Ethnicism Vs Honor of Taqwa

IQNA – While a group of Jews consider themselves to be the superior race and refuse to be accountable for their conducts, the Holy Quran rejects all racist, economic and social discriminations and introduces Taqwa as the criterion of virtue.

The Quran differentiates the Jews who are moderate and believe in the Resurrection Day from those Jews who break their promises:

“Some of them are modest people, but many of them commit the worst sins.” (Verse 66 of Surah Al-Ma’idah)

The Quran cites many negative characteristics for the second group in history, one of which is racism and nationalism.

Leon Simon, a prominent Jewish researcher believes that Judaism, unlike Christianity, does not promise the salvation of the individual’s soul and that all of the ideas and concepts of Judaism are interconnected with the existence of the Jewish people.

The Holy Quran cites and rejects false claims of the Jewish people’s superiorly over others. For example:

“We are the sons of Allah and His beloved ones.” (Verse 18 of Surah Al-Ma’idah)

“And they say: None shall enter the garden (or paradise) except he who is a Jew or a Christian. These are their vain desires. Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful.” (Verse 111 of Surah Al-Baqarah)

“They say: ‘The Fire will never touch us except for a number of days.’” (Verse 80 of Surah Al-Baqarah)

The Quran rejects these claims in different ways. For instance, says: “ (Ask them) Have you received a promise from Allah, then Allah will not fail to perform His promise, or do you speak against Allah what you do not know?” (Verse 80 of Surah Al-Baqarah)

Or the Quran says in Verse 94 of the same Surah: “(Muhammad), tell them, ‘If your claim is true that the home with God in the everlasting life hereafter is for you alone, you should have a longing for death.’”

Belief in race superiority is another reason for Jews not to be accountable in the face of others. The Quran says: “And among the followers of the Book there are some such that if you entrust one (of them) with a heap of wealth, he shall pay it back to you; and among them there are some such that if you entrust one (of them) with a dinar he shall not pay it back to you except so long as you remain firm in demanding it; this is because they say: There is not upon us in the matter of the unlearned people any way (to reproach); and they tell a lie against Allah while they know.” (Verse 75 of Surah Al Imran)

So this group of Jews consider extremist ethnicism and nationalism as a divine religion, unlike the Quran that dismisses all racist, ethnic, tribal, geographical, ideological, cultural, social and military discriminations and considers Taqwa (God-fearing and piety) as the criterion of virtue and honor: “People, We have created you all male and female and have made you nations and tribes so that you would recognize each other. The most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most pious of you. God is All-knowing and All-aware.” (Verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat)  

In this verse, three important principles are highlighted: equality in creation of men and women, differences in human characteristics, and the fact that Taqwa is the criterion of virtue.