A Repugnant and Absurd Claim of Naftali Zionist Bennett About The Indigenous to the Land
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud [may Allah be pleased with him] reported that Allah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Every treacherous person will have a banner raised over him on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said, ‘This is the treachery of this person!'”. [Ṣaḥeeh Muslim 1736]
Naftali Bennette stated:
The children of Israel are the descendants of (Prophet) Ya’qub [peace be upon him]. Their first entry into Palestine was with Yu’sha Bin Noon [peace be upon him] after the death of Musa [peace be upon him] during his travels from one place to another, and after they initially refused to fight (after being commanded to do so). There were three tribes in Palestine before the children of Israel took control of it: they were the Phoenicians who inhabited it around the year 3000 BC, and they settled in the northern region of the Mediterranean Sea. And the Canaanites descended south of the Phoenicians and occupied the central region of Palestine in the year 2500 BC. These were Arab tribes migrating from the Arabian Peninsula, then groups came from the Island of Crete around the year 1200 BC. It was called [فلستين] and was situated between Jaffa and Gaza on the Mediterranean Sea. The Canaanites called these people [فلسطين] and the name prevailed over the entire region, so it became referred to as [فلسطين]. According to what the Jews mentioned in their books, and what was written in the history of the region is that these peoples continued (residing) in the region. Many wars between them and the Children of Israel and the Jews occurred, which continued throughout the presence of the Jews in that region. Therefore, from a historical perspective, it becomes clear to us that the Jews were not the first to inhabit Palestine, but rather they entered it or some of it and captured parts of it after it had been in the possession of these people.
As for the religious perspective, Allah revealed in the Qur’an that Musa [peace be upon him] said:
[يَا قَوْمِ ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَرْتَدُّوا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِكُمْ فَتَنقَلِبُوا خَاسِرِينَ – O my people! Enter the holy land (Palestine) which Allah has assigned to you, and turn not back (in flight) for then you will be returned as losers. [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Ayah 21]
Regarding Allah’s statement [كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ – Which Allah has assigned to you], Ibn Ishaq [may Allah have mercy upon him] said (meaning), “Which Allah has bestowed on you”. As-Sa’diy [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, (meaning), “Which Allah has commanded you (to enter)”. Al-Qataadah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “The people were commanded (to enter) just as we are commanded to perform the prayer, pay the Zakat, perform Hajj and Umrah”.
So, according to some of the Scholars, Allah’s statement [كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ – Which Allah has assigned to you] does not mean to ownership. And based according to others, it means ownership on the condition that they entered it. And others say that it was a gift to them. This makes clear the meaning of “Which Allah has assigned to you” alongside the fact that there is no proof in this that they have a (specific) right to Palestine, and that is because Allah bestows many blessings on His faithful servants whilst they are in that state of (sound) faith, and it is for them whilst they are in that state of (sound) faith. But in the case of disbelief, they have no right to it. When Allah commanded the children of Israel to enter, they turned away, so He prevented them from entering, but when they responded and were obedient, Allah granted it to them. This is why Imaam Ibn Katheer [may Allah have mercy upon him said about the Ayah: “A promise that Allah has made and conveyed by your father Israel that he will bequeath it to those of you who believe”. Therefore, it was theirs whilst they were in that state of (sound) faith, but as for in their state of disbelief (in the final Messenger and seal of the Prophets), they have no right to it. This is demonstrated by Allah’s statement:
فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ الْأَرْضَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِي وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ
Their Lord inspired them [i.e. the Prophets]: “Truly, We shall destroy the Zalimun (disbelievers and wrong-doers.). And indeed, We shall make you dwell in the land after them [i.e. the disbelievers]. This is for him who fears standing before Me (on the Day of Resurrection or fears My Punishment) and also fears My Threat”. [Surah Ibraaheem. Ayaat 13-14]
Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَلَقَدۡ ڪَتَبۡنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ٱلذِّكۡرِ أَنَّ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ
And indeed We have written in Zabur and after (We have already written in the) Dhikr that My righteous servants shall inherit the land. [Surah Al-Anbiya. Ayah 105]. [Refer to the commentary of this Ayah by Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy upon him) in this link: https://salaficentre.com/2023/10/21/1-evaluating-the-zionists-claimed-right-of-return-to-the-sacred-land/ [1]
Therefore, Mr Zionist Bennett’s statement “colonialists expelled the Jews several times” is a statement of truth mingled with a repugnant and absurd assertion designed to cover their tracks, create an illusion, divert attention from the facts, portray themselves positively and others negatively, gain sympathy and benefit, distort how others see the circumstances and convey a misleading impression to others about themselves and people around them. That is because even though Bani Israel was expelled from the land several times, they were not indigenous to the land, rather, the indigenous to the land were those who inhabited it before Bani Israel’s arrival. Therefore, absurd and repugnant indeed is their historical claim to the land. As for the reason behind their expulsion, Allah says:
وَقَضَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَتُفۡسِدُنَّ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَّتَيۡنِ وَلَتَعۡلُنَّ عُلُوًّ۬ا ڪَبِيرً۬ا
And We decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture, that indeed you would do mischief on the earth twice and you will become tyrants and extremely arrogant! [Al-Israa. Ayah 4]– Meaning, We have declared, made a covenant with them and told them in their book that corruption will certainly occur from them on earth twice through committing sins, showing ingratitude to Allah for His Blessings, exalting themselves on earth and being arrogant therein; and that when one of these two (occasions) come to pass, Allah will give power to their enemies and take revenge on them, and this is an admonition and warning to them so that they may return to obedience and take heed. [a]
فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ أُولَٮٰهُمَا بَعَثۡنَا عَلَيۡڪُمۡ عِبَادً۬ا لَّنَآ أُوْلِى بَأۡسٍ۬ شَدِيدٍ۬ فَجَاسُواْ خِلَـٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِۚ وَكَانَ وَعۡدً۬ا مَّفۡعُولاً۬
So, when the promise came for the first of the two, We sent against you slaves of Ours given to terrible warfare. They entered the very innermost parts of your homes. And it was a promise (completely) fulfilled. [Al-Israa. Ayah 5] – Meaning, the first of the two occasions during which they become corrupt; when such corruption occurred among them, We sent on you – by way of our all-encompassing divine will and decree- recompense (punishment) at the hands of those people with courage, large numbers, and armed, so, Allah gave them victory over you. They killed you, took your children away, plundered your wealth, invaded and destroyed your homes, entered the Sacred Masjid (Baytul Maqdis), and violated it. It was decreed to take place for a reason from themselves. The Qur’an commentators differed regarding the identity of those people who were sent to overpower them, but they agreed that they were unbelievers. Either they were from the people of Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula, or elsewhere, whom Allah gave (the strength) to overpower the Children of Israel when their sins became rife, they abandoned much of their Shariah, and transgressed in the land. [b]
ثُمَّ رَدَدۡنَا لَكُمُ ٱلۡڪَرَّةَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ وَأَمۡدَدۡنَـٰكُم بِأَمۡوَٲلٍ۬ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ أَڪۡثَرَ نَفِيرًا
Then We gave you once again, a return of victory over them. And We helped you with wealth and children and made you more numerous in manpower. [Al-Israa. Ayah 6] – Meaning, (gave you victory) against those who overpowered you, so you expelled them from your land; increased your sustenance and number, and gave you strength over them because of your righteous deeds and submission to Allah. [c]
إِنۡ أَحۡسَنتُمۡ أَحۡسَنتُمۡ لِأَنفُسِكُمۡۖ وَإِنۡ أَسَأۡتُمۡ فَلَهَاۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ لِيَسُـۥۤـُٔواْ وُجُوهَڪُمۡ وَلِيَدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدَ ڪَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬ وَلِيُتَبِّرُواْ مَا عَلَوۡاْ تَتۡبِيرًا
(And We said): ‘If you do good, you do good for your ownselves, and if you do evil, then it is (to your ownselves).’ Then when the later promise came to pass (We enabled your enemies) to put sorrow on your faces (by conquering and enslaving you) and to enter the Mosque (of Jerusalem), as they had entered it the first time, and to destroy everything they came upon with utter destruction. [Al-Israa. Ayah 7] [d]
“If you do good, you do good for your ownselves” because the benefit will return to you, even in this world (before the hereafter) as you witnessed when Allah aided you against your enemies. “And if you do evil, then it is (to your ownselves)”– meaning, the harm will return upon yourselves, as Allah showed you by empowering the enemies. [e]
“Then when the later promise came to pass”– Meaning, the next time you spread corruption on earth, We made your enemies overpower you “to put sorrow on your faces (by conquering and enslaving you)”– Meaning, given victory over you, capture you, and enter the Sacred Masjid as they entered it the first time, and what is meant by the Masjid is Baytul Maqdis; “and to destroy everything they came upon with utter destruction”– Meaning, destroy your homes, Masjids and crops. [f]
عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمۡ أَن يَرۡحَمَكُمۡۚ وَإِنۡ عُدتُّمۡ عُدۡنَاۘ وَجَعَلۡنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ حَصِيرًا
(Thereafter Allāh said): ‘Perhaps your Lord may show mercy to you (if you repent), but if you return (to your sinful ways), then We shall return (to punishment). And we have made Hell an enclosure for the disbelievers. [Al-Israa. Ayah 8] [g]
Within these verses (Al-Israa 7 and 8) is a warning to this Ummah against committing acts of disobedience lest what afflicted the Children of Israel afflict them as well. The sunnah (way) of Allāh is one, it does not change or become altered. Whoever looks (and reflects) upon the empowerment of the disbelievers and oppressors against the Muslims will come to know that this was due to their sins, as a punishment to them (to make them realise) that if they enact and establish the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger, He will grant them firm authority in the land and aid them against their enemies. [h]
We ask Allah:
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي
وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ
وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ
O Allah! Rectify my religion for me, which is the safeguard of my affairs; rectify my worldly [affairs], wherein is my livelihood; and rectify my Afterlife to which is my return, and make life for me [as a means of] increase in every good and make death for me as a rest from every evil. [Saheeh Muslim Number: 2720]
[1] An Excerpt from “Diraaasaat Fil Ad’yaan Al-Yahoodiyyah Wan-Nasraaniyyah. pages 65-67. Publisher: Daar Adwaa As-Salaf. 6th Edition 1439AH (2018). May Allah bless Ustaadh Harun Banton for sharing the source of this article
[Refs a, b, c & f]: Tafseer As-Sadi. salaficentre
[Refs d, e, g & h]: Translator: Shaikh Abu Iyaad [may Allah preserve him]:
https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/verse/17/7
https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/verse/17/8