UPDATE: Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ Al-Qassam Military Brigades opened a recent pronouncement with the same baleful, Jew-hating Qur’anic reference to sura 17, specifically verse 17:4, invoked by the imam at the Islamic Center of Rhode Island.
Sermon excerpts also linked here.
Briefly, the sermon (text and additional references, below) interweaves a libelous narrative about the ongoing conflagration in Gaza, and the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria (“unprecedented atrocities against children”), with the “glories” of Islam’s martyrdom obsession (2:154; 9:111), including the martyrdom of children. Antisemitic Qur’anic themes of the Jews’ punishment in the corporeal world (devastation by both the Babylonian and Roman conquests), and ultimate assignment to Hellfire in the Hereafter, for transgressing the will of Allah by spreading corruption, through their arrogance and tyranny (i.e., the concrete reference to sura 17, “Isra,” or “Bani Israil,” especially verses 17:4 to 17:10), are melded to the theme of “prophet killing” (see Qur’an 2:61, 3:112, etc.), and a grossly ahistorical, reductio ad absurdum assessment of what transpired surrounding the creation of modern Israel, and The Holocaust. The imam’s risible “synopsis” claims that Muslims, ostensibly in what is now Gaza, Judea-Samaria, Jordan, and Israel within the 1948-49 armistice borders, “welcomed” the Jews into “their” lands. These ungrateful Jews, who were escaping only European (but no mention of Middle Eastern Muslim) persecution, betrayed the “welcoming” Muslims of these regions by subsequently persecuting the Muslims, despite the warm welcome (see pp. 150-64) the Muslims had just recently afforded them!
Transcript of Antisemitic sermon excerpts:
… “(The) issue here is we are living in a time and age. We see what is going on in Gaza. What is going on in Palestine. There is (are) alot of unprecedented atrocities against children. Against innocent civilians. People being killed. And they are shuhada (martyrs). We understand they are with Allah (“most glorified, most high”) (s.w.t.) Because Allah (“most glorified, most high”) said Do not even take those who are killed for the sake of Allah. Because they said they are killed only for that reason. (to be martyrs; Quran 2:154) Because they are Muslims. They are killed only for that reason. So do not even put this thought in your mind. Do not even take those who are killed for the sake of Allah. Do not think they are dead. But they are living. They are being provided by Allah (“most glorified, most high”) And this is, you know the context of this ayah. (Quranic verse; Quran 2:154) I think I explained one time about the context of this ayah. When there were some shuhada in Uhud. And their children asked The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about what has happened to them.
So The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave them the a response. So this is what happened when they were killed. Allah (“most glorified, most high”) put their souls in the bodies of green birds. And they were enjoying and running around in the Jannah (Heaven/Paradise).
And with the chandeliers of the Arsh (throne of Allah). And Allah (“most glorified, most high”) told them, wish something. And they said, Ya Allah, you have given us everything. You have given us everything. And Allah said again, wish. And they said, O Allah, you have given us everything.
We don’t have any wish. So Allah (“most glorified, most high”) kept on asking them. So they said, O Allah, send us back to Dunya (earth/earthly concerns). So we are killed for your sake again and again. So Allah (“most glorified, most high”) said, this is not possible. So then they said, O Allah, give the good news to our Prophet. Give the good news that you have blessed us. And you have given us all these namaz (prayer) in Jannah. So Allah (“most glorified, most high”) revealed, ‘Do not think those who are killed for the sake of Allah, they are dead. But they are alive with their Lord being provided.’ (Quran 2:154). So may Allah (“most glorified, most high”) bless those souls who were killed for His sake.
So Allah (“most glorified, most high”) talked about certain things in Surah Al-Isra (“Bani Israil”/chap 17) in the beginning. (regarding Bani Israil/the Jews). And so there are two occasions (Quran 17:4) of Fasad Filad. Fasad Filad is creating chaos and killing and all that (is) on the earth.
So I don’t want to, these are very, very deep meanings and there is (are) lot of opinions of scholars about these ayaat. (Quranic verses; Quran 17:4–10) but in the end of this fasad filak, Allah (“most glorified, most high”) says if you return to fasad we will return to punish you (the Jews; Quran 17:4-7) and we have made hell as a dungeon as a prison for the disbelievers (Quran 17:8; the Jews)…
…S]o don’t think like that because enjoining good and forbidding evil is a duty on every Muslim because Bani Israel they left this, Bani Israel/Israil, Israelites (Jews) the descendants those who were given the book (Torah), but they didn’t follow that book they did not follow that book so Allah (“most glorified, most high”) is giving us case studies case studies of Israelites how they disobeyed their prophets (Quran 5:25–6) how they even treated their prophets even they used to kill their prophets (2:61/3:112) and they used to kick out the people from their homes and kill children this happened to them by Pharaoh. Pharaoh used to kill children and leave the women alive and then recently the Europeans had caused this Holocaust not Muslims. Muslims welcomed the Jews to their lands for the scene was an open and friendly and welcome land for a protection and refuge for those who were persecuted in Europe but instead of being reciprocated and returning those favor(s) with favor they kicked out the same people who had given them refuge in their own homes those same people who were their hosts who were their protectors and who were giving them refuge from that persecution were kicked out from their homes and (are) being persecuted”
Key Qur’anic verses referenced in full English translation:
Qur’an 2:154: “And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah , ‘They are dead.’ Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not.”
Qur’an 5:25-26: “Moses] said, ‘My Lord, indeed I do not possess except myself and my brother, so part us from the defiantly disobedient people.’”; “[Allah] said, ‘Then indeed, it is forbidden to them for forty years [in which] they will wander throughout the land. So do not grieve over the defiantly disobedient people.’”
Qur’an 17:4-10: “And We conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture that, You will surely cause corruption on the earth twice, and you will surely reach [a degree of] great haughtiness.’”; “So when the [time of] promise came for the first of them, We sent against you servants of Ours – those of great military might, and they probed [even] into the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled.”; “Then We gave back to you a return victory over them. And We reinforced you with wealth and sons and made you more numerous in manpower.”; “[And said], ‘If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, [you do it] to yourselves.’ Then when the final promise came, [We sent your enemies] to sadden your faces and to enter the temple in Jerusalem, as they entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had taken over with [total] destruction.”; “[Then Allah said], ‘It is expected, [if you repent], that your Lord will have mercy upon you. But if you return [to sin], We will return [to punishment]. And We have made Hell, for the disbelievers, a prison-bed.’”; “Indeed, this Qur’an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.”; “And that those who do not believe in the Hereafter – We have prepared for them a painful punishment.”
Excerpts from late (d. 2010) Al-Azhar University Grand Imam, and leading modern Sunni Muslim Qur’anic exegete (commentator) Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi’s commentaries on Qur’an 17:8 and 17:10:
From his commentary on 17:8—”you (the Jews) will surely corrupt the earth twice, and you will be arrogant towards the people without right, a great arrogance, which will lead you to loss and destruction… Among the manifestations of their corruption on earth was their distortion of the Torah, their abandonment of working with the rulings in it, and their killing of the prophets and reformers… their punishment [was] because of their corruption on earth… , We sent upon you and directed towards you {Our servants, possessors of great might} meaning possessors of great force in wars and fighting, so they humiliated you. They subjugated you and searched for you among the dwellings and homes, to kill whoever of you remained alive. This was the aforementioned resurrection and what resulted from it of killing you, stealing your money, violating your honor, and destroying your homes.”
From his commentary on 17:10—”And His statement – Glory be to Him – {And that those who do not believe in the Hereafter – We have prepared for them a painful punishment} is a statement of the evil end of those who do not respond to the guidance of the Noble Qur’an, and it is connected to His statement – Glory be to Him – {That they will have a great reward}. That is, this Qur’an gives the believers good tidings of a great reward, and gives – by way of sarcasm – good tidings of a painful punishment to those who do not believe in the Hereafter and what it contains of accountability, reward, and punishment.”
