Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 55
55 referred to in the Quran, at various places, as “the hypocrites. ” * The Jews, on their part, were not disposed to let the Prophet remain in peace at Medina. They were, it is true, eagerly awaiting the advent of a Prophet foretold in their Scriptures (Deut. 18:18), but they felt that to accept an Arab as the fulfilment of that prophecy would raise the prestige of the Arabs above that of the Jews in the religious and spiritual spheres and this, as Jehovah’s chosen people, they were not prepared to tolerate. ψ While not daring to oppose the Prophet openly, they let no opportunity pass of conspiring and intriguing against him and the Muslims both inside Medina and outside it. The Meccan Muslims had found a place of refuge in Medina, and they could now openly perform their daily worship of God, together with their * See, for instance, Chap. 63. ψ The Quran states that the Beni Israel, i. e. the descendants of Jacob, were the recipients of God’s favours (2:48, 123), but it also recites some of the causes that had led to their fall from grace, e. g. their breaking of their covenant with God, their denial of the Signs of God, their seeking to kill the prophets who were sent to them, their disbelief in Jesus, their uttering against Mary a grievous calumny, their claim that they had put Jesus to death on the cross, their taking interest though they had been forbidden it, their devouring people’s wealth wrongfully, their transgression in respect of the observance of the Sabbath, etc. It also holds out a promise of redemption: “But those among them who are firmly grounded in knowledge… believe in what has been sent down to thee and what was sent down before thee, and those who observe Prayer and those who pay the Zakat, and those who believe in God and the Last Day: Upon these will We surely bestow a great reward” (4:156 ⎯ 163).