prophets, broke their covenants and oaths, rejected to follow the Islamic creed
preached by Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) to whom the prophets of
Jews had given glad tidings to their people, as mentioned in the following
verses: "Those who follow the Apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find
mentioned in their own (Scriptures), in the Law and the Gospel (S.VII:157)";
"and giving Glad Tidings of an Apostle to come after me, whose name shall be
Ahmed (S.LXI:6)", they incurred the curse of God and His wrath: "But because of
their breach of their Covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard
(S.V:13)" …Say: shall I point out to you something much worse than this (as
judged) by the treatment it received from God? Those who incurred the curse of
God and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those
who worshipped Evil, these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astray
from the even path!.
Therefore, the legality of dominating over the Holy Land was changed to the
nation that follows the prophets' methods and carries their banner--the nation
of Islam. The question as to who has the legal right to dominate the Holy Land,
according to our understanding, is not related to race, kind, or people, it is
rather related to who is following the correct method.
To continue discussing the Jewish allegation of their right in Palestine
according to the Old Testament provisions, we would refer to what they mentioned
in the changed Old Testament of giving this land to Abraham (peace be upon him)
and his progeny. It includes the following: "…The Lord said to Abraham: Leave
your land, your tribe, the house of your father and go to the land I am leading
you to … .So, Abraham went as the Lord told him … Then, they came to the land of
Canaan … and the Lord appeared before Abraham and said: 'To your progeny I give
this land'…." In the altered Torah, there is also the following: "…And (Abraham)
lived in the land of Canaan. Then the Lord said to him: 'Raise up your eyes and
from the place where you were, look around you to the north, south, east and
west, because all the land that your eyes can see I give to you and to your
progeny for ever'…." It also includes: "… The Lord made a covenant with Abraham
saying to your progeny I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great
river; the Euphrates…".
To refute these issues, in addition to our understanding of them in their
fundamental religious context, we can say the following:
1. If there was a covenant, it was given to Abraham (peace be upon him) and his
progeny, and the Children of Israel are not the only progeny from Abraham. The
naturalized Arabs were also from the progeny of Abraham (the Children of
Isma'il-peace be upon him) and Mohammed (peace be upon him) is one of them.
2. If these issues are linked with progeny and reproduction, all evidences show
that the great majority of the Jews in our time are not from Abraham's progeny,
because most of the Jews nowadays are from the Caspian Jews who embraced this
religion in the ninth and tenth centuries CE (Common Era).
3. The Holy Qur'an has clarified the chiefdom (Imamah) issues of Abraham and his
progeny without any confusion. Consider what God Almighty says: And remember
that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain Commands, which he fulfilled: He
said: "I will make thee an Imam to the Nations." He pleaded: "And also (Imams)
from my offspring!" He answered: "But My Promise is not within the reach of evil
doers (S.II:124)."
When Abraham asked God for the chiefdom to be held by his offspring, God pointed
out to him that his offspring are not entitled to have the chiefdom and
oppressors should not be allowed to obtain it. What more injustice, unbelieving
and hindering from the path of God and corruption in the earth had been and is
still being committed by the Children of Israel!!
Regarding the historical allegations of the Jews, historians have sufficiently
refuted them. The period of the dominion of Islam is the longest one throughout
history. Peoples who had settled in Palestine more than 1,000 years before the
coming of the Jews remained settled there until now. They were mixed with the
Arab immigrations before and after the Muslim Conquest. These now comprise the
people of Palestine with its Islamic religion, Arabic language and Arab traits.
Man lived in Palestine since early ancient ages. There are ruins which trace
back to the ancient Stone Age (500,000-14,000 BC) and the middle Stone Age
(14,000-8000 BC). This age in Palestine is called Al-Natoofieh civilization,
attributed to Al-Natoof caves, north of Jerusalem. Al-Natoof origin is not yet
known. Their civilization was concentrated on the coast. They lived in caves
such as those found on Al-Karmel Mountain.
In the Modern Stone Age (8000-4500 BC) the cave life of man in Palestine was
changed to settlements. He changed from food collector to food producer. The
first evidence supporting settlement life appeared in Jericho, which is the most
ancient city in the world. It was established in 8000 BC.
The Brass Stone Age ran from 4500 BC to 3300 BC. A lot of archaeological
civilization locations that trace back to that era were discovered in the Beer
Sheba region, between the Hebron mountains and the Dead Sea and along the sea
coast of Al-Khudiera.
The beginning of the third millennium BC was characterized with the emergence of
the old empires in the east accompanied by the discovery of writing and the
start of writing history. From here, historical ages started in Palestine.
The era that extended from 3200 BC to 2000 BC is called the Ancient Bronze Age.
It was characterized by the emergence of the fortified defending towns built on
high hills.
They were spread out in large numbers, and most of them were built in the middle
and north of Palestine. The most important locations were in Bashan, Majideo,
Al-Afoula, Ras Al-Nakoura and Tal Al-Farei'a north of Nablus. In the third
millennium BC, the population of Palestine increased, and the cities grew and
became political and economic powers. This period can be called the period of
"small-States of towns."
During the third millennium BC, the Ammonites, the Canaanites and also the
Yabousians and the Phoenicians, which are considered sub-branches of the
Canaanites, had migrated to settle in Palestine. Their emigration to Palestine
was around 2500 BC. The Canaanites settled on the plains of Palestine and the
Ammonites settled in the mountains. The Yabousians settled in and around
Jerusalem; they built the city of Jerusalem and named it "Yabous" then
"Hierosolyma". The Phoenicians settled on the north coast of Palestine and in
Lebanon.
Reliable historians believe that the Ammonites, the Canaanites, the Yabousians
and the Phoenicians had come from the Arab peninsula and that the majority of
the current population of Palestine, especially the villagers, are the offspring
of those old tribes and peoples or the Arab and Muslims who settled there after
the Muslim Conquest.
During that period, the emigration of the Canaanites took place on a large
scale. They became the original population of the country. The name of "Land of
Canaan" was the oldest name to which the land of Palestine had been known. The
Canaanites built most of the towns in Palestine. Their number-within the borders
of the current Palestine-was more than 200 towns during the second millennium
BC, hundred of years before the coming of the HebraiJews. In addition to Jericho
and Jerusalem, there were other old towns, namely Shechem (Balatah, Nablus),
Bashan, Ashkelon, Akka, Haifa, Hebron, Ashdod, A'aqur, Beer Sheba and Bethlehem.
After that time, the Middle Bronze Age followed from 2000 BC to 1550 BC. The
first half of the second millennium BC witnessed the dominion of the Hyksos, who
ruled Palestine during the eighteenth to sixteenth centuries BC. It seems that
during this age (around 1900 BC), Abraham (peace be upon him) came to Palestine
accompanied by his nephew "Lut" (peace be upon him) and there, Isma'il, Isaac
and Jacob (peace be upon them) were born.
The Late Bronze Age (1550 BC-1200 BC) started with the withdrawal of the Hyksos
dominion from Palestine and the subsequent control by the absolute Egyptian
regime. As to the Iron Age (1200 BC-330 BC), it seems that in its early period
(approximately 1200 BC), Palestine had received groups of emigrants who came
from various regions, the most important ones were "the peoples of the sea"
migrations. It seems that they came from western Asia and from islands of the
Aegean Sea (Crete and others). At the beginning, those peoples launched their
attacks against the coasts of Syria and Egypt, but Ramses the Third, Pharaoh of
Egypt, drove them away from his country in the Blouzioun battle (near Port Said)
and gave them permission to settle in the southern part of Palestine. In the
archeological inscriptions, the name of "PLST" was mentioned and, accordingly,
those peoples were called "Palestians" and then the letter "n" was inserted in
their name (maybe because of the plural). So they became the "Palestinians". The
Palestinians built five kingdoms, including the cities of Gaza, Ashdod, Jet,
Aqroun and Ashkelon. These cities were possibly ancient Canaanites, and they
expanded and organized them and built two new cities, namely Lod and Saklash.
They occupied the rest of the coast up to the Al-Karmel Mountains. Then they
captured Marj Ibn Amir. The Palestinians soon mixed with the Canaanites, used
their language and worshipped their gods (Dajoun, B'al and Ashtar). Although the
Palestinians had been mixed with the people, they gave this land their name, so,
it was called Palestine.
It is apparent from the comparative historical indications that Moses (peace be
upon him) led the Children of Israel towards the Holy Land in the second half of
the thirteenth century BC, i.e. in the Late Bronze Age. This Age and the Early
Iron Age witnessed the beginning of the Jews entering Palestine and the
emergence of the Kingdom of David and Solomon (peace be upon them) between 1004
BC and 923 BC. This period was divided into two kingdoms: the Israel Kingdom
(923 BC-722 BC) and the Judah Kingdom (923 BC-586 BC). Each one ruled over a
limited part of the land of Palestine. From 730 BC, Palestine, in general, was
under the Assyrian dominion, which came from Iraq, till 645 BC. Thereafter, the
Babylonians were the successors in dominion till 539 BC. The Assyrians and the
Babylonians exchanged the domination over Palestine with Egypt. Then, the
Persians invaded Palestine and ruled it from 539 BC to 332 BC. After that,
Palestine entered the Greek Hellenistic Age. It was ruled by the Ptolemaics till
198 BC and was followed by Seleucias till 64 BC, at which time the Romans came
and dominated over Palestine. After the division of the Roman Empire, Palestine
was still influenced by the Eastern Roman Empire "Roman State", with
Constantinople as its capital. Thereafter, the Muslim Conquest took place and
gave it its Arab-Islamic character.
Abraham (peace be upon him), was the first of the Prophets whom we know lived
and died in Palestine. He is the father of all Prophets, as many prophets
descended from his offspring, including Prophets Isaac, Jacob, Yousef, Isma'il
and Mohammed (peace be upon them).
According to traditions, Abraham (peace be upon him), was born in Orr in Iraq
and lived there for a period of time. He destroyed idols, called for monotheism
and faced Al-Namroud with evidence. They tried to burn him at the stake as a
punishment for destroying the idols, but God Almighty made it cool and a means
of safety for him. Abraham migrated with his nephew Lut for the sake of God: He
said: "I will go to my Lord. He will surely guide me (S.XXXVII:99)."
It seems that Abraham in the beginning migrated with his companions to Harran
(Al-Raha), which is presently located to the south of Turkey and north of Syria.
From there, he migrated to the land of Canaan (Palestine). God Almighty says:
"But we delivered him and Lut (and directed them) to the land which we have
blessed for the nations." Historians estimate that his arrival in Palestine was
around 1900 BC. This date for the ancient history of Iraq represented the end of
the "Third Orr" reign, which was ruled by the Samaritans and the beginning of
the old Babylon era in which the Semitic elements that came from the Arabian
Peninsula (Ammonites) prevailed.
Abraham (peace be upon him), dwelled in "Shechem" near Nablus. From there, he
moved towards Ramallah and Jerusalem, passing through Hebron and then Beer
Sheba, where he settled for some time. He then departed for Egypt. He returned
from Egypt accompanied by Hajar. She was presented to him as a gift by the
Egyptian leader. It was also mentioned that she was the daughter of Pharaoh or
an Egyptian princess. Then he returned to Palestine and passed through Gaza,
where he met Abu Malek, the Emir of Gaza. Then he moved between Beer Sheba and
Hebron. Thereafter, he ascended to Jerusalem. Lut (peace be upon him) moved to
the south of the Dead Sea as he was sent by God as an apostle to the people of
that region, while Abraham remained in the mountains of Jerusalem and Hebron.
Isma'il (peace be upon him) was born to Abraham from his wife Hajar. Thirteen
years later, Isaac was born to Abraham from his wife Sarah. It seems that
Abraham's sons were born while he was in his old age. This we know from the
following verse of the Holy Qur'an, spoken by Sarah: She said: "Alas for me!
Shall I bear a child, seeing I am an old woman, and my husband here is an old
man? (S.XI:72)"
It seems that Abraham (peace be upon him) visited the Hejaz many times. He
brought Isma'il and his mother Hajar to Mecca. The story of Hajar running back
and forth between the Safa and the Marwa hills and the gushing out of the Zamzam
water is well known. Then Abraham returned and built the Ka'ba with Isma'il: And
remember, Abraham and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House (with this
prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: for thou art the All-Hearing,
the All-Knowing (S.II:127)." However, the place of settlement of Abraham
remained Palestine, where he died and was buried in Al-Makfeelah cave near
Hebron, which is the city named after his name (peace be upon him). It is said
that his age was 175 years.
Abraham (peace be upon him) was contemporaneous with Jerusalem's ruler "Malaki
Sadeq", who seemed to be a monotheist and a friend of his. At that time, the
believers in God were very few. Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) related
that Abraham said to his wife Sarah after he had visited one of the powerful
people at that time: "There are no believers on earth except for you and
myself." This apparently happened when they went to Egypt. This can be concluded
from the verse of God Almighty: Abraham was indeed a model (Ummat: Nation),
devoutly obedient to God (S.XVI:120)…"
However, Abraham, the Father of the Prophets, was one of the firm-willed
prophets. He had a missionary role in calling for the message of monotheism in
Palestine. He used to establish mosques and prayer niches for the worship of God
everywhere he used to visit. It seems that he did not have trouble or distress
with the people of Palestine, and he was not forced to leave it because of his
religion and message. He remained settled in Palestine with full freedom of
movement until his death.
Lut (peace be upon him) dwelled south of the Dead Sea. He was sent as an apostle
to the village of "Sodom". The people of that village were committing le, i.e.
sodomy. Their apostle Lut prohibited them from doing so, but they did not obey
him. As a result, God punished them for that and turned their village upside
down and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay. God Almighty says in
the Holy Qur'an: We also sent Lut. He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness
such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practise your
lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond
bounds." And his people gave no answer but this. They said, "Drive them out of
your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" But we saved him
and his family, except his wife: she was of those who lagged behind. And we
rained down on them a shower of (brimstone): Then see what was the end of those
who indulged in sin and crime! (S.VII:80-84)" and "When Our Decree issued, We
turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as
baked clay, spread, layer on layer, marked as from thy Lord: nor are they ever
far from those who do wrong!" (S.XI:82-83).
The Holy Qur'an indicated that Abraham (peace be upon him) was contemporary with
Lut's mission and the destroying of his people. Angels came and gave him glad
tidings of Isaac and told him that they were sent to destroy Lut's people. He,
then, said to them: "… But there is Lut there. They said: 'Well do we know who
is there: we will certainly save him and his following, except his wife'…" Thus,
God Almighty gave victory to his apostle Lut and purified his holy land from
"…the town which practiced abominations…" The glad tidings came to Abraham that
Isaac would carry the banner of monotheism after him in the Holy Land so that
the spreading of God's light would continue.
Isaac lived in the land of Palestine. God Almighty blessed him with Jacob (peace
be upon him) and Israel, who is considered by the Jews as their father. Isaac
and Jacob were the light of guidance after Abraham (peace be upon him). Consider
the following marvelous Qur'anic text: And We bestowed on him Isaac and, as an
additional gift (a grandson), Jacob, and We made righteous men of every one (of
them). And we made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our Command, and We sent them
inspiration to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers, and to practise
regular charity; and they constantly served Us (and Us only) (S.XXI:72-73).
Jacob (peace be upon him) was born in the eighteenth century BC (around 1750 BC)
in Palestine. But, it seems that he immigrated to Harran "Al-Raha", where he got
married and produced 11 sons, among whom was Joseph (peace be upon him). His
twelfth son, Benjamin, was born in the land of Canaan (Palestine). Jacob (peace
be upon him) and his children returned to Palestine and lived in Sa'ar near
Hebron. The history concerning his son, Joseph, is well known and detailed in
Surah Yousef (Joseph) in the Holy Qur'an. The story unfolds as Joseph's brothers
plot against Joseph and throw him down to the bottom of a well. Then Joseph was
found by a caravan of travelers who sold him as a slave in Egypt. He grew up
there, prayed to God, rejected women's temptations and was in prison till he was
honoured by God and was put in charge of the storehouses of the land of Egypt.
This was a result of his skillful interpretation of a dream by a king, and his
absolution was proved. Joseph brought his father, Jacob, and his brothers to
Egypt where God restored Jacob's sight after his eyes became white from the
sorrow he experienced over his perceived loss of Joseph. Joseph had also
forgiven his brothers. Some narrations mentioned that Jacob lived in Egypt for
17 years, but he was buried near his grandfather and father--Abraham and
Isaac--in Hebron.
The period during which Jacob and his children lived in Egypt coincided with the
domination by the Hyksos over Egypt from 1774 BC to 1567 BC; they were not
originally from Egypt.
However, it seemed that Joseph and his brothers, the children of Jacob (Israel),
were all kept busy with the liberty of work and worship in Egypt. They played
their role in the calling for monotheism. However, their condition changed in
the successive generations. The Children of Israel fell under the oppression of
the Pharaoh till God sent Moses to Pharaoh to take the Children of Israel out of
Egypt to the Holy Land.
The Children of Israel during that period were the people of truth-keepers and
bearers of the monotheism banner. The Pharaoh of Egypt at that time was so
arrogant and overbearing. He even went so far as to allege that he was of the
divinity. In fact, he was a debaucher and oppressed the Children of Israel. He
was known to slay their sons, and keep their females alive: Truly Pharaoh elated
himself in the land and broke up its people into sections, depressing a small
group among them: their sons he slew, but he kept alive their females: for he
was indeed a maker of mischief (S.XXVIII:4).
Moses (peace be upon him) was born under these circumstances. He grew up in the
house of Pharaoh by an intriguing arrangement of God Almighty. The story of
Moses, his growing up, his calling of Pharaoh, his feeling with the Children of
Israel from Egypt and the destruction of Pharaoh, are well-known to everyone.
God Almighty had ordained to give the land of Palestine to that believing group
at that time. And we wished to be gracious to those who were being depressed in
the land, to make them leaders (in faith) and make them heirs, to establish a
firm place for them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their hosts, at
their hands, the very things against which they were taking precautions
(S.XXVIII:5-6). Moses was sent to Pharaoh for this mission, helped by his
brother Aaron, who was also a messenger. Moses said: "O Pharaoh! I am an apostle
from the Lord of the Worlds, one for whom it is right to say nothing but truth
about God. Now have I come unto you (people), from your Lord, with a clear
(Sign): So let the Children of Israel depart along with me (S.VII:104-105)." But
Pharaoh rejected this, exhibited haughtiness and did not believe in the signs
and miracles brought about by Moses. Sorcerers who were gathered by Pharaoh
believed in the call of Moses. However, it seemed that those who manifested
their faith and joined the Children of Israel were a limited number of the young
men of the Children of Israel. Their faith was mixed with the fear of Pharaoh
lest he should persecute them. But none believed in Moses except some children
of his People, because of the fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs, lest they should
persecute them; and certainly Pharaoh was mighty on the earth and one who
transgressed all bounds (S.X:83).
Then Moses (peace be upon him) led the believers of his people eastwards across
the sea, and Pharaoh and his hosts followed them. Then the story of the dividing
of the sea, of the saving of the Children of Israel by God and of the drowning
of Pharaoh and his hosts was revealed: "Then we told Moses by inspiration:
'Strike the sea with thy rod.' So, it divided, and each separate part became
like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. And we made the other party approach
thither. We delivered Moses and all who were with him; but we drowned the
others".
Here, we have to stop at some historical opinions and narrations which showed
that the number of the Jews who departed Egypt with Moses was only around 6,000
or, according to some narrations, 15,000. From the historical aspect, it seems
that this period fell during the thirteenth century BC, and the departure of the
Children of Israel from Egypt was exactly during the last third of that century.
This period coincided with the rule of "Ramses II", who is presently known as
"Ramses the Second". By the power of God Almighty, the corpse of this Pharaoh is
presently exhibited at an Egyptian museum. This reminds us of what God Almighty
says: "This day shall we save thee in thy body, that thou mayest be a Sign to
those who come after thee! But verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our
Signs! (S.X:92)."
After the saving of the Children of Israel by God Almighty, the epiof Moses and
Aaron suffering with them are manifest. Their characteristics included the
weakness of faith, ignorance and cowardice. For, immediately after they crossed
the sea, they soon came upon a people devoted entirely to idols: They said: "O
Moses! fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have (S.VII:138)." Then when
Moses went to the place (of communion) with his Lord, his people worshipped the
calf, in spite of Aaron's presence among them: The people of Moses made, in his
absence, out of their ornaments, the image of a calf (for worship): it seemed to
low (S.VII:148) …" So they said: "This is your god, and the god of Moses, but
(Moses) has forgotten (S.XX:88)!"
They were about to kill Aaron when he prohibited them from committing acts of
disbelief. He said to his brother Moses: "…The people did indeed reckon me as
naught, and went near to slaying me!", in addition to many other situations.
Then Moses led the Children of Israel towards the Holy Land. He said to them: "O
my people! Enter the Holy Land which God hath assigned unto you, and turn not
back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin."
But they had chosen to turn back!! "They said: O Moses! In this land are a
people of exceeding strength: Never shall we enter it until they leave it: if
(once) they leave, then shall we enter." The advice was unpalatable to the
crowd, who repeated: "They said: O Moses! While they remain there, never shall
we be able to enter, to the end of time. Go there and thy Lord, and fight ye
two, while we sit here (and watch)." Sayyid Qutb, God's mercy be on him,
commented on this attitude of the Children of Israel saying, "The real nature of
the Jews had been clearly manifested here without any indication of even a
slight effort to hide their true nature. They felt that the danger was near and
once confronted with it, nothing would protect them from it, even God's promise
to them that they would be the proprietors of the land and that God had written
it for them. They wanted it without cost, without effort and an easy victory to
be sent down to them, just as the Manna and the quails were sent … So, these
incidents embarrassed the cowards and made them insolent and afraid of the
danger in front of them. Thus, it was the insolence of the disabled who could
only be insolent and his tongue impudent. The Holy Qur'an says: '…Go there and
thy Lord…' He would not be their god if his Divinity entailed them to fight!
'…While we sit here (and watch).' They did not want sovereignty, pride or the
Promised Land because that required them to fight a people of exceeding
strength. That was the end for Moses, peace be upon him; the end of an extreme
effort of travelling a long distance and enduring humiliation, misery and
deviation by the Children of Israel."
Moses, peace be upon him, suffered too much so he prayed to his God: "O my Lord!
I have power only over myself and my brother; so separate us from this
rebellious people!" God Almighty responded to his apostle: "God said: 'Therefore
will the land be out of their reach for 40 years: In a distraction will they
wander through the land:" So, God decreed that they should be left to wander
distractedly through the wilderness after they were very near to the Holy Land.
It seemed that God Almighty had adjudged that this generation of the Children of
Israel should not see the Holy Land till another generation with strength from
the desert's hardship would grow in them. "This generation had been spoiled due
to humiliation, captivity and persecution in Egypt. They were no more fit to
this sublime mission."
Moses, peace be upon him, died before he could enter the Holy Land. In the
Prophet Mohammed's tradition, narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophet (peace be
upon him) said that: "When Moses had come to die, he said, "My lord! Let me be
so near to the Holy Land as far as a stone throwing"; and that Prophet Mohammed
said: "By God! If I were near it I would show you the spot of his tomb beside
the road near the red hill."
After the new generation had grown up and the years of wandering in the
wilderness ended, the Children of Israel were led by an apostle called Joshua
Ibn Noon, peace be upon him. The Jews called him "Yashou". He succeeded Moses in
their leadership, and he crossed the Jordan River with them in the year 1190 BC.
Together, they conquered the enemy and occupied the city of Jericho. Then he led
them in the invasion of "A'ai", near Ramallah, and attempted to conquer
Jerusalem but he could not because the number of the Jews was small. It was
difficult for them to spread out and to occupy and control all the regions. The
information about Joshua had come from the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed
(peace be upon him) who said that when Joshua met his enemies in a battle that
lasted till the sun was going to set, he prayed to God not to set the sun until
the battle was over in his favour. God Almighty responded to his prayer and
delayed the setting of the sun till Joshua achieved victory.
Joshua, peace be upon him, was succeeded by leaders known as "Judges". Their
time was known as "The time of the Judges" and lasted for about 150 years.
Despite the attempts by the Judges to guide their people to the right path, this
period was dominated by rebellions, disasters, disputes and a general decline in
morals and religion among the Children of Israel. The Jews settled in that
period in the heights surrounding Jerusalem and in the northern plains in
Palestine.
When the Children of Israel became aware of their deteriorated condition, the
leaders among them asked one of their Prophets (called Samuel) to appoint for
them a king who might lead them to fight in the cause of God. However, their
Prophet, who was well acquainted with their tempers, said to them: "Is it not
possible, if ye were commanded to fight, that ye will not fight?" They said:
"How could we refuse to fight in the cause of God, seeing that we were turned
out of our homes and our families?" But when they were commanded to fight, they
turned back, except a small band among them (S.II:246). Their Prophet told them
that God had appointed for them Talut as a king over them. But they objected for
they were "…better fitted than he to exercise authority…(S.II:247)" and that "he
is not even gifted with wealth in abundance (S.II:247)?" Their Prophet said that
God had chosen him above them and had gifted him abundantly with knowledge and
bodily prowess.
The faithful leader Talut became the king of the Children of Israel about 1025
BC. The Israelite narrations named him "Shauel". God tested his followers; they
were told not to drink the water from a certain stream. However, they failed
even this simple test: "Only those who taste not of it go with me: A mere sip
out of the hand is excused." But they all drank of it, except a few (S.II:249).
Those few who passed the first test, failed the next test when they saw Goliath
and his forces. They said: "This day we cannot cope with Goliath and his forces
(S.II:249)." Only a small faithful band fought with firmness till the end,
achieving the victory given by God to them. David, peace be upon him, was a raw
youth who knocked down Goliath by using his slingshot.
The history of Talut is not clear. However, the Israelite narrations mentioned
that around the year 1004 BC, the Philistine army defeated Talut "Shauel" in the
"Galobou'" battle. They killed three of his children, forced him to commit
suicide, cut off his head, and nailed his body, as well as his children's, on
the wall of the city of Bashan.
A new chapter was opened in the history of the Children of Israel under the rule
of David, peace be upon him. He succeeded Talut in the year 1004 BC. Monotheism
spread throughout the Holy Land. David was considered the real founder of the
kingdom of the Children of Israel in Palestine. The Jews had very limited power
over a small percentage of Palestine during the period preceding David's rule.
The "time of the Judges" period was spent in sporadic fighting among the small
groups (tribes). Each tribe hardly defended tharea of land it was occupying.
David, peace be upon him, was born in Bethlehem. His reign lasted for 40 years
from approximately 1400 BC to 963 BC. In the beginning, his capital was
"Hebron", where he stayed for seven years. Then around 995 BC he overcame
Jerusalem and moved his capital there. He carried on with his fight against
unfaithful people in the Holy Land till he was able to conquer them in the year
990 BC. He forced Damascus to pay land-taxes and conquered the Muabis, the
Edomis and the Ammonites. During that period, the followers of monotheism
dominated for the first time over most of the region of Palestine. But, most
probable, the borders of David's kingdom did not connect with the sea except at
a place near Yoya (Jaffa). The borders of the Kingdom of Israel at its zenith
measured 120 miles long (longest points) and 60 miles wide (widest points). Its
area was not more than 1,200 square miles--20,000 square kilometres, which is
about 7,000 square kilometres less than the current area of Palestine.
The Jews occupied the hilly areas, but failed to occupy the plains, especially
most parts of the coast of Palestine. These parts had never been dominated by
their State during its survival.
The Jews of this time were proud of David, peace be upon him, and considered
themselves bearers of his banner and heritage. However, the Muslims also
consider David their Prophet, and they have more of a right than the Children of
Israel do to consider him so. Muslims do believe in him as one of God's
prophets. They like and honour him and feel proud of him because he established
the State in Palestine built on monotheism. They are following his path and
carrying his banner even in the present time, after the Children of Israel
retreated, became infidels, denied God and broke their covenants with God.
We know from the Holy Qur'an that God Almighty had blessed David, peace be upon
him, with knowledge and wisdom, and gave him the gift of the Psalms. He was
given a strong kingdom. Hills and birds were celebrating the praises of God with
him and were expressing, in their singing, God's praises in unison with him:
…and remember Our Servant David, the man of strength: for he ever turned (to
God). It was we that made the hills declare, in unison with him, Our Praises, at
eventide and at break of day, and the birds gathered (in assemblies): all with
him did turn (to God). We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and
sound judgement in speech and decision (S.XXXVIII:17-20). And God Almighty says:
O David! We did indeed make thee a vicegerent on earth: so judge thou between
men in truth (and justice): nor follow thou the lusts (of thy heart), for they
will mislead thee from the Path of God…(S.XXXVIII:26). God Almighty made the
iron soft for David. In his hands it became pliable like wax or paste formed in
the way he wanted without melting it in fire, and this was a miracle given by
God to David. Although David was given a kingdom, he was a craftsman using iron
and did not eat except for what he made by himself. David also developed in his
time the manufacture of armour. When the armour was made of one solid plate, it
was heavy in weight to a warrior and hindered his movement. Thereafter, God
guided David to make it from rings of chains fitted into each other. It did not
hinder the movement nor could arrows penetrate it. "It was we who taught him the
making of coats of mail for your benefit, to guard you from each other's
violence: Will ye then be grateful?" God Almighty also says: We bestowed Grace
aforetime on David from Ourselves: "O ye Mountains! sing ye back Praises of God
with him! and ye birds (also)!" And We made the iron soft for him; (Commanding),
"Make thou coats of mail, balancing well the rings of chain armour, and work ye
righteousness; for be sure I see (clearly) all that ye do (S.XXXIV:10-11)."
Solomon, peace be upon him, inherited wisdom, knowledge and prophecy from his
father David. Narrations passed down through history indicated that Solomon was
one of the 19 sons of David. He was born in Jerusalem, and his rule over the
Holy Land lasted for about 40 years from 963 BC to 923 BC.
God Almighty bestowed upon Solomon a kingdom which had never been granted to
anyone after him. God Almighty gave him the Jinn to work for his service. He
also made the wind obedient to him. Solomon was well known for his wisdom,
justice and strong dominion. God also taught him the language of birds and
animals.
King Solomon's reign was in itself a divine miracle given to him by God as a
sign of his prophecy. Under this miraculous faithful rule, supported by the
Jinn, men, birds and wind, Palestine was blessed. God had honoured Solomon with
the miracle of a spring of melted brass flowing from the earth. The Kingdom of
Solomon witnessed a great deal of construction and building. His kingdom was
expanded to reach the kingdom of Sheba in Yemen.
Solomon is mentioned several times in the Holy Qur'an, highlighting his
knowledge, dominion and prophecy: He said, "O my Lord! Forgive me, and grant me
a Kingdom which, (it may be), suits not another after me: For Thou art the
Grantor of Bounties (without measure)." Then We subjected the Wind to his power,
to flow gently to his order, whithersoever he willed, as also the evil ones,
(including) every kind of builder and diver, as also others bound together in
fetters. "Such are Our Bounties: whether thou bestow them (on others) or
withhold them, no account will be asked." And he enjoyed, indeed, a Near
Approach to Us, and a beautiful Place of (final) Return (S.XXXVIII:35-40).
God Almighty said: "..And Solomon was David's heir. He said: 'O ye people! We
have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of
all things: This is indeed grace manifest (from God).' And before Solomon were
his hosts, of Jinn and men and birds, and they were all kept in order and
ranks." And God also said: And to Solomon (We made) the Wind (obedient): its
early morning (stride) was a month's (journey), and its evening (stride) was a
month's (journey); and We made a Font of molten brass to flow for him; and there
were Jinns that worked in front of him, by the leave of his Lord, and if any of
them turned aside from Our Command, We made him taste of the Penalty of the
Blazing Fire. They worked for him as he desired, (making) Arches, Images, Basons
as large as Reservoirs, and (cooking) Cauldrons fixed (in their places): "Work
ye, sons of David, with thanks! But few of My servants are grateful
(S.XXXIV:12-13)!" And God as well said "(It was Our power that made) the violent
(unruly) wind flow (tamely) for Solomon, to his order, to the land which we had
blessed: for we do know all things. And of the evil ones, were some who dived
for him, and did other work besides; and it was we who guarded them."
From the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) we can conclude
that Solomon had great bodily power, was a lover of the fighting for the cause
of God, and had many wives. Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet Mohammed,
peace be upon him, said: "Solomon said: that I would ramble this night to 90
women, or 100, in another narration; all of them would beget a knight who might
fight for the cause of God. The king said to him: 'Say God willing!' But he did
not say and forgot. He rambled to them. None of them became pregnant except one
who delivered a half man. I swear by whom the life of Mohammed is in his hand
that if he said: 'God willing', they might all fought for the cause of God as
knights."
The death of Solomon, peace be upon him, was a sign of God and a lesson
addressed to men and Jinn that the Jinn did not know the unseen. Solomon, peace
be upon him, had stood up to say his pray in his chamber leaning on his rod. He
died and remained in this posture for a long period while the Jinn were working
hardly without getting the knowledge of his death till a little worm ate his rod
and he fell down on the ground; God Almighty said: Then when We decreed
(Solomon's) death, nothing showed them his death except a little worm of the
earth, which kept (slowly) gnawing away at his staff: so when he fell do, the
Jinns saw plainly that if they had known the unseen, they would not have tarried
in the humiliating Penalty (of their Task) (S.XXXIV:14).
The rule of David and Solomon lasted for about 80 years, which was considered a
golden period during which Palestine was ruled under the banner of monotheism
and faith prior to the Muslim Conquest.
After the death of Solomon, his kingdom was divided into two parts comprising
two separate States with fights between them from time to time. Both suffered
from internal corruption, military and political weakness and foreign influence.
When Solomon passed away, the representatives of the 12 tribes of the Children
of Israel held a meeting at Shechem (near Nablus) to set up Rehbe'am bin Solomon
as a king. However, according to narrations, the representatives from 10 of the
tribes agreed not to set him up as a king because he did not promise them to
reduce taxes. They, instead, elected "Yarba'am" from the tribe of Ephraim as a
king and called their kingdom "Israel". They took Shechem as their capital (then
Tarzah then Samaria).
As to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, they maintained their loyalty to
Rehbe'am bin Solomon and established the kingdom of "Judah", with Jerusalem as
its capital under his rule.
The kingdom of Israel lasted during the period from 923 BC to 721 BC. The
Encyclopedia Britannica disdainfully named it "The Tail Kingdom". Because of the
invasion by the residents of Damascus, it lost all its lands located in the east
of Jordan and north of Yarmouk. "Omri" was the most famous king of the kingdom
of Israel whose reign lasted from 885 BC to 874 BC. He built Samaria and took it
as the capital.
His successor "Akhab" reigned from 874 BC till 852 BC. He allowed his wife,
"Isabel", the daughter of the king of Sidon and Tyre, to enjoin the worship of
the Phoenician God "B'al", which consequently caused a revolution carried out by
an officer named "Yaho", who overthrew "Akhab" and restored the worship of
"Yahweh".
In the period of "Yab'am the second" from 785 BC till 745 BC, the third of in
the line of "Yaho" ancestry, his kingdom expanded towards the north on the
account of the Aramaians. But this situation did not last for long because of
the emergence of the Assyrian king "Tajilat Blissr the third" (745 BC-727 BC),
who put an end to this expansion. His successor "Shillmanasar the fifth" and
after him "Sarjon the second" had punished Joshua, who was the last of the kings
of "Israel". They exterminated his kingdom in 721 BC. Then, the Assyrians moved
the people of Israel to Haran, Khabour, Kurdistan and Persia and replaced them
with groups of Aramaians. It seems that the banished Israelis were completely
mixed in with their neighbours in exile. Thereafter, there was not a trace left
of the ten tribes of the Children of Israel.
According to the Israeli narrations, which should be considered very carefully
and with caution because there is very little available to prove or disprove
most of them, the Kingdom of Judah was one of great turmoil during the period
923 BC to 586 BC. Idol worshipping had spread during the period of Yarba'am bin
Solomon's rule (923-916 BC). The manners of the people were corrupted owing to
the spread of sodomy. When his son, Abyam, succeeded him from 915 BC to 913 BC,
their manners remained corrupted. And when Yahoram bin Yahoshfat ruled during
the period 849 BC to 842 BC, he killed his six brothers along with a group of
the people's chiefs. As for Youhaz bin Yatam, who ruled during the period 735 BC
to 715 BC, it is mentioned that his heart had been attached to the love of
idols. He even went so far as to sacrifice his own children on the altars of
idolatrous gods and gave himself the free reins of lust and evil-doing. Mansi
bin Hazqiya, who ruled from 687 BC to 642 BC, had misguided his people from
worshipping god and built idolatrous temples for them.
Such things are not strange to the Children of Israel. Their manners with Moses
(peace be upon him) would testify to this. The Holy Qur'an also points out that
they have changed, replaced and deviated from the words of God, and slew many
prophets: "We took the covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them
apostles. Every time there came to them an apostle with what they themselves
desired not--some (of these) they called impostors, and some they (go so far as
to) slay". History proves that they slew the prophet Haziqual because he
prohibited one of his judges from committing iniquities. The king Mansi bin
Hazqiya killed the prophet Ashiya bin Amous. He gave orders to hang him on a
tree stump because the prophet had offered him advice and preachment. The Jews
killed the prophet by throwing stones at him because he blamed them for
iniquities they themselves did.
It seemed that the Kingdom of Judah faced many weakness factors, as well as
falling under the foreign influence for a long period of time. It was attached
and defeated several times, and the attackers entered Jerusalem itself. Sheshaq,
the Pharaoh of Egypt, entered Jerusalem and took it over in the late tenth
century BC.
Arabs had also attacked Jerusalem during the period of Yahoram (849 BC-842 BC).
They entered it and occupied Yahoram's palace and captured his children and
women. As to the king Hazqiya (715 BC-687 BC), he was forced to declare his full
surrender to the king of the Assyrians, Sarjon the Second, after he seized the
Kingdom of Israel. Mansi Bin Hazqiya paid the tax to Assyrhadon and
Assyrbanybal, two kings of Assyria. The Assyrians tied up this king with brass
chains and sent him to Babylonia. Then, he returned to Jerusalem and died there.
During the rule of Yoshyia bin Amon (640 BC-609 BC), the Egyptian Nackhaw had
only been ruling for three months. Yoshyia captured him and sent him back to
Egypt where he died. He was replaced with Yahoyaqim bin Yashyia (609 BC-548 BC).
This ruler had overtaxed his people in order to pay tax to his Egyptian master
and reverted to idol worshipping. During the time of Yahoyaqim, the Babylonian
Buchadnezzar defeated the Egyptian Nackhaw, north of Syria in the year 605 BC
and advanced till he entered Jerusalem. There he conquered Yahoyaqim, humiliated
him and forced his country to surrender to his influence. And when Yahoyaqim
revolted against Buchadnezzar, the latter entered Jerusalem, with his army, and
tied Yahoyaqim up with brass chains till he died.
When Yahoyaqim ruled from 598 BC-597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, or Buchadnezzar,
besieged Jerusalem and captured the king and his family, the chief of the Jews
and about 10,000 of its population, which is known as the first capture, and
robbed some of the temple treasures and sent them to Babylon. Thereafter,
Nebuchadnezzar appointed Sodkiya bin Yoshyia (597 BC-586 BC), who swore the oath
of loyalty to him. However, Sodkiya, during the last days of his regime,
revolted against the Babylonians, who in turn advanced towards Jerusalem and
besieged it for 18 months till it surrendered. Nebuchadnezzar captured Sodkiya,
tied him up with brass chains and sent him to Babylonia where, as mentioned, his
children were slain before him and his eyes were poked out. Then Nebuchadnezzar
destroyed Jerusalem. He demolished the temple, robbed the treasures and wealth,
and captured about 40,000 Jews and sent them to Babylonia, known as "the second
Babylonian capture". The remaining Jews migrated to Egypt, including the Prophet
Arimyah. The Kingdom of Judah fell in 586 BC.
The Talmud recorded that the fall and the destroying of the Jewish State would
not have happened unless the sins of the Children of Israel had reached the
utmost and their sins overburdened the great God. When they refused to listen to
Arimyah's words and warnings and after destroying the temple, the Prophet
Arimyah addressed his speech to Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldaeans. He said: "You
should not think that by your strength alone you were able to overcome the
chosen People of God; it was by their unchaste sins that drove them to this
torture".
The Old Testament had referred to the collapseof the kingdom of the Children of
Israel as being a direct result of these sins. It mentioned that Prophet Ashiya
said: "Woe to the sinful people, the people of heavy sins, the progeny of
evil-doers, the depraved children who abandoned God and despised the holy
Israel, who had retreated and fallen back" (Ashiya Book-Chapter 1). The Old
Testament also said: "The land had been profaned under its people because they
abandoned the laws, changed the obligations and broke the eternal covenant"
(Ashiya Book, Chapter 24).
The Jews lived, after the fall of their kingdom, in Palestine during the period
of the Babylonian Capture in Iraq. It is apparent that during this period, they
started recording the Old Testament, i.e. not less than 700 years after the
emergence of Moses (peace be upon him), till the late second century BC, when
they ended its recording (after more than 400 years). During that period, the
Jews abandoned their religious obligations and imitated the countries in which
they lived concerning the worshipping of idols.
The opportunity to return once again to Palestine came to the Jews when the
Persian Emperor, Qorash the Second, overcame the Babylonian Chaldaean State (539
BC). The Jews helped him. He overcame Media, and extended his influence
throughout Palestine, which consequently entered under the Persian Domination
period (539 BC-332 BC). Qorash permitted the Jews to return to Palestine and
permitted them to re-build the temple in Jerusalem. However, a rather small
number of the Jews took advantage of this opportunity to return. This was
because most of those captured admired the new land, and only a small number of
extremists objected to the mixing with other people, the thing which protected
the Jews from extinction.
One of the historians mentioned that the number of returnees was 42,000,
representing a minority compared with the actual number. Those Jews built the
temple, and the building was completed in the year 515 BC. In the Jerusalem
region, the Jews enjoyed some kind of autonomy under the Persian dominion. This
autonomous area did not exceed a radius of 20 kilometres in any direction.
In the year 332 BC, the Macedonian Alexander occupied Palestine during his
famous campaign in which he occupied Greater Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran and parts
of India. Alexander kept the Jews safe. Since that date, Palestine entered the
Greek Hellenistic Era, which lasted till 63 BC.
After the death of Alexander, a conflict had broken out among his leaders, which
caused his kingdom's division. Palestine and the rest of Syria, from the south
of Lattakia, Lebanon and parts of Syria (such as Damascus), Egypt, Borqa (Libya)
and some of the Aegean Sea Islands, were under the control of the leader
Ptolemy. His rule and the rule of his successors was called the Ptolemaics Era,
which lasted in Palestine from 302 BC to 198 BC. The Ptolemaics felt sympathy
for the Jews, whose affairs were administered to by the "Great Priest". Then
came the Seleucids, whose share, after the death of Alexander, included North
Syria, Asia Minor, Rafidain (the Tigris and the Euphrates) and the Iranian
heights.
They dominated over Palestine as a result of the Banion battle in which the
Seleucid King Antiokhis the Third achieved a complete victory over the
Ptolemaics. The domination of the Seleucids over Palestine lasted up to 63 BC.
The Seleucids attempted to colour the Jews' life with the Greek Hellenistic. So,
Antiokhis the Fourth tried to turn the Jews away from their religion. In the
year 167 BC, he sent one of his leaders to them and commissioned him with
canceling the Jewish religious rites and to replace their God, Yahwa, with the
Olympic God, Zeus. He appointed an idolatrous Greek priest in Jerusalem and
prohibited their circumcision and the possession of the holy books and enjoined
on them the eating of pork. Under these orders, the Jews were divided into two
parts: the first were those who turned away, convinced or forced, from the Law.
Those were the "Hellenistics" or the "Greekists". They resided in Jerusalem and
in the Greek towns. The second group, which was less in number, fled from
Jerusalem. They were called "the Party of Saints".
In general, the Greeks influenced the Jews. The Aramaic language replaced the
Hebrew language, and the Greek language became the language of the educated
class. From among the Jews, a group had emerged to support the Greeks and they
managed to reach power under the leadership of the Great Priest Jayson.
As for the Jews who fled from Jerusalem, "the Party of Saints", they entrusted
their leadership to Mattathyas (Mattayeeh), the head of the Ashmonians Family,
who passed away after a while. His son Judah, also called Maccabee, which means
the hammer, succeeded him. He revolted against the Seleucids and defeated them
more than once (166 BC-165 BC). A lot of Jews joined him. This made Antiokhis
the Fourth stop oppressing the Jews. He permitted them to perform their religion
side by side with the Greek supporters. The Maccabees returned to Jerusalem on
25 January 164 BC. The Jews are, till now, celebrating this occasion under the
name of the "Lights Feast" (Hanukah).
After that, a self-rule regime for the Jews was established in Jerusalem. It
became either wider or narrower, and the aspects of its independence became
stronger or weaker, according to the conflict among the super powers of the
period (the Romans, the Ptolemaics and the Seleucids) over Palestine. The regime
became hereditary in the progeny of Judah, the Maccabee. The Maccabees ruled as
"Chief priests" and they called themselves kings, although they were
subordinates and paying land-tax to the Seleucids. In the year 143 BC, the
Emperor Dimetrius the Second exempted the Jews from taxes and gave the nickname
"ruler" to Simon, and the Jews agreed among themselves to consider him as their
king. Thus, a royal regime was established, and the Seleucids recognized it and
also gave Simon the right of striking coins.
During the era of the Jewish King Alexander Janous (103 BC-67 BC), his regime
expanded to include Trans-Jordan, which was called "Iberia" by the Jews, and the
coast. The borders of his kingdom were about to make contact with the borders of
Solomon. His widow, Salom Alexandra, ruled after him till the year 67 BC.
Thereafter, both her sons fought against each other over the power, and the
Nabatean Arabs interfered in supporting Hercanous the Second against his brother
Aristopolous. In the year 63 BC, the famous Roman leader Pompeii destroyed the
small Jewish state and appointed Heirkanous the Second to be chief of priests.
He demolished the walls of Jerusalem, removed the other parts from the hands of
the Jews and left the Maccabee dynasty to survive under the Roman dominion.
During the period 47 BC-40 BC, the "colony" entered under the domination of
Edam's ruler, Ante Peter. In the year 40 BC, the Persians stormed Palestine and
appointed Ante Johanous, the brother of Hercanous the Second, to be the ruler
and the chief of the priests. The rule of Ante Johanous" lasted for three years.
He was the last of the Maccabee dynasty. In the year 37 BC, the Romans conquered
the Persians, restored their domination over Palestine and appointed Herod, the
son of Ante Peter, a ruler. Although Herod became Judaized and tried to
conciliate with the Jews, he was detested by them. In general, he was a tyrant,
unjust and extremely loyal to the Romans. He carried out the renovation of the
temple, doubled its area, lifted its ceiling up and characterized it with great
perfection and architecture.
The rule of Herod lasted till the year 4 BC, which was contemporary with the two
prophets Zakariya and his son Yahya (peace be upon them). This was also
contemporary with Maryam bint Imran (peace be upon her). By the end of his life,
Jesus (peace be upon him) was born.
Zakariya (peace be upon him) was a carpenter. He was the sponsor of Maryam bint
Imran. He had a son called Yahya (peace be upon him), whose birth was made
possible by God Almighty since Zakariya was old and his wife was barren.
Zakariya and Yahexerted great efforts to call the Children of Israel to guidance
and truth.
The glad tidings of Yahya came witnessing the truth that "He would be noble,
chaste and a prophet of the company of the righteous," i.e., to master his
people and to turn himself, virtuously and devotionally, away from lusts and to
be a prophet. When Yahya was born and reached the age of receiving orders, God
Almighty said to him: "O Yahya! take hold of the Book with might (S.XIX:12)." It
meant that he should take what was included in the Book of God vigorously and
diligently. God gave him wisdom and reason even though he was young: And We gave
him Wisdom even as a youth (S.XIX:12). Yahya performed his duty of preaching,
and calling for enjoining what was right and forbidding what was wrong. He was
known in the Christian literature as "John the Baptist". "The Baptist" was
ascribed to the fact that he was baptizing people (washing them with water) to
purify them from sins. Yahya had announced good tidings of the coming of Jesus
(peace be upon him).
Yahya (peace be upon him) sacrificed his life defending his firm attitude
against Herod's wishing to marry Yahya's niece. The girl, whose name was
Herodya, was very beautiful. She and her mother bore spite against Yahya for his
refusing to allow her to marry Herod. The girl, fully embellished, danced in
front of Herod till she mastered his feelings. He then requested her to ask for
a wish. She then wished to have the head of Yahya! He responded to her wish and
killed Yahya and presented his head on a plate to this adulteress. So Peace on
him, the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be
raised up to life (again) (S.XIX:15).
Herod was not satisfied with his crime, as he also slew Zakariya (peace be upon
him) by using a saw! Zakariya defended his son, Yahya, and objected to the
validity of the marriage owing to kinship impediment.
Maryam (peace be upon her), the mother of women of all nations, was born before
Yahya (peace be upon him). Her mother dedicated her unto God when she was in her
womb: Right graciously did her Lord accept her: He made her grow in purity and
beauty: To the care of Zakariya (S.III:37). And God had chosen Maryam: Behold!
the angels said: "O Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee--chosen thee
above the women of all nations (S.III:42)." God Almighty predestined His great
miracle that Maryam shall deliver her son, Jesus, without having a father and
that would be accomplished by the word from God: "Be". Here, we have to pause
and to read the following miraculous Qur'anic text about Jesus and his Message:
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from
Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this
world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God; He shall
speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the
company) of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no
man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth when He
hath decreed a Plan, He but saith to it, 'Be' and it is! And God will teach him
the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel, and (appoint him) an apostle to the
Children of Israel (with this message): 'I have come to you, with a Sign from
your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird,
and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God's leave: and I heal those born
blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by God's leave; and I declare to
you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for
you if ye did believe' (S.III:45-49)."
Jesus, the son of Maryam, was born in Bethlehem around 4 BC. Narrations mention
that Maryam fled with Jesus, together with Joseph "the Carpenter", to Egypt,
fearing for her son, away from Herod's injustice and tyranny. They quickly
returned to Nazareth, where he spent his childhood and grew up. Thereafter, he
was known by the name "Jesus the Christ", and his followers were known by the
name "Christians".
Jesus, the son of Maryam, was one of God's signs sent to mankind. He declared
himself as such at the very outset. He spoke when he was just a babe in the
cradle. He assured the people that he was indeed a servant of God, and he gave
his people the glad tidings that God had made him a prophet: He said: "I am
indeed a servant of God: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; and
He hath made me blessed wheresover I be, and hath enjoyed on me Prayer and
Charity as long as I live (S.XIX:30-31)."
There, in the Holy Land of Palestine, Jesus (peace be upon him) carried out his
obligation of calling for God. He exerted great efforts for the sake of the
Children of Israel, giving them guidance and the glad tidings of the coming of
the seal of the prophets, Mohammed (peace be upon him): "… and giving Glad
Tidings of an Apostle to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed (S.LXI:6)."
Despite all the miracles God made apparent through him and the truth and the
light included in his message, the Children of Israel rejected, denied and stood
against him. Only a few of them believed in him.
According to historical narrations, Jesus went to Jerusalem (Hierosolyma) and
visited the temple around 30 CE at the time of the Easter feast. He denounced
the presence of moneychangers and sellers in the temple.
According to the chapter St. Matthew (21:12-13) of the Bible, "… and Jesus went
to the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple,
and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold
doves. And said unto them, it was written, my house shall be called the house of
prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."
The Jews and the noble persons bore spite against Jesus. According to the
chapter of St. Matthew (19:47) of the Bible, "… and he taught daily in the
temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought
to destroy him". The religious Jewish Council (Synhadrin) quickly held a meeting
and decided to arrest Jesus and immediately sentenced him to death, accusing him
of blasphemy and of dissenting from the religion.
They then brought him before the Roman governor at that time, Pontious Pilate,
who had alone the right of execution. But this Pilate did not find any fault in
Jesus that would cause him to be made worthy of death. But the Jews cried out
all at once, saying "Crucify him, crucify him; his blood must be on us and on
our children." As a result of the pressure on him by the Jews, Pilate sentenced
him to death. However, God Almighty sent him His mercy and raised him up unto
Himself when they thought they had killed him. "But they killed him not, nor
crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ
therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to
follow, for of a surety they killed him not: Nay, God raised him up unto Himself
(S.IV:157-158)."
This page of history of the conflict between the truth and the falsehood over
the Holy Land had been turned over. The Children of Israel rejected the last
prophet sent to them, accused him of sorcery and plotted against him.
The Disciples believed in Jesus. They called for his message after him, and they
encountered oppression and harm because of their message. The Disciples
continued in calling the Jews for their creed and orated in the temple. When the
number of Christians multiplied after some years, the Jews feared the spread of
Christianity and demanded to seize Peter and others in order to be tried before
the Synhadrin Council. However, the Council was satisfied with clearing them and
thereafter released them. The new guided persons fled to Samaria, Kaisarieh and
Antakiyah. They founded there many Christian groups. Peter also went to Rome
where he founded a Christian group. He focused on the Jews in his call. As for
Paul he was calling the idolatrous, as he called the Jews. In his calling, he
was using philosophical idioms and concepts to interpret Christianity according
to the Hellenistic culture prevailing at that time. Paul Peter were, in the end,
sentenced to death during the era of the Roman Emperor Nero in 64 CE. But, the
message proclaimed by Jesus (peace be upon him) was soon distorted, and the
Gospel, as revealed to him, was changed. His followers were, after him,
influenced by the Hellenistic civilization and the Roman regime, and their call
was mixed with a lot of tradition, rites and teachings that prevailed in the
countries in which it was spread. It became easy for people to embrace it.
Christianity did not become ingrained in the society until the Emperor
Constantine, in the year 325 CE, believed in it. Thereafter, Christianity became
the official religion of the Roman Empire. Constantine took care of Palestine
and built the Holy Sepulchre Church, which became the most important Christian
church. He also built the Church of Ascension on the Mount of Olives, and he
built the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. However, the Palestinian people at that
time embraced Christianity till the Muslim Conquest took place in Palestine.
Once again, reference is made to the affairs of the Children of Israel in
Palestine after Jesus' ascension. The Romans commenced ruling Jerusalem and the
rest of Palestine directly from about 6 CE. During this time period, they
deposed Archilles, who succeeded his father, Herod, owing to the abuse of power
by him. During the period of their governor, Pontious Pilate (26-36 CE), the
events of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) took place. In November of 66 CE,
during the period of the Emperor Nero, the Jews revolted against the Roman rule,
but the Roman military leader Tetas had managed to squelch the revolution in
September of 70 CE. It took four years. After a light besiege, he entered
Jerusalem where he killed, robbed, burned and completely destroyed the temple
built by Herod. Then, Jerusalem became a demolished city, and many of the
captors were sold cheaply as slaves in the Roman Empire markets. Every Jew's
desire was to be purchased by a person who would treat him with kindness and who
would not send him to a wrestling ring with beasts. This was a sport in which
the Romans used to enjoy viewing the beasts eating the people! This leader also
built a triumph arch in Rome on the occasion of his conquering the Jews. It
still exists there and has inscriptions of that victory remembrance where the
candlestick, with its seven heads and which was well known to belong to the
Jews, had been taken from the temple. It still can be seen today.
The Jews once again rebelled against the Romans under the leadership of
Barcokhapa, whose original name was Simon. Their revolution lasted through the
years 132-135 CE. Under his leadership, a large number of the Jews were
gathered. He managed to occupy Jerusalem, but the Roman Emperor Hadrian sent a
huge army under the leadership of Julius Cephrius, who defeated the Jews and
occupied Jerusalem again. The Jews fled to Battier, where the debris of the
citadel in which the Jews were fortified is still there. It was called "The
Kherbit of the Jews" by Arabs. Hadrian severely slew the rebels, destroyed
"Hierosolyma" and ploughed its location, killed and captured a great number of
the Jews and prevented them from entering, living or coming near Jerusalem. He
allowed the Christians to live in it provided that they should not be of Jewish
origin. Hadrian built up a new city on the debris of Hierosolyma and called it
"Elia capitolina". Later on it was known as "Elia", which was the first name of
Hadrian the First. He constructed an idolatry temple for Jupiter on the same
site of the old temple.
The Jews were prohibited from entering Jerusalem for the next 200 years. They
rarely entered it or lived in it until the nineteenth century.
They were dispersed throughout the world, and they no longer had any connection
with Palestine except for the reminiscences that consisted mostly of disbelief,
debauchery, injustice and the killing of the prophets. They received their
penalty from God, which manifested itself in His wrath, His curse, His depriving
them from the Holy Land and His dispersing them throughout the world.
The following summations can be derived from the previous text:
1. The Muslims have remained the inhabitants of Palestine up until the
present.
2. God had promised to give the Holy Land to the Children of Israel when they
were following the straight path of God and the prophets were their guides.
However, when they changed their attitude and rejected and disbelieved in God,
this right was rescinded.
3. Muslims are more entitled to the heritage of the prophets of the Children of
Israel. The call for Islam by Muslims is a continuation of the call by the
previous prophets. The truth to which the prophets had devoted themselves to
realize is the same truth that the Muslims are devoted to realizing.
4. The dominion of the Children of Israel had never, at any time, included the
whole of Palestine as it is known in its current boundaries. The period of their
domination with complete independence was so short in comparison with the
history of Palestine. Even when they had two kingdoms, they were subordinates
most of the time to other powers stronger than they were.
5. The self-rule that the Jews enjoyed after they had captured Babylonia was
weak and restricted to the Jerusalem area and its suburbs. After that, they
enjoyed a limited independence during the Maccabee epoch.
6. After their being dispersed throughout the world owing to their evil doing,
the relation of the Jews with Palestine had discontinued, without interruption,
for 1,900 years.
Finally, H.G. Wells said in his book, "Brief History of the Children of Israel's
Experience in Palestine after the Babylonian Captivity", that "The life of
Hebrews (in Palestine) was resembling the life of a man who insisted to settle
in the middle of a crowded highway, so buses and trucks were continuously
running over him … and from the start to the end, their (Kingdom) was just an
emergency event in the history of Egypt, Syria, Assyria and Phoenicia, the
history which was much greater than their history."
The well-known historian Gustav Lobon said about the Children of Israel when
they settled in Palestine that "they did not borrow from the superior nations
except for the meanest things of those civilizations, i.e., they did not borrow
anything but infamies, harmful customs, debauchery and superstitions. They
offered oblations to all Asian Gods. They offered more oblations to Ashtarout,
B'al and Mouloukh than to the God of their own tribe, the frowning and spiteful
Yahwa, in whom they had but every little trust."
He also said, "The Jews lived almost always in massive anarchy. Their history
was just a story of abominations.… The history of the Jews from the aspect of
civilization was null … (They) did not deserve to be considered among the
civilized nations in any shape whatsoever". Gustav Lobon also said, "The
Children of Israel remained, even under the reign of their kings, shedding and
always embarked rashly in brutal fighting." He also said, "The psychological
temper of the Jews always remained very close to the most primitive nations. The
Jews were stubborn, were dupes and simpletons, were rude like beasts and acted
like babies … You could not find a nation like the Jews who lacked the sense of
artists."
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