إسرائيل
Isrāʾīl
The Quranic name of the prophet Jacob, and of his descendants, the Children of Israel.
What it means
“All food was lawful to the Children of Israel except what Israel made unlawful for himself” (3:93), where Israel is Jacob. The Quran tells of their rescue from Pharaoh (2:49–50), of favour shown them above the peoples of their time (2:47, 45:16), and also of their disobedience (5:78). It praises the faithful among them (7:159, 3:113–114).
Often misunderstood as
The Quranic term is for a people of the past and in Jewish scripture; it does not name the modern state. Its criticisms of some people’s actions, as of Muslims’ own, are about conduct and not about blood.