Did Islam Hate Jews in the 6th and 7th Century? A Historical and Scriptural Analysis
For years many have asked whether Islam originally hated Jews or whether the hostility developed later. The answer is not simple, but it is historically traceable. Islam did not begin with hatred toward Jews. Instead, tensions grew progressively from religious rejection, political conflict, and military events in Muhammad’s lifetime. These conflicts later shaped Islamic scripture, law, and attitudes for centuries.
To understand this clearly, we must walk through the history of Islam in the 6th and 7th centuries, examine early Islamic scripture, and study the documented conflicts between Muhammad and Jewish tribes in Arabia.
This article provides a factual, thoroughly sourced, and chronological explanation of how Islamic attitudes toward Jews formed.
Eventually, the Quran changed and changed its belief out of jealousy and rejection from the Christians and Jews.
1. Did Islam Exist in the 6th Century?
Islam did not exist in the 6th century.
Muhammad was born in 570 AD, and Islamic revelation began in 610 AD. Therefore:
-
In the 500s (6th century): No Islam, no Qur’an, no Islamic doctrine.
-
In the early 600s (7th century): Muhammad begins preaching.
-
Around 622–632 AD: Islam forms its government, laws, and identity in Medina.
So the real question is:
Did Islam develop hatred toward Jews during the 7th century?
The historical answer is yes, but not at the beginning.
2. Early Islam’s Initial Relationship with Jews (610–622 AD)
Muhammad’s hope for Jewish acceptance
When Muhammad first began preaching monotheism in Mecca, he believed Jews would support him because:
-
They too worshiped one God.
-
They traced their lineage to Abraham.
-
They already had a prophetic tradition.
Muhammad initially positioned himself as a reformer restoring the faith of Abraham, assuming Jews would recognize him.
He even:
-
Prayed toward Jerusalem (before the Qibla changed to Mecca)
-
Adopted a fast similar to Yom Kippur
-
Used Old Testament stories to validate his message
He expected affirmation from Jewish rabbis, believing his revelations aligned with the Hebrew Scriptures.
But Jewish leaders rejected him
Jewish scholars in Arabia examined his teachings and declared openly:
-
Muhammad did not meet the requirements of a biblical prophet
-
His revelations contradicted the Torah
-
His teachings contained errors in biblical stories
They concluded he was not a prophet sent by the God of Israel.
This rejection deeply angered Muhammad and became a turning point.
3. In Medina (622–632 AD): Conflict Explodes Between Muhammad and Jews
When Muhammad fled Mecca and migrated to Medina in 622 AD, he entered a city containing three powerful Jewish tribes:
-
Banu Qaynuqa
-
Banu Nadir
-
Banu Qurayza
Each of these tribes eventually came into conflict with Muhammad. Historical Islamic sources document these events, including:
These conflicts fundamentally shaped Islamic attitudes toward Jews.
Let’s walk through them.
A. The Banu Qaynuqa (624 AD) — Expelled
Muhammad accused the Banu Qaynuqa of breaking an agreement after a conflict with a Muslim woman in the marketplace.
As a result:
This was the first major break between Muhammad and Jewish tribes.
B. The Banu Nadir (625 AD) — Expelled and Land Seized
Muhammad next accused the Banu Nadir of plotting to assassinate him.
Whether the plot occurred or was a political justification is debated by historians.
Muhammad ordered:
This increased animosity profoundly.
C. The Banu Qurayza (627 AD) — Mass Execution
This is the most severe and influential incident.
Background:
During the Battle of the Trench, Muhammad accused the Banu Qurayza of conspiring with Meccan armies.
After the battle:
Muhammad besieged their fortress, leading to their surrender.
Punishment:
Islamic historical records agree:
-
600–900 Jewish men were executed
-
Women and children were enslaved
-
Property was divided among Muslims
-
Young women were taken as concubines
These events are recorded in:
-
Sahih Bukhari
-
Sunni Hadith collections
-
Ibn Ishaq’s Sira
-
Al-Tabari
This massacre radically shifted the tone of Islamic scripture concerning Jews.
From this period forward, hostile Qur’anic verses appear.
4. Quranic Verses Against Jews — Written During These Conflicts
Hostility toward Jews in the Qur’an does not appear in the earliest Meccan revelations, but it becomes pronounced in the Medinan period.
Here are notable examples directly tied to conflict:
“Jews are apes and pigs.” — Qur’an 5:60
“The Jews are the most hostile to the believers.” — Qur’an 5:82
“Do not take Jews or Christians as friends.” — Qur’an 5:51
“Fight the Jews and Christians until they pay the jizya with humiliation.” — Qur’an 9:29
These verses were:
-
Written after Jews rejected Muhammad
-
Reinforced political subjugation
-
Reflected military conflict
This is the root of Islamic hostility toward Jews in the 7th century.
5. Did Early Islam Teach Hatred Toward Jews?
A balanced historical perspective requires three major conclusions:
1. Islam did not begin with hatred toward Jews.
Muhammad initially hoped Jews would affirm him.
2. Jewish rejection of Muhammad caused escalating hostility.
This rejection led to:
-
confrontations
-
expulsions
-
executions
-
changes in scripture
3. By the mid 7th century, hostility became embedded in Islamic law and scripture.
The consequences were long-lasting:
-
Dhimmi status (non-Muslims considered inferior)
-
Jizya tax required from Jews and Christians
-
Restrictions on worship, dress, and property
-
Jews viewed as subordinate under Islamic rule
This created a 1,400-year pattern of tension between Muslims and Jews.
6. Not Racial Hatred — Religious and Political
Islam did not develop hatred toward Jews because of their ethnicity.
Rather, conflict emerged because:
-
Jews rejected Muhammad as a prophet
-
Jewish tribes resisted his political rise
-
Muhammad punished and subdued opposing tribes
This is why hostility is religious, not ethnic.
Islam teaches:
-
Jews are “People of the Book”
-
Jews must not be annihilated
-
But Jews must live under Islamic authority
-
Jews cannot be equals to Muslims
This laid the foundation for centuries of Islamic antisemitism.
7. The Result: A 1,400-Year Pattern of Conflict
From Muhammad’s lifetime onward, Jews often lived under:
While not constant across all Islamic empires, the pattern originated in the 7th century events between Muhammad and the Jewish tribes.
8. Summary of the Historical Evidence
6th century:
Islam did not exist. No hatred.
Early 7th century (610–622):
Muhammad hoped Jews would accept him.
Mid 7th century (622–632):
Jewish rejection → conflict → military action → executions.
Later 7th century:
Hostile Qur’anic verses appear; formalized Islamic law places Jews under dhimmi status.
Is Islam Jealous of the Blessings of the Jews and Their Connection to Abraham?
Short Answer:
Yes — historically and theologically, Islamic tradition shows apparent tension and rivalry with the Jewish claim to Abraham, the covenant, the land, and the promises.
Not “jealousy” in the emotional sense, but a religious competition for legitimacy that has existed since the 7th century.
The Core Issue: Abrahamic Legitimacy
Judaism teaches:
Islam teaches:
This creates a direct conflict of identity:
| Judaism | Islam |
|---|
| Isaac is the chosen son | Ishmael is the chosen son |
| Jews inherit the land promised to Abraham | Muslims claim they are the true heirs of Abraham |
| Covenant of circumcision given to Abraham & Isaac | Islam claims Abraham was a Muslim and so are his descendants |
Islam’s Theological Reversal of Jewish Blessings
To validate itself, Islam rewrites key biblical truths:
✔ Jerusalem
Judaism: God chose Jerusalem for His name (1 Kings 11:36).
Islam: Claims the Temple Mount through the “Night Journey” (7th century addition).
✔ Abraham
Judaism: Abraham was the father of the Hebrew people.
Islam: Abraham was the first Muslim (Qur’an 3:67).
✔ The Covenant
Judaism: Covenant through Isaac.
Islam: Claims Ishmael’s lineage.
✔ The Temple
Judaism: Central place of worship.
Islam: Builds the Dome of the Rock on top of the Temple site in 691 AD to assert supremacy.
This is not coincidence—it is religious rivalry.
Abrogation (Naskh) — Earlier Friendly Verses Replaced by Later Hostile Ones
Islamic scholars teach “abrogation” (naskh), meaning later verses cancel earlier ones.
Most peaceful and friendly Meccan verses were nullified by later Medinan commands to fight.
For example:
Surah 9 is one of the last chapters revealed — and it is the most hostile toward Jews and Christians.
New revelations began attacking Jews and Christians:
Hostile Medinan passages:
-
“The Jews are the most hostile to the believers.” (Qur’an 5:82)
-
“Fight those who do not believe… among the People of the Book.” (Qur’an 9:29)
-
“May Allah destroy them; how deluded they are.” (Qur’an 9:30)
-
“The Jews say Ezra is the son of Allah.” (Qur’an 9:30)
Conclusion:
Islam’s hostility toward Jews is historically traceable, originating from:
-
Jewish rejection of Muhammad
-
Political and tribal confrontation
-
Warfare in Medina
-
Scripture written in the context of conflict
This shaped Islamic attitudes for more than a millennium.
By Teresa Morin, Truth News
