The Qur’an states that in the Torah is “guidance and light” (5:44) and asks why the Jews approach Muhammad to settle their disputes: “But how is it that they come to you for judgment while they have the Torah, in which is the judgment of Allah?” (5:43). It also asserts, however, that the Qur’an is “the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it” (5:48).

The Jews, however, did not see the Qur’an as confirming their Scriptures, and did not convert to Islam en masse. The Qur’an explains this as a manifestation of their perversity and rebellion from Allah: “And when a messenger from Allah came to them confirming that which was with them, a party of those who had been given the Scripture threw the Scripture of Allah behind their backs as if they did not know” (2:101). Allah says of the Jews: “Is it not that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away? But most of them do not believe” (2:100).

Those Jews who did not accept Muhammad and Islam are “avid listeners to falsehood, listening to another people who have not come to you. They distort words beyond their usages” and are “the ones for whom Allah does not intend to purify their hearts.” They face the divine wrath in this world as well as the next: “For them in this world is disgrace, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment” (5:41). They are disgraced everywhere they go: “They have been put under humiliation wherever they are overtaken, except for a covenant from Allah and a rope from the Muslims. And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allah and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in the verses of Allah and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and transgressed” (2:89).

The Jews even dare to claim that “Allah did not reveal to a human being anything.” Allah instructs Muhammad to respond: “Say, ‘Who revealed the Scripture that Moses brought as light and guidance to the people? You make it into pages, disclosing it and concealing much. And you were taught that which you knew not — neither you nor your fathers. Say, ‘Allah.’ Then leave them in their discourse, amusing themselves” (6:91).

Ultimately, Allah transforms disobedient Jews into apes and pigs (2:63-66; 5:59-60; 7:166). Muslims should avoid such people: “O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people” (5:51). Now the Jews are accursed of Allah for rejecting the Qur’an: “And when there came to them a Book from Allah confirming that which was with them — although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved — but when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it; so the curse of Allah will be upon the disbelievers” (2:89). They are the worst enemies of the Muslims: “You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers the Jews…” (5:82).

The enemies of the Muslims, the killers of the prophets, dishonest, evil, subhuman, and accursed of Allah – this is the Qur’an’s picture of the Jews.

“Jewish man attacked and robbed by Syrian and Afghan men shouting ‘Jew’ in German port town,” by Chloe Zeegen, Everyday Antisemitism, January 11, 2016 (thanks to David):