Sheikh Salam :
Dear brothers and sisters, thank you all for your valuable comments. I would like to briefly clarify the difference between three terms that are often confused: “the Children of Israel (Banu Israel),” “the Jews,” and “Judaism.”
1. The Children of Israel (Banu Israel)
Israel is the Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him). Allah says:
“All food was lawful to the Children of Israel except what Israel made unlawful for himself before the Torah was revealed.”
(Qur’an 3:93)
Therefore, the Children of Israel are all the descendants of Prophet Jacob through his twelve sons. This is a genealogical and ancestral designation, not the name of a religion.
2. The Jews
Historically, the name “Jews” became associated with Judah (Yehuda), the son of Jacob, and later with the Kingdom of Judah after the united kingdom of the Children of Israel split into two kingdoms. For this reason, most Jews historically trace their ancestry to Judah, although the Jewish people have also included members of the tribes of Benjamin and Levi, as well as converts to Judaism throughout history.
3. Judaism
Judaism is a religion, not a lineage. The Qur’an makes it clear that the prophets did not belong to later religious labels. Allah says:
“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. Rather, he was a man of pure faith, a Muslim, and he was not among the polytheists.”
(Qur’an 3:67)
Therefore, not every descendant of the Children of Israel was a Jew, and not every Jew is necessarily a descendant of the Children of Israel, since people from other backgrounds embraced Judaism throughout history.
In summary:
• The Children of Israel: the descendants of Prophet Jacob (Israel), peace be upon him.
• The Jews: a historical and ethnic designation that became associated with Judah and later the Jewish people.
• Judaism: a religion, not a bloodline.
Finally, my statement in the video was intended as a general and simplified explanation for a broad audience, not as a detailed historical discussion. When discussing the subject in depth, these distinctions are certainly important.
Thank you again for your thoughtful comments. Respectful and constructive discussions help all of us learn. May Allah grant us
2026-07-09 11:16:41