Who is Israel? Is Israel a Prophet? Is Israel Jacob?
Question: How can Israel be Jacob when the verses speak of his offspring in the time of Noah and even before Noah? Jacob came long after Noah; how could his offspring exist before him and before Noah?
First Evidence:
Allah says: "And We gave Moses the Scripture and made it a guidance for the Children of Israel that you not take other than Me as a manager. Offspring of those We carried with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant." [Al-Isra 2-3].
It is noteworthy here that Allah refers to them as the "offspring" of someone before Noah who were carried with Noah, as they boarded the Ark and were saved with him. Consequently, "Israel," who is the source of their lineage, logically predates Noah.
Second Evidence:
In the story of Adam's two sons, Allah says: "And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth," then says: "And his soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers." followed by: "Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely."
We notice a remarkable sequence linking the events; He warned them (the Children of Israel) immediately after the incident of murder not to follow the barbaric path of their father (Adam's murderous son), whom we conclude here is Israel.
Another Conclusion: Since they are not descendants of Noah, they have no relation to Semitism whatsoever.
Third Evidence:
Israel is not among the Prophets, as Allah says: "Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of 'Imran over the worlds - Offspring, some of them from others." [Al-Imran 33].
He chose only Adam, Noah, the Family of Abraham, and the Family of 'Imran. Israel is not mentioned here.
Allah says: "O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah... and a faction of the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved." [As-Saff 14].
Furthermore, Allah cursed them through the tongues of David and Jesus, son of Mary. He says: "Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary." [Al-Ma'idah 78].
Fourth Evidence:
Surah Yusuf talks entirely about the "Family of Jacob." Allah says: "...and upon the family of Jacob as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac." [Yusuf 6] and He did not say "and upon the family of Israel."
Even when people came to ask the Messenger of Allah to test whether he knew the story of Joseph, Allah said: "Certainly in Joseph and his brothers there are signs for those who ask." [Yusuf 7].
In the entire Surah Yusuf, the name "Israel" or his children is not mentioned even once.
Fifth Evidence:
The Tribes (Al-Asbat) is the name Allah gave to the sons of Jacob. As for The Leaders (Al-Nuqaba), Allah sent them from their own kind (the Children of Israel, numbering twelve).
Allah says: "And Allah had already taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We delegated from among them twelve leaders." [Al-Ma'idah 12].
Conclusion:
- ✅ Israel is Adam's murderous son; he is not Jacob, nor is he even a descendant of Noah.
- ✅ The Children of Israel are not the same as the Children of Jacob (the Tribes), and the Leaders are not the Tribes.
- ✅ The Children of Israel are not of a single religion; their existence spanned across various eras and prophets—some believed, and some disbelieved.