1- The Children of Israel
The Quran often mentions the children of Israel which is the reason why we talk about it in the course of talking about Islam. From chapter 2 verse 47:
“O children of Israel! Remember my favor which I bestowed on you and that I favored you upon all other nations. And beware of a day when no soul will avail another in the least and no intercession will be accepted on its behalf and no ransom will be taken nor would they be helped.”
So, the Quran acknowledges that indeed the Jews were God’s chosen people because they were the first to believe in God and carry out His commandments. But by the same token, He warns them against excesses as the above verses clearly state.
In the following verses 40 -46 from the same chapter, it spells out some of these excesses:
“O children of Israel! Remember the blessings I bestowed upon you and fulfill your pledge to Me, and I will fulfill My pledge to you, and let it be Me (alone) that you fear. And believe in what I revealed to you confirming what you already have.
And don’t be the first ones to reject it and don’t sell My revelations for a petty price. And be conscious of Me and don’t mix truth with falsehood, and don’t conceal the truth knowingly.
And pray regularly and give alms and bow down (in prayers) with those who bow. And don’t order people to be pious while forgetting to do it yourselves while still reading the Book. Don’t you understand?
And seek help by (practicing) patience and in performing prayers, hard as this may be (on all) except for those who are humble and who believe that they will meet their Lord and to Him will be their return.”
There are several notes to be made on the above verses:
1- The pledge is repeated, and the Jews are reminded of it throughout the Quran. In 5:12, for example, it says that whoever carries out the pledge, performs prayers, gives alms, and believes in scripture, will have their sins wiped out and be rewarded with paradise.
2- The pledge warns the Jews against corrupting the message: and don’t sell My revelations for a petty price. But that is exactly what happened.