Bani Israil: Nation of the Quran in Islamic History

Nation of the Quran

Nation of the Quran

Bani Israilبنو إسرائيل

The Quran gives no dateTraditional date, disputedJerusalem

The children of Yaqub, who was also called Israil. Allah saved them from Firaun, gave them the Torah and sent them prophet after prophet, from Musa to Isa. The Quran recalls both their favours and their failures: the calf, refusing to enter the Holy Land, and breaking their covenants.

What does the Quran say?

O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds.
Quran 2:47

2:40-61 2:83-93 2:246-251 5:12-13 5:20-26 7:137-171 17:2-8 20:80-82 44:30-33 45:16-17

How did they end?

They were not destroyed as one nation. The Quran says they would spread corruption twice and be punished each time (17:4-7), and that some of them remained upright (7:159).

What do historians say?

The Merneptah Stele (c. 1208 BCE) is the oldest known mention of 'Israel', and the Tel Dan inscription (9th century BCE) mentions the 'House of David'. There is no direct archaeological evidence of the Exodus, and its date is debated.

The lesson

Being chosen is a trust that must be kept, not a privilege of birth.

Who else is linked?

Musa Kingdom of Dawud and Sulayman Yaqub Harun Dawud Sulayman Isa Judea Canaan Jericho (Ariha)Valley of Elah The Sea Crossing (Red Sea)Sinai (the Wilderness)Mount Sinai (al-Tur)Ayla (Aqaba)Pi-Ramesses (Avaris)

Everyone and everything in the timeline

People named in the Quran and the hadith, the Prophet's ﷺ family and Companions, scholars, rulers, the nations of the Quran, the world's empires and the places where it all happened. Where scholars differ, each entry says so.

Bani Israil