adoption of pagan customs through their age-old association with heathens had beclouded
their pristine faith in monotheism.
It was thus reasonably expected that if they did not side with the Muslims, they would at
least remain non-partisan. At any rate, Islam testified the divine origin of scriptures and
called upon the Muslims to have faith in all the Hebrew Prophets (r). This was later to
become a fundamental tenet of faith in Islam as affirmed by the succeeding Qur’anic verse:
“Each one believeth in Allah and His Angels and His scriptures and His messengers -
We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” [Qur'an 2:285]Would that the Jews had understood the conciliatory mood of Islam; had it been so, the
history of Islam or rather that of the world would have been entirely different today. Then
Islam would not have faced the impediments it had to encounter in the dissemination of its
message, especially in its initial stages, resulting from the strife between the early Muslims
armed only with the strength of their faith and the powerful and influential, educated as
well as wealthy Jews of old.
This enmity can be attributed to two causes. One of these was envy and covetousness,
bigotry and narrow-mindedness.
Had there been a political leader in place of the Prophet of Allah (r) he would have tact-
fully met the Jews halfway, especially in view of their importance in the tangled politics of
Madinah. Even if it were not possible to placate the Jews, a national leader would have at
least avoided setting them at odds against him by concealing his ultimate objective. But, as
Messenger of Allah (r), he had to proclaim the truth, interdict what was forbidden and
countenance no vestiges of evil and peccantliness. He had been saddled with the responsi-
bility to deliver the message of Allah to the whole World throughout all races and nations
including the Jews and Christians as well as to invite them to accept Islam regardless of its
costs or consequences. This was really the path taken by all the Prophets of old--a distinc-
tive mark only akin to them, one which is in no way followed and cherished by politicians
and national leaders alike.
But, this was what the Jews detested most for it struck at the very roots of their beliefs
and outlook, leading them to become hostile to Islam and the Muslims. They gave up their
earlier policy of steering the middle course and decided to oppose Islam in every way possi-
ble, openly as well as through intrigues. Israel Welphenson, quoted here, has been frank and
straightforward in his analysis of the reasons for ill will between the Jews and the Muslims.
“If the teachings of the Prophet (r) had been restricted only to the denunciation of idola-
try and the Jews had not been called upon to acknowledge his Prophethood, there would
have been no conflict between the Jews and the Muslims. The Jews might have then com-
mended and acclaimed the Prophet’s doctrine of monotheism and backed him or even
supported him with men and other material resources until he had succeeded in destroying