Sura 2:47 - the preference of the Children of Israel

[theplains]

The answer is simple. The words, "I exalted you above all the peoples" does not refer to Israelites being exalted above everyone else for all times to come in the future. It only meant they were exalted above everyone else in their own respective time. The proof for this is in verse 3:33 "Allah did choose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of 'Imran above all peoples." Thus, the meaning of the Israelites being preferred over everyone else only refers to their own age.

Thank you.

Which age (in terms of B.C.E and C.E) are you referring to?

Jim

 

[Ahmad H]

I cannot put an exact number of the dates for the age. You said yourself in your question that you were wondering why the line of Israel (Jacob (as)) was favored. This favor from Allah ended by Jesus (as), prophethood ceased for some time, and then it was renewed and came again in the Holy Prophet (saw). If you can find out the ages when Israel (as) came and when Jesus (as)'s time ended, then that would be the time frame you are looking for.

I know that the Holy Prophet (saw) once said that 600 years before him Jesus (as) came into the world. This Hadith was in "Book of the Prophets" in Sahih Bukhari - one of the most interesting books in his Sahih. Sorry I couldn't give you the dates, but I would rather not put an exact time on the line of prophethood for the Israelites Prophets and say something which is untrue. I don't have the best historical knowledge on the timelines of the Prophets of Allah. Perhaps you might be more knowledgeable than I in this area. I don't know.

Peace be on those who seek the truth.

 

[Insaanah]

What specific time range (using the terms B.C to A.D.) is sura 2:47 referring to?

What specific time frame (using the terms B.C and/or A.D.) is sura 2:47 referring to?

What specific time frame (using the terms B.C.E or C.E.) is sura 2:47 referring to?

Which age (in terms of B.C.E and C.E) are you referring to?

I posted the question to this Islamic forum because I thought the Quran could share some insights on why sura 2:47 says what it says, and what specific time frame it has in mind.

No one on the forum has been able to explain the why or the when of this (as to when, I'm asking for BCE to CE ... considering
that the Children of Israel are contemporary to the Children of Ishmael).

Greetings Jim.

You're approaching the Qur'an like a history textbook, or at the very least like the Bible, which, as I've already mentioned to you in another thread, is not the right approach to take with the Qur'an:

I think it would be prudent for you to know that the Bible and the Qur'an differ in their approach to the story of Adam and Eve (peace be upon them both). They differ in the amount and type of information they provide, how it is presented, and the objectives of the stories. The Biblical account is more like a historical narrative, a story, with times, locations, and descriptions of places, things, and persons.

What is mentioned in the Qur'an is mentioned for the lessons to be drawn from it, rather than for the story itself, and as such there are less physical details.

Allah tells us only what He deems necessary for us to know to grasp the story, and learn the lesson contained within it, not intricate little details that we might otherwise get sidetracked on. In some places in the Qur'an, even individuals are mentioned without names. If the individual is righteous, that is mentioned. If he did a good deed, that is mentioned as being good. Enough detail is given for the message to be understood, without getting bogged down intricate details. We must remember that the Qur'an is above all, a book of guidance. In the Qur'an, it isn't about long detailed historical narratives, but what is mentioned is mentioned for the lessons and morals contained within it. Had there been any benefit to us by knowing exactly where this garden/paradise was, Allah would have mentioned it for us, as He did with some other things in the Qur'an.

http://www.islamicboard.com/clarifi...6-adam-eves-expulsion-garden.html#post1558965

So you will not find anywhere such dates, nor will anyone give them to you. To get bogged down in dates, is to miss the point.

Muslims now possess an original and unchanged scripture from God - we must make sure that we take on board the warnings, learn the lessons, and make sure that we do not repeat the same sins and mistakes that the Children of Israel did, such as pitching one prophet against the other, rejecting some but accepting others, blaspheming some etc, as just one example. May peace be upon all the prophets, all the ones we know of and that have been mentioned by name, those that are mentioned without name, and those whose stories we haven't been told and that we are unaware of.

I believe others have answered your remaining questions adequately.

Peace.

 

[tearose]

Another version has it worded a little differently.

Hello,
Just wanted to point out that versions is not the right word here - they are just different translations of the original Arabic text. I wasn't sure if you were aware of that. It may be useful if you have a look at a good tafseer (commentary) as you are reading, like ibn Katheer for example, you can read them free online. Let us know if you have any more queries, I am going to look into some of the questions you mentioned on the other thread insha Allah, but I think the other members have already answered your questions here

 

[Insaanah]

Assalaamu alaikum, and peace and greetings to all.

Please note that the discussion on why "God" came down to earth/appeared to the Jews, has been moved to a new thread in the Comparative Religion section, here:

http://www.islamicboard.com/compara...come-down-earth-appear-specifically-jews.html

If wanting to discuss that topic, please do so there, so that this thread remains for the original topic.

Thank you.

 

[Al-Mufarridun]

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them.
[ Allah ] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people."
[Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?"
[ Allah ] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." [Quran: 2:124]



But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed. [Quran 2:87]



And [Noah] said, "Embark therein; in the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful." [Quran 11:42]

And it sailed with them through waves like mountains, and Noah called to his son who was apart [from them], "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers." [Quran 11:42]

[But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allah , except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned. [Quran 11:43]

And Noah called to his Lord and said, "My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You are the most just of judges!" [Quran 11:45]
He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant." [Quran 11:46]

________________________________________


Allah swt doesn't prefer a people over another simply because of their race or lineage, Rather the lineage that Allah takes into account is the lineage of Righteousness. Thus we believers, as our Prophet(pbuh) taught us, are more loving and proud of the righteous children of Jacob(as), for they are our brothers in faith. May Allah swt have mercy on them all. Ameen.


Allah swt knows best.

 

[Abu Loren]

According to the Quran/Hadiths, why were the children of Israel (Jacob)
preferred over the children of Ishmael (Isaac's brother), or even Esau (Jacob's
brother)?

As'alaamu Alaikkum

With regard to Prophet Ishmael (Alayhi Salaam) it says in your Bible that he will be bessed and he his descendants will have a great kingdom. So Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala never ignored them nor abandoned them. His mother Hagar and Prophet Ishemael (Alayhi Salaam) were guided to the valley in Mecca so that his descendants will look after the Ka'aba. Esau on the hand in not even mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, we don't even know if Prophet Yacoub (Alayhi Salaam) had a brother. The Bible is not very kind to Esau and there is even a passage where God tells him that he is condemned even before he was born. I suspect that Esau was an invention like so many thing in the Bible

 

[theplains]

As'alaamu Alaikkum

With regard to Prophet Ishmael (Alayhi Salaam) it says in your Bible that he will be bessed and he his descendants will have a great kingdom. So Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala never ignored them nor abandoned them. His mother Hagar and Prophet Ishemael (Alayhi Salaam) were guided to the valley in Mecca so that his descendants will look after the Ka'aba. Esau on the hand in not even mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, we don't even know if Prophet Yacoub (Alayhi Salaam) had a brother. The Bible is not very kind to Esau and there is even a passage where God tells him that he is condemned even before he was born. I suspect that Esau was an invention like so many thing in the Bible

Thank you for your reply but it really didn't answer my question.

Peace.
Jim

 

[Abu Loren]

Thank you for your reply but it really didn't answer my question.

How convenient for you.