Why Muslims Don’t Believe the Jews are God’s Chosen People

The notion that the Jews are the ‘chosen people’ and have a special relationship with God is ubiquitous in several biblical verses.

Here is what the scripture has to say concerning their status:

The LORD your God has chosen you to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. [Deuteronomy 14:2] Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. [Exodus 19:5] It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers. [Deuteronomy 7:7–8]

The Islamic belief is that the Jews once had the same truth that Muslims have, but it was corrupted over time.

Islam is the preserved pure religion of all the prophets sent by God. The Qur’an is the last scripture revealed by God confirming what little truth remains in parts of previous scriptures by correcting fabrications and additions which have crept into current day versions of such scriptures.

The Jews believe they are the Chosen People of God to the exclusion of the rest of mankind by only virtue of their decent from Abraham (as) who was made the leader of mankind.

The Qur’an put this alleged preference for the Jews to rest when it declared that the divine classification of human beings is based on piety rather than lineage:

O mankind… indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. (49:13) 

The Qur’an challenged them concerning their belief that they are God’s chosen people:

Say, “O you who are Jews, if you claim that you are allies of Allah, excluding the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.” But they will not wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. (62:6-7) 

The Qur’an challenged them concerning their belief that heaven is reserved for them: 

“If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is for you alone and not the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful. But they will never wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers. (2:94-5) 

Allah asked if He chose them to be his ‘special’, ‘chosen’, and ‘beloved’ people, then why does He punish them for their sins?

But 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 human beings from among those He has created. (5:18) 

Prophet Muhammad (saws) also put this false Jewish claim to rest when he declared that all of mankind are as equal in his sight as are the teeth of a comb. (Sahih Bukhari).

Some of the most learned Rabbis of all times believe that the divine soul, or spirit, was breathed into the ‘chosen people’ only.

The Qur’an indicates that at no time did Allah ever declare that the divine soul, or spirit, was only breathed into the Israelite people to the exclusion of all other human beings.

The Qur’an put this false Jewish belief to rest when it declared Allah honoured all of mankind (without exception):

And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference. (17:70)

The honour that was bestowed on all of mankind had to be the soul, or spirit, which is breathed into every human being.

The Qur’an confirmed that Allah can bless any of His true servants by strengthening him with a soul, or spirit, from Him:

“…Those – He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him…” (58:22) He sends down the angels, with the inspiration of His command, upon whom He wills of His servants, [telling them], “Warn that there is no deity except Me; so fear Me.” (16:2) 

All human beings are blessed with a soul that is breathed into them by God Himself, and that selective human beings who have faith in their hearts and whose conduct is righteous, can be chosen by Allah to be blessed to receive a visit from the ‘Holy Spirit’.

Since the Jews declared their enmity against Angel Gabriel (2:97), they have no access to the Holy Spirit. 

We must now ask, where did this Jewish claim come from?

The Qur’an confirms that the Israelite people descended from Abraham (as), and Allah conferred on Abraham (as) the status of being the religious leader of mankind.

Abraham (as) responded with a request that his seed should also share in that status. As a consequence, the Israelite people came to the conclusion that since they were from the seed of Abraham, they had a special status conferred upon them.

The Qur’an explained that Allah’s response to Abraham’s request was to grant it conditionally (2:124). 

Allah went on to fulfill that favour unto Abraham (as) by choosing prophets from his seed, hence, the continuous line of Prophets chosen from the seed of Abraham (as) who were all sent to the Israelites. This continued uninterruptedly until the birth of Jesus.

Allah delivered a stern warning when He established His Covenant with Abraham (as). The Israelites were warned that if they engaged in wicked conduct, then they would lose their covenanted status, and as a consequence, Prophets would no longer emerge from their seed.

The majority of the Israelite people had committed numerous acts of wickedness, and Allah recounted some of those acts in the Qur’an (4:154-161). 

The Israelites proved themselves to be unworthy of leadership of mankind due to their disobedience and continuous transgressions.

In fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham [2:124], Allah then shifted the leadership from the Children of Israel to the children of Ishmael [2:143], and appointed Muhammad (saws) as the final prophet.

Thus, the role of leadership of mankind to convey the message of God is now the responsibility of Muslims.