Islamic theology: In the Qur’an there are forty-three references to “Banū Isrāʾīl“, the Islamic term for the Israelites, which means “Children of Israel”.

Also, starting from verse 40 in Surah Al-Baqara is the story of Bani Israel.

Finally, there is a Qur’anic verse, in which Moses addresses his followers as “Muslims” (Arabic:Muslimïn) meaning, in English, “those who submit to God”.

The Muslim belief that the righteous of the “Children of Israel” were Muslims is further emphasized in the same Surah Al-Baqara, verses 130-134, where the patriarchs of the “Children of Israel”- including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons- testify to being Muslims and following Islam, through the use of various forms of the words Islam and Muslim:

(130) And who turns away from the religion of Abraham except him who befools himself? Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.

(131) When his Lord said to him, “Submit (Arabic: Uslim)!” He said, “I have submitted (Arabic: Uslumtu) myself to the Lord of the ‘Alamin (Arabic: mankind, jinns and all that exists).”

(132) And this was enjoined by Abraham upon his sons and by Jacob, (saying), “O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except as Muslims (Arabic: Muslimuun).”

(133) Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob? When he said unto his sons, “What will you worship after me?” They said, “We shall worship your Ilah (Arabic: God), the Ilah (God) of your fathers, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, One Ilah (God), and to Him we submit (Arabic: Muslimuun).”

(134) That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do.

In Surah Al-Araf Verses 158 and 159, there was also mention of the twelve tribes.

(158) “And of Moses’ folk there is a community who lead with truth and establish justice therewith.”

(159) “We divided them into twelve tribes, nations; and We inspired Moses, when his people asked him for water, saying: Smite with thy staff the rock! And there gushed forth therefrom twelve springs, so that each tribe knew their drinking-place. And we caused the white cloud to overshadow them and sent down for them the manna and the quails (saying): ‘Eat of the good things wherewith we have provided you. They wronged Us not, but they were wont to wrong themselves’.”

In the Ahadeeth: Bani lsra’il is also mentioned many times in the Ahadeeth (recorded sayings and actions of Muhamamd).

According to an authentic narration of Sunni Muslims, some members of Bani lsra’il will play an important role in future Islamic history. The narration states:

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle saying: “You have heard about a city the one side of which is in the land and the other is in the sea.” They said: “Allah’s Messenger, yes.”

Thereupon he said: “The Last Hour would not come unless 70,000 persons from Bani lsra’il would attack it. When they would land there, they will neither fight with weapons nor would shower arrows but would only say: “There is no god but Allah and Allah is the Greatest,” that one side of it would fall.”

Thaur (one of the narrators) said: “I think that he said: The part by the side of the ocean.” “Then they would say for the second time: “There is no god but Allah and Allah is the Greatest,” that the second side would also fall, and they would say: “There is no god but Allah and Allah is the Greatest,” that the gates would be opened for them and they would enter therein and, they would be collecting spoils of war and distributing them amongst themselves that a noise would be heard and It would be said: “Verily, Dajjal has come.” And thus they would leave everything there and would turn to him.”

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