Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions, and those who follow his guidance. To proceed:

There is a strange, widespread phenomenon among Muslims, namely calling the accursed Jewish state by the name “Israel”!

I have not seen anyone denounce this dangerous phenomenon, which touches the dignity of a noble Messenger among the leaders of the Messengers—Jacob, peace and blessings be upon him, whom Allah praised along with his two noble forefathers, Abraham and Isaac, in His Mighty Book. Allah, Blessed and Exalted, said: “And remember Our slaves, Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaque (Isaac), and Ya’qub (Jacob), (all) owners of strength (in worshipping Us) and (also) of religious understanding. Verily, We did choose them by granting them (a good thing, i.e.) the remembrance of the home [in the Hereafter and they used to make the people remember it, and also they used to invite the people to obey Allah and to do good deeds for the Hereafter]. And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best!” [Sad: 45–47].

This is the status of this noble Messenger in Islam, so how can he be attached to the Jews, and how can they be attached to him?

Many Muslims cite his name in the context of reviling this state, saying: “Israel did such and such,” “It did this and that,” and “It will do such and such!”

In my view, this is a harmful and objectionable matter (munkar) that should not even exist among Muslims, let alone become a pervasive phenomenon spreading among them without denial!

From here, we posed this question and answered it, saying:

Is it permissible to name the disbelieving, malicious Jewish state “Israel” or “the State of Israel,” and then direct blame and criticism toward it using the name “Israel”?

The truth is that this is not permissible!

The Jews have plotted a grand plot by claiming a legitimate right to establish a state in the heart of the Muslim lands under the name of the heritage of Abraham and Israel!

And they have plotted a grand plot in naming their Zionist state “the State of Israel”!

Their ruse has deceived many Muslims—and I do not say the general public alone, but also many intellectuals. They have come to use the phrase “the State of Israel”—and even the name “Israel” alone—in their news, newspapers, magazines, and conversations, whether in the context of neutral reporting or in the context of criticism, revilement, or even cursing. All of this occurs among Muslims, and we hear no disapproval, to our great regret!

Allah condemned the Jews extensively in the Quran, cursed them, and informed us of His anger toward them, but He did so using the name “the Jews” and “those who disbelieved from among the Children of Israel”—not using the name of “Israel,” the noble Prophet Jacob, son of the noble Isaac, Prophet of Allah, son of the noble Abraham, the Intimate Friend of Allah, peace and blessings be upon them!

These Jews have no religious relationship whatsoever with the Prophet of Allah, Israel (Jacob/Ya’qub, peace and blessings be upon him), nor with Abraham, the Intimate Friend of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him!

They have no right to inherit them religiously; rather, religious inheritance belongs exclusively to the believers. Allah says: “Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim (Abraham) are those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad ﷺ) and those who have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers.” [Aal ‘Imran: 68].

And Allah says, absolving His Intimate Friend Abraham of connection to the Jews, Christians, and polytheists: “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclined toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists.” [Aal ‘Imran: 67].

Muslims do not deny that the Jews are descendants of Abraham and Israel, but they firmly assert that the Jews are among the enemies of Allah and the enemies of His Messengers—including Muhammad, Abraham, and Israel. They state decisively that there is no inheritance between the Prophets and their disbelieving enemies, whether they are Jews, Christians, or Arab polytheists and others. The most entitled of people to Abraham and all the Prophets are the Muslims who believed in them, loved them, honored them, and believed in the Books and Scriptures revealed to them, considering that to be among the fundamental principles of their religion. Thus, they are their true heirs and the most entitled to them!

The land of Allah belongs only to His servants who believe in Him and in these noble Messengers. Allah says: “And indeed We have written in Zabur (Psalms) [i.e. all the revealed Holy Books the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Quran] after (We have already written in) Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz (the Book, that is in the heaven with Allah), that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise). Verily, in this (the Quran) there is a plain Message for people who worship Allah (i.e. the true, real believers of Islamic Monotheism who act practically on the Quran and the Sunnah legal ways of the Prophet ﷺ). And We have sent you (O Muhammad ﷺ) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).” [Al-Anbiya: 105–107].

Therefore, the enemies of the Prophets have no inheritance in the land—especially the Jews—in this world, and in the Hereafter they will have the punishment of eternal Fire!

One can only wonder at the state of many Muslims who have surrendered to the Jews’ claims regarding the inheritance of the land of Palestine and the search for the Temple of Solomon—whom they disbelieve in and accuse of abominations, despite being the fiercest enemies of Solomon and other Prophets of the Children of Israel. Allah says: “Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some, you disbelieved and some, you killed.” [Al-Baqarah: 87].

How can some Muslims surrender to them—at least implicitly—with these false claims?! And along with that, call them “Israel” and “the State of Israel”!

By Allah, a day is coming for them at the hands of those who truly believe in Muhammad ﷺ, in the Messengers, and in their messages—the allies of Allah and the allies of His Prophets and Messengers!

Let Muslims prepare themselves doctrinally and methodology-wise, stemming from the Book of their Lord, the Sunnah of their Prophet ﷺ, and that which the Messenger ﷺ, his companions, and those who followed them in righteousness from the best of the Successors and the leaders of guidance and religion were upon. Indeed, this is the greatest means to victory over their enemies, and to their honor, happiness, and dignity in this world and the Hereafter!

Let them wash their hands of desires, innovations, and fanaticism for falsehood and its people. Then let them strive earnestly in physical preparation regarding weapons of all forms, along with the necessary military awareness and training, as Allah and His Messenger ﷺ commanded. Allah says: “And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery, etc.) to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy,…” [Al-Anfal: 60].

Power in this text encompasses every force that instills fear in the enemy using various weapons.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Unquestionably, power is shooting; unquestionably, power is shooting; unquestionably, power is shooting.” [Reported by Muslim]. Shooting encompasses every weapon that is fired, and all of this must be acquired, whether through manufacturing, purchasing, or other means!

I marvel greatly once again at applying this noble, honorable, prophetic name to the state of malice, the nation of wrath, and the nation of slander—saying of it, in reporting about it, and in reviling it: “Israel” and “the State of Israel,” as if the vast Arabic language of Islam has narrowed for them so much that they could find no other name!

Have they thought to themselves whether this matter pleases Allah or His Messenger ﷺ?

Does it please the Prophet of Allah, Israel, or would it distress him were he alive?

Do they not know that the revilement and criticism they direct at the Jews using his name reflects upon him without them realizing it? On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Are you not amazed at how Allah averts from me the revilement and cursing of Quraysh? They revile ‘Mudhammam’ [the blameworthy one] and curse ‘Mudhammam,’ while I am Muhammad [the praised one].” [Reported by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari in his Sahih No. 3533, and Al-Nasa’i].

So how can you direct your revilement, cursing, and criticism aimed at the enemies of Allah toward the name of a noble Prophet among the Prophets, Messengers, and chosen ones of Allah?

If someone says: “Such terminology exists in the Torah!”

We say: It is not unlikely that this is among the distortions of the People of the Book, as Allah testified against them that they distort the Book with their hands and then say, “This is from Allah.” Rather, the distorted Torah contains accusations of disbelief and abominations against Allah’s Prophets, so how can what is in their books be used as evidence when this is their state?

We ask Allah to grant all Muslims success in saying and doing what He loves and is pleased with. Indeed, our Lord is the Hearer of supplication.