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Fatwa CenterThe reason that Allaah favored the Jews over other nations at their time
Question
What is the origin of the famous saying, “The Jews are the chosen People of Allaah”? Is it mentioned in the Torah, despite the well-known fact that they had brought upon themselves the Wrath of Allaah?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
According to the Quran, the children of Israa’eel were indeed selected from all the nations that existed at the time and greatly favored by Allaah The Almighty. In fact, many verses indicate this meaning. However, it should be noted that they were not granted such privilege for their race or color, rather this was because many prophets were sent amongst them. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned that they had many prophets; whenever one died another succeeded. [Muslim]
Allaah The Exalted relates the speech of Moosa (Moses) 
while addressing the children of Israa’eel, Saying (what means): {And [mention, O Muhammad], when Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember the favor of Allaah upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.}[Quran 5:20]
Allaah also Says (what means): {And We certainly chose them by knowledge over [all] the worlds.}[Quran 44: 32]
However, they were ungrateful to Allaah and rejected the Message that He conveyed through His prophets. Thus, they deserved to be cursed and to experience the Wrath of Allaah; Allaah Says (what means): {They have been put under humiliation [by Allaah] wherever they are overtaken, except for a covenant from Allaah and a rope from the Muslims. And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allaah and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in the verses of Allaah and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.}[Quran 5:112]
Moreover, some of them were transformed into monkeys and pigs, in addition to other forms of humiliation and torment they were subjected to.
Actually, they were privileged when they followed their prophets, which was something they could barely keep on doing. Rather, accusing their prophets of lying and attempting to kill them was their normal practice. Indeed Allaah Says (what means): {But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.}[Quran 2:87]
Later on, when the Prophethood was sealed by Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Allaah The Almighty declared his followers to be the best of nations, Saying (what means):
· {You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men.}[Quran 3: 110]
· {And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people.}[Quran 2:143]
The attitude of the Jews towards the Prophets never changed. They treated Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the same way they had treated the preceding prophets, accusing him of lying, attempting to kill him, abusing him and inciting others against him.
Allaah Knows best.
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