A Muslim Teacher’s Journey to Understanding Israel and the Jewish People

Growing up in Garissa, a predominantly Muslim region of Kenya, my earliest understanding of Jewish history came from Islamic sources—the Qur’an and Hadith. These texts, read through a traditional lens, often cast Jews in a negative light. Yet, over time, I began to study deeper and more broadly—historically, spiritually, and politically. What I discovered challenged many assumptions I had grown up with.

As a Muslim, I believe in the pursuit of truth and justice. And that journey has led me to a profound respect for the Jewish people, their resilience, and their rightful connection to the Land of Israel.

Forgotten History: Jews in Arabia

Many Muslims are unaware—or choose to forget—that long before Islam, Jewish communities flourished in the Arabian Peninsula. Hadith literature acknowledges Jewish tribes as farmers, craftsmen, and well-owners in Medina and its surroundings. These were not outsiders but indigenous Semitic peoples, like Arabs. Sadly, history also tells us that these communities were later massacred or expelled as Islamic rule expanded.

Yet, the relationship wasn’t always hostile. One telling example is the Day of Ashura. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) arrived in Medina, he found the Jews fasting. Upon asking why, they replied that it commemorated the day Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. The Prophet responded by honoring the practice and even recommended Muslims observe the day as well—showing reverence for a shared prophetic history.

Questioning the Denial of Israel’s Right to Exist

Given this shared history, it is deeply troubling that so many Islamic nations today not only deny the Jewish people’s connection to their ancestral land, but actively work to delegitimize the State of Israel. Over 50 Muslim-majority countries either refuse diplomatic recognition, support hostile rhetoric, or in some cases, back armed resistance against Israel’s very existence.

What is Israel doing that so many of these nations are not? Is it defending itself too strongly? Or is its mere survival as a Jewish state seen as a provocation?

This leads me to an uncomfortable truth: the hatred toward Israel often stems less from solidarity with Palestinians and more from a deeper unwillingness to accept Jewish sovereignty in the Middle East.

Who Truly Failed the Palestinians?

I am not without empathy for the Palestinian people. But I believe their greatest betrayal did not come from Israel, but from the very Arab nations that claim to champion their cause.

When Israel declared independence in 1948, it accepted a two-state solution. But Arab countries launched a war to eliminate the Jewish state. When they lost, the displaced Arabs—who later became known as Palestinians—were refused integration by their fellow Arabs. They were confined to refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, denied citizenship and rights for generations, all so they could be used as symbols of grievance.

I believe peace will only come when we, in the Muslim world, are honest about history and stop demonizing Israel simply because it is Jewish.

Compare this to Palestinians who moved to the West—many have become citizens, elected officials, and respected members of society. The difference is clear: one path seeks peace and progress; the other clings to victimhood and vengeance.

A Call for Justice and Understanding

I do not write this to provoke, but to invite reflection. I remain a committed Muslim. But my faith teaches me to be just—even to those I disagree with. And justice demands that we acknowledge the truth: the Jewish people are indigenous to the Land of Israel. They are not colonial settlers. They are not foreign invaders. They are returning home.

I believe peace will only come when we, in the Muslim world, are honest about history and stop demonizing Israel simply because it is Jewish. That means standing up against hate, acknowledging Jewish suffering and rights, and seeking real dialogue—not perpetual war.

To my fellow Muslims: we can support Palestinian rights without denying Jewish ones. We can pursue justice without fueling hatred. And we can, God willing, be part of a future where our two peoples—descendants of Abraham—can live in mutual respect.

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