Jews and their betrayals

By sheikh Ibn Othaymin

Know that Jihaad is of two types: a Jihaad against the soul and a Jihaad against the enemy. The Jihaad of the soul comes first.

O Muslims! O nation of Muhammad! O nation of the religion of Islaam; the religion that gathered the traits of firm resolution, power, magnanimity and dignity; the religion that guides to all the good of this worldly life along with that of the Hereafter!

Your religion is being targeted by its enemies who are waiting for it to meet with disasters and are anticipating its collapse. They are attacking this religion from every conceivable direction. They attack Islaam through faith and ideology by changing correct and sound beliefs and ideologies to corrupt and deviant ones. The enemies of Islaam attack it with vice and depravity, opening wide every gate that corrupts the virtuous moralities and supreme ideals of its followers. The enemies of Islaam are also attacking it militarily, in order to weaken its followers, disunite them and scatter them in every direction.

Recently the Jews, who have historically nurtured severe enmity towards Muslims which continues to the present time, assaulted some Arab Muslim countries. Allaah, the Exalted and Glorified said that which translates as: “You will surely find the most intense people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allaah…." (Al-Maa'idah: 82). The Jews are the people who spoke about Allaah indecently when they said that which translates as: “The hand of Allaah is chained" (Al-Maa’idah: 64), meaning that He is a miser. Allaah responded to them by saying that which translates as: “Chained are their hands, and cursed are they for what they say." (Al-Maa’idah: 64). As a result, Allaah tied up their hands metaphorically by making them the most miserly people of all mankind. Due to this, we can observe that they never spend any money unless they are sure that they will attain a greater amount in return.

The Jews are those who broke Allaah’s covenant after it had been ratified. Allaah, the Exalted and Glorified said that which translates as: “And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allaah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], ‘You must make it clear [i.e. explain it] to the people and not conceal it’. But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased." (Aal-'Imraan: 187).

The Jews are those who murdered Allaah’s Prophets and spread mischief throughout the land; and Allaah hates those who make mischief.

The Jews are the people who conspired against the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and breached their treaty with him. When the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam emigrated to Madeenah, there were three tribes of Jews with whom he concluded treaties of safety and security. However, due to their treachery and betrayal, they infringed upon these.

Therefore, after the Muslims returned to Madeenah after the victorious Battle of Badr, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam expelled from Madeenah the Jews of the first of the three tribes, Banu Qaynuqaa’, due to their violation of the their treaty with him. Their women and offspring were evacuated safely, while the Muslims seized their property.

The Jews of Banu An-Nadeer, who were the second of the three Jewish tribes in Madeenah, were next in line for expulsion as they had also broken the pledge that they concluded with the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Therefore, following the Battle of Uhud, The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam besieged them until they surrendered and begged him to be allowed to leave Madeenah safely with whatever their camels could carry of their properties, except for the weapons and tools of war. Later on some of them settled in Khaybar and some in Shaam, or ancient Syria.

As for the Jews of Banu Quraydhah, who were the third of the three tribes, they broke their treaty with the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam during the Battle of Al-Ahzaab, when they thought that the Muslims were weak and pre-occupied. Therefore, after the battle, when the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam besieged them, they pleaded that Sa’d bin Mu’aadh, may Allaah be pleased with him, who was an old ally of theirs, be allowed to act as an arbiter to decide in their case. This request was granted by Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and Sa’d decided that their men, who numbered six to seven hundred, should be killed, their properties should be distributed among Muslims and that their women and offspring be held captive.

These are just some examples of the treachery of the Jews against the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Another example occurred during the conquest of Khaybar, when a Jewish woman presented to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam a poisoned roasted lamb. Contrary to the Jews hopes and expectations and although the Prophet ate from the poisoned lamb, he was not harmed. However, on his deathbed the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaybar and at this time I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison."

O Muslims! The Jews are notorious for their betrayal and treachery. They incurred Allaah’s curse and are deserving of His wrath. They made lawful what Allaah prohibited through stratagem and cunning. This is why Allaah cursed them and transmuted them into monkeys and pigs. Shame is pitched over them like a tent wherever they are found, except when under a covenant of protection from Allaah and from men.

O Muslims! We must strongly prepare for these and all other enemies of Islaam, whoever and wherever they are. We have to become stronger in order to fight the enemies of Islaam with the same weapons they use in order to plant a wedge between their ranks.

We must realise that victory is based on certain conditions which are as follows:

First :To be sincere in our intention and know that the only purpose of Jihaad is to exalt the supremacy of Allaah's religion to and firmly establish the Islamic Sharee’ah; which is based on the noble Qur’aan and the Prophetic Sunnah.

Second: To foster patience and piety, since Allaah is with those who observe patience and adhere to piety. We should observe steadfastness with regard to Jihaad and fear Allaah by adhering to all His commandments and abstaining from all His prohibitions. It is negligence with regard to the commandments of Allaah and His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam that incurs the abandoning of Allaah of his slaves, which in turn leads to defeat. When the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam failed to observe just one of his commandments at the Battle of Uhud, they were defeated after victory seemed certain. Later on, they were saved by Allaah’s mercy and forgiveness.

Third: To intelligently evaluate our strength, bearing in mind that there is no might or power except with Allaah. We should not be conceited due to our strength and numbers, since arrogant pride without reliance on Allaah is a cause for defeat. The companions of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam were assured by their large numbers at the Battle of Hunayn, but this did not avail them and they turned back in retreat. However, Allaah sent down His tranquillity upon His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and the believers and assisted them with forces of angels. Therefore victory turned to the side of the believers.

Fourth: To use military arms which utilise state-of-the-art technology.
If the above four conditions are fulfilled, Allaah’s promise as stated in the following verse will come true: Allaah, the Exalted and Glorified said that which translates as: “O you who have believed, if you support Allaah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet." (Muhammad: 7).

O young Muslim men! You are the future! You are the men of firm resolution! You are the men of determination! Embark upon training if you are not doing so already. Do not allow yourself to be ignorant of the simplest types of defence. Are you satisfied with backwardness while you are the generation of the modern age? Allaah has created you and requires you to defend your religion and the Muslim nation. I hope that your achievements will be a source of ease for the Muslim nation and bring about its felicity, tranquillity and prosperity. I ask Allaah to guide us to be among those who exert their efforts in His cause and support His religion. Allaah, the Exalted and Glorified said that which translates as: “And Allaah will surely support those who support Him [i.e., His cause]. Indeed, Allaah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. Those who if we give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allaah belongs the outcome of [all] matters." (Al-Hajj: 40-41).