Why The Jews Were Cursed

From: http://www.islamicawakening.com

Muhammad ash-Shareef
Article ID: 636 6837 Reads

Rasul Allah's wife, Umm Al-Mu'mineen Safiyyah bint Huyayy - radi'Allahu 'anha - was the daughter of one of the Jewish leaders of Madinah. After her Islam, she informed the Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - when she had first felt the rays of Islam enter her blessed heart.
It was the day that Anas - radi Allahu 'anhu - describes as the most radiant day to every come upon al-Madinah - the day Rasul Allah - salAllahu alayhi wa sallam - entered it.

All the Ansar men, women and children gathered to greet him, cheers of praise to Allah filled the air.
Amongst the gathering were 2 men; as much as the Ansar and Muhaajireen revered the Prophet, they despised him. It was the father of Safiyyah - radi Allahu 'anha - and her uncle.
She was only a youngster as she looked into the darkness and gloom that had enveloped their faces when they returned home that day. Her Jewish uncle 1400 years ago asked, "Is it him? Is it the Prophet that our scriptures speak of?" Huyayy lowered his head and said, "Yes. It is him." "Then what shall we do?" Safiyyah's uncle continued. Huyayy looked into his eyes, "Till the final day we shall be his bitterest enemies!"

From the very first raka'ah of Taraweeh we read the verse in the opening Surah: [Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked (Your) anger!..]

Adiyy ibn Hatim asked Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - who it was that evoked Allah's anger? He said, "It was the Jews" - Tafseer Ibn Katheer
When I was in high school, studying in journalism class, our teacher had placed on the wall a statement that I spent many days contemplating. It simply said, "Freedom of the press (speech) belongs to those that own the press!" Who owns the press? Well, you can believe me when I say that it is not the god fearing beloved of Allah.

It is this same press that molds and programs the aqeedah of a huge section of our Ummah. Many of our brothers and sisters are illiterate to the words of Allah and the guidance of Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, so it is with little doubt that their ideas are subconsciously molded by what Seinfeld tells them at 8 pm every Wednesday evening.
It is this same brother or sister that asks the question, "I don't understand why the Jews were cursed. Seinfeld is funny. What did he do?"

This khutbah is our media and in sha' Allah we shall learn in these few moments only samples of what carried the Jews to evoke Allah's anger.

In the opening verses of Surat Al-Baqarah, Allah invites the Children of Isra'eel to come back - to remember the favor and blessing He bestowed upon them - and to fulfill the promise that they would follow the Prophet when he was sent to them.
[O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant upon you that I will fulfill your convenant (from Me) and fear only Me.] - Surah al-Baqarah 2/40

Allah saved them of their slavery to Fir'own, he saved them from sea and drowned Fir'own and his army. Allah selected them to receive food from the sky. Allah sent them Prophet after Prophet from amongst themselves, and sent the Holy scriptures - the Towrah and the Injeel. Allah preferred them over all others at their time.
[ ...And that I preferred you over the worlds (i.e. people).] - Surah al-Baqarah 2/47

How did they reply these Blessings of Allah?

(i) They Followed Only What They Wanted to
When a Prophet came to them, if what he taught did not appeal to them they either rejected that truth or slit the throat of the Prophet and followed what was to them appealing.
[We had already taken the covenant of the Children of Israel and had sent to them messengers. Whenever there came to them a messenger with what their souls did not desire, a groups (of the Messengers) they denied and another party they killed.] - al Maa'idah 5/70

And we must remember here that this is not the commentary of some human journalist who claims to be neutral. This is the Lord of the Universe telling us - in verses to be read till the final day - the deepest secrets that lie in the pits of Judaism. [And who is more truthful than Allah in statement!] - al Nisaa' 4/87

(ii) They Changed the Words of Allah
There was groups of Jews that would change the words of Allah - adding something here, deleting there - to pound the truth and keep the flock in servitude to what they desired.
[And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while they know.] Ali-Imran 3/78

(iii) Their claim that they are the beloved children of God
Ibn Abbas narrates: Nu'maan ibn Aasaa, Bahr ibn 'Amr and Shaas ibn Adee (3 Jews) came to Allah's Messenger - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam. He sat with them and invited them to Allah and warned them of Allah's anger. They replied, "Why are you trying to scare us O Muhammad? By God, we are the children of God and His beloved ones!" At that the verse was revealed:
[And the Jews and the Christians say, "We are the Children of Allah and His beloved." Say: "Then why does He punish you for your sins?" Rather, you are humans from among (all the others) that He created.] Al-Maa'idah 5/18 - Ibn Katheer 2/36

(iv) Their Blasphemous Statements
There came upon the Jews a time of poverty, so they went to Shaas ibn Qays and questioned him. He said, "Your Lord is stingy, he never provides." Allah revealed in the Qur'an:
[And the Jews say, "The hand of Allah is chained." Chained are their hands and cursed are they for what they say. Rather, both His hands are extended; He spends however He wills.] Al-Maa'idah 5/64

(v) Their Murdering of the Prophets
One of the most horrific sins that they performed was the slaughtering of their Prophets. This was one of the major reasons they were struck with humiliation.
[And they were covered with humiliation and poverty and returned with anger from Allah (upon them). That was because they (repeatedly) disbelieved in the signs of Allah and killed the Prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and were (habitually) transgressing.] - Baqarah 2/61

Not only did they try to kill their Prophets, but they attempted to assassinate Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - himself. RasulAllah went with some companions to meet with the Jews of Banu Nadheer. While he waited for them at the side of a building, they climed the roof with a boulder to crush down upon the head of Rasul Allah. Jibreel warned Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - of their plan. He stood up without saying anything, left for Madinah, and came back with an army. This was the cause of Banu Nadheer's expulsion from Madinah - Mukhtasar Seerat Ibn Hisham 159And the list goes on - They did not command the good or forbid the evil, they did not accept the ruling of what Allah revealed upon them, they disbelieved their book, they received food from the heavens but rejected it, they challenged their Prophet to show them Allah in this life, they took Angel Jibreel as their sworn enemy, they took the graves of their Prophets as symbols of worship ... and the list goes on and on in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Blogger comment:
Still some of them are good and they will work for saving their eternity unlike those who are tempted by Satan and forgot the life in the earth is short and they will face eternity in heaven or hell (Johanam).