I personally don't believe in religious justifications for modern day situations, and I'm also not a Muslim.

This idea is getting somewhat popular within right wing Israelis, and was even posted on MK Naftali Bennett's Facebook page. I would love to hear peoples' opinions and takes on this, Muslims and non-muslims alike.

I couldn't find the original but here's a copy of the post, translated (by me):

"Quotes from the Quran that show that the land (of Israel) belongs to the people of israel...

Beforehand, it should be mentioned that Jerusalem, "el-quds", isn't mentioned in the Quran once... Masjid "el-aqsa" = "the Extreme", the furthest away. Muslim scholars believe this place to be in the heavens and not on earth Also the word Palestine doesn't appear once in the Quran el kareem (originaly written like this)

And now for the quotes: 5:21 - Moses: "oh my people, enter this holy land which Allah has assigned for you" (https://quran.com/5/21-31) 10:93 - "And We had certainty settled the Children of Israel in an agreeable settlement and provided them with good things" (https://quran.com/10/93-103 17:104 - "And We said after Pharaoh to the Children of Israel, "Dwell in the land, and when there comes the promise of the Hereafter, We will bring you forth in [one] gathering" (https://quran.com/17/104)

And now in Hebrew (I'll skip this part, same but in hebrew)

Muslim scholars who know these verses, and other verses that show that the land of Israel belongs to the Jews, are relying on the fact that most Muslims don't read the Quran.

More surprises in the Quran that show that (the land of) Israel belongs to the children of Israel - on the matter of "el-aqsa" = "the most furthest away", notice the interpretation of Ibn Kathir in the "tafsir". He says that el-aqsa, that was mentioned in the Mohammed's nightly voyage, is a place in the heavens and not on earth. Aisha, Mohammed's wife, swore that all night Mohammed didn't leave his bed.

Another proof that it (el-aqsa) isn't Jerusalem, aside from not being mentioned in the Quran once, is that when the Quran was written, Jerusalem wasn't under Islamic rule."

Sorry for any mistakes in translation. Controversial title I know, hope this won't create a shitstorm. Would love to hear your thoughts about this. Will add in a second a photo of the original post.

Edit: the post in Hebrew https://ibb.co/hBnRz8L Edit2: the --- on the top and bottom

Peace be upon you all!

This post is in response to some arguments presented from certain Pro Israelis online who use the mention of the word "Israel" in the Quran and a verse relating to entering the Holy Land as a justification for the modern State of Israel. This is an attempt to either win over Muslims or act as a "gotcha". However, I will aim to show in this post how these arguments are taking verses out of context and using irrational arguments, thus rendering them false.

If you do not use or believe in such arguments then this post is not aimed at you (obviously). Before I begin I will make clear that I am Pro-Palestine but anti-Hamas and any other radical authority/group. I am also Pro-Israeli but anti the current Government and any other radical authority/group.

At the end of this post I will also present a more effective and rational historical argument for the theoretical justification of establishing a Jewish State in the Holy Land.

TL;DR:
The Qur’an’s mention of “Israel” refers to Prophet Jacob, peace be upon him and his descendants, which can't be used for the justification of a modern State of Israel. The command to enter the Holy Land (Quran 5:21), a verse quoted by some Pro Israelis, was conditional on obedience and revoked when the Israelites disobeyed. Allah makes clear: “My covenant does not embrace the transgressors” (2:124), and “The righteous servants shall inherit the land” (21:105). The Qur’an never sanctifies eternal ethnic entitlement. In the eyes of God the real criterion is justice and righteousness, not bloodline.

Argument 1: The Holy Quran mentions Israel Multiple Times but Never Palestine

This, as I understand, is an argument to prove to Muslims that Jewish people are indigenous to the Holy Land, a fact which i accept. However, it is not factually accurate to derive this from the Quranic use of the word "Israel" as this is referring to Prophet Israel, peace be upon him, and the children of Israel, which includes the Jewish people.

This does not refer to a State of Israel and it would certainly have no bearing on establishing a modern nation state so it does not make for a convincing argument.

Secondly, the lack of a mention of a State called "Palestine" in the Quran does not lend any arguments against it as the Quran does not aim to dictate a list of valid nation states.

Islam has three categories of law which are:

• the Shariah: Quran and Sunnah

• Fiqh: scholarly rulings based on Quran and Sunnah and analogies etc.; and

• Qanun: worldly laws which are not found in the Shariah but fulfil Shariahs objectives, such as road rules and safety regulations.

Under Qanun, the existence of States and their names is a human affair and we as humanity can build or destroy States as required and give people Self-determination to create their State and name it whatever they like. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are not mentioned in the Quran either but this would not result in these States now being invalid from an Islamic perspective. Therefore, a lack of mention of Palestine in the Quran bears no weight of evidence against the fact that there should have been an official one recognised.

Argument 2: Allah tells Jewish People to enter the Holy Land, therefore we entered the Holy Land

This is an argument used by pages such as Israel Advocacy Movement (W guy btw shoutout to him) and he uses the following verse regarding the time of Moses, peace be upon him, and his people entering Israel after escaping the evil Pharaoh:

O my people! Enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you ˹to enter˺.
Holy Quran 5:21

However, this verse is not intended to grant an eternal ethnic entitlement to the land but rather it is for those who believe in God and follow His orders. The proof for this is in the next few verses when the Israelites are commanded by God to fight powerful people in the Holy Land, they refuse and as a result they are punished the wander the Earth for 40 years before a new generation is able to enter the Holy Land.

And remember when his Lord tried Abraham with certain commands which he fulfilled. He said, ‘I will make thee a Leader of men.’ Abraham asked, ‘And from among my offspring?’ He said, ‘My covenant does not embrace the transgressors.’
Holy Quran 2:124

The above verse shows that it is not ethnicity or anything else physical that brings one into the covenant with God but rather it is righteousness, and those who transgress Gods limits will not be part of the covenant and will be deprived of its blessings.

Who is entitled to the Holy Land according to God?

And already have We written in the Book of David, after the exhortation, that My righteous servants shall inherit the land.
Holy Quran 21:105

In the Quran verse above, there is a reference to the Psalms of David, peace be upon him, in which it is mentioned that the righteous servants will inherit the land.

Even classical Muslim scholars acknowledged that justice is the basis for legitimacy, not identity. Ibn Taymiyyah, a prominent Islamic scholar wrote:

“It is said that Allah allows the just state to remain even if it is led by unbelievers, but Allah will not allow the oppressive state to remain even if it is led by Muslims. And it is said that the world will endure with justice and unbelief, but it will not endure with oppression and Islam.”

Source: al-Amr bil Ma’rūf 1/29

Therefore the Holy Land belongs to those who believe in God, uphold his commands and act with justice (from a religious perspective).

Side note: From a religious perspective, this is why I believe the Muslims have lost custody of this land after holding it for 1400 years, but such a topic deserves a whole post of its own to a religious audience.

If there are Pro-Israelis who have heard this argument from fellow Pro-Israelis before, I would be interested to read your thoughts on the above.

A Historical Argument for the Establishment of a Jewish State in the Holy Land

To be clear, when I make this argument I disagree with how the establishment and split actually occurred by the British and UN and what led to the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians that is still alive. The following is just the theory behind why the land should be split for both Muslims and Jews:

It is true that the Jewish people lived on this land over 2000 years ago. They were conquered and expelled and taken as slaves multiple times, the latest was from the Romans shortly after the time of Jesus, peace be upon him.

After WW1, the Ottoman Empire collapsed and the British and French took the former Ottoman territories and split them, creating new nations for the Arabs and giving them independence, as promised during WW1. It is in this context of splitting and creating new states, that I believe it is not unjust to create a land for the Jewish people in their ancient homeland. Although it was over 2000 years ago, Jewish people have maintained a presence there and they did not leave willingly, but were forcefully expelled from there.

Imagine if, God forbid, the Arab peninsula was conquered by Non-Muslims, including Mecca and Medina. Would we Muslims not do anything to return to that land and even be willing to split the land to access Mecca and Medina again? This is how the Jewish people feel about the Holy Land.

Therefore, the context of a collapsing Empire and the creation of new States gives a perfect and just opportunity to create a home for the Jewish people in the Holy Land where they can govern and protect themselves. It should have been communicated and planned better to uphold the rights of the Palestinians who had lived there for thousands of years as well and split in a fair manner. They should have been given a State as promised and their right to their home should have been safeguarded.

Pro-Palestinians who don't believe in the establishment of an Israeli State, I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the above.