The Jews breach the Sanctity of the Sabbath

The Prescription of the Sabbath for the Jews

There is no doubt that for every nation, Allah prescribed one day of the week for people to gather to worship Him. For this Ummah He prescribed Friday, because it is the sixth day, on which Allah completed and perfected His creation. On this day He gathered and completed His blessings for His servants. It was said that Allah prescribed this day for the Children of Israel through His Prophet Musa, but they changed it and chose Saturday because it was the day on which the Creator did not create anything, as He had completed His creation on Friday.

Allah made observance of the Sabbath obligatory for them in the laws of the Taurat (Torah), telling them to keep the Sabbath. At the same time, He told them to follow Muhammad when he was sent, and took their promises and covenant to that effect. Hence Allah says:

“The Sabbath was only prescribed for those who differed concerning it,…” [Quran, Surah an-Nahl, 16:124]

Mujahid said: “They observed the Sabbath (Saturday) and ignored Friday.” Then they continued to observe Saturday until Allah sent ‘Isa bin Maryam. It was said that he told them to change it to Sunday, and it was also said that he did not forsake the laws of the Taurat except for a few rulings which were abrogated, and he continued to observe the Sabbath until he was taken up (into heaven).

Afterwards, the Christians at the time of Constantine were the ones who changed it to Sunday in order to be different from the Jews, and they started to pray towards the east instead of facing the Dome (i.e., Jerusalem). And Allah knows best. It was reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurayrah heard the Messenger of Allah say:

“We are the last, but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, even though they were given the Book before us. This is the day that Allah obligated upon them, but they differed concerning it. Allah guided us to this day, and the people observe their days after us, the Jews on the following day and the Christians on the day after that.” [This version was recorded by Al-Bukhari.]

It was reported that Abu Hurayrah and Hudhayfah said that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Allah let the people who came before us stray from Friday, so the Jews had Saturday and the Christians had Sunday. Then Allah brought us and guided us to Friday. So now there are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, thus they will follow us on the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of this world, but will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and will be the first to be judged, before all of creation.” [It was reported by Muslim.]

The Jews breach the Sanctity of the Sabbath

“And indeed you knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday). We said to them: “Be you monkeys, despised and rejected.” So We made this punishment an example to their own and to succeeding generations and a lesson to those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” [Quran, al-Baqarah 2:65-66]

Allah said,

“And indeed you knew”. This Ayah means, O Jews! Remember that Allah sent His torment on the village that disobeyed Him and broke their pledge and their covenant to observe the sanctity of the Sabbath. They began using deceitful means to avoid honoring the Sabbath by placing nets, ropes and artificial pools of water for the purpose of fishing before the Sabbath. When the fish came in abundance on Saturday as usual, they were caught in the ropes and nets for the rest of Saturday. During the night, the Jews collected the fish after the Sabbath ended.

When they did that, Allah changed them from humans into monkeys, the animals having the form closest to humans. Their evil deeds and deceit appeared lawful on the surface, but they were in reality wicked. This is why their punishment was compatible with their crime. This story is explained in detail in Surah Al-A’raf, where Allah said,

“And ask them (O Muhammad (pbuh)) about the town that was by the sea, when they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday): when their fish came to them openly on the Sabbath day, and did not come to them on the day they had no Sabbath. Thus We made a trial of them for they used to rebel (disobey Allah).” [Quran, Surah al-A’raf, 7:163]

In his Tafsir, Al-‘Awfi reported from Ibn ‘Abbas that he said,

“We said to them: “Be you monkeys, despised and rejected”” means, “Allah changed their bodies into those of monkeys and swines. The young people turned into monkeys while the old people turned into swine.” Shayban An-Nahwi reported that Qatadah commented on,

“We said to them: “Be you monkeys, despised and rejected””, “These people were turned into howling monkeys with tails, after being men and women.”

The Monkeys and Swine that exist now are not the Descendants of Those that were transformed.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Those who violated the sanctity of the Sabbath were turned into monkeys, then they perished without offspring.”

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Allah turned them into monkeys because of their sins. They only lived on the earth for three days, for no transformed person ever lives more than three days. They did not eat, drink or have offspring. Allah transformed their shapes into monkeys, and He does what He wills, with whom He wills and He changes the shape of whomever He wills. On the other hand, Allah created the monkeys, swines and the rest of the creation in the six days (of creation) that He mentioned in His Book.”

Allah’s statement,

“So We made this punishment an example”, means, Allah made the people of this village, who violated the sanctity of the Sabbath, “an example”, via the way they were punished.

Similarly, Allah said about Pharaoh,

“So Allah, seized him with punishment for his last (i.e. his saying: “I am your lord, most high”) and first (i.e. his saying, “O chiefs! I know not that you have a god other than I”) transgression.” [Quran, Surah an-Nazi’at, 79:25]

Allah’s statement,

“for those in front of it and those behind it”, meaning, for the other villages.

Ibn ‘Abbas commented, “Meaning, ‘We made this village an example for the villages around it by the manner in which We punished its people.”’

Similarly, Allah said,

“And indeed We have destroyed towns (populations) round about you, and We have (repeatedly) shown (them) the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in various ways that they might return (to the truth and believe in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism).” [Quran, Surah al-Ahqaf, 46:27]

Therefore, Allah made them an example for those who lived during their time as well as a reminder for those to come, by preserving their story. This is why Allah said,

“and a lesson for Al-Muttaqin (the pious)”, meaning, a reminder.

This Ayah means, “The torment and punishment that this village suffered was a result of indulging in Allah’s prohibitions and their deceit. Hence, those who have Taqwa should be aware of their evil behavior, so that what occurred to this village does not befall them as well.”

Also, Imam Abu ‘Abdullah bin Battah reported that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

“Do not commit what the Jews committed, breaching what Allah has forbidden, by resorting to the lowest types of deceit.”

This Hadith has a good (Jayid) chain of narration. Allah knows best.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir