This video outlines the Israelites' journey from Ibrahim's founding of their lineage through key figures like Moses and Joseph. It covers their enslavement in Egypt, the exodus, the division of their kingdom, and the rise of prophets. The video concludes with the arrival of Isa (Jesus) and the connection of this history to Islamic beliefs.

The Origins of Bani Isra'il

The story of Ibrahim is recounted. Ibrahim, who was likely born in Ur of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia around 1800 BCE, was unique in that he never worshiped idols, despite his father being a sculptor of idols. Ibrahim preached monotheism to his people but was met with resistance and was forced to flee with his nephew Lot.

They settled in Canaan, where Lot went to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Ibrahim's second wife Hajar gave birth to his son Ismail. Hajar ran between the mountains of Safa and Marwa to find water, discovering the Well of Zamzam, which became the foundation of the city of Mecca. Ibrahim returned to Mecca when Ismail had grown up, and together they built the original Kaaba, calling for pilgrimage.

Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice his son Ismail, but a ram was provided in Ismail's place, beginning the tradition of sacrifice during Hajj. Ibrahim then returned to Canaan, where his first wife Sarah gave birth to his son Isaac, who had a son named Yaqoob (Jacob). Yaqoob's sons were known as the 12 Tribes of Israel.

The Story of Joseph and the Israelites in Egypt

However, the brothers were not always friendly with each other, and ten of them conspired to get rid of Joseph (Yusuf), leaving him in a well to die. Joseph was eventually sold into slavery in Egypt, where he rose to power and later revealed his identity to his brothers. The Israelites lived in Egypt as slaves for many generations until the birth of Moses (Musa), who was placed in a basket and sent down the river, eventually being found and adopted by the Pharaoh's family.

Moses grew up within the royal family but later defended an Israelite from an Egyptian's attack, accidentally killing the Egyptian, and was forced to flee Egypt.

Moses, the Exodus, and the Covenant

Musa (Moses) travels to Midian, where he marries the daughter of the prophet Shu'aib and works for him for ten years. After fulfilling his contract, Musa returns to Sinai with his family, where he receives revelation from Allah. Together with his brother Harun (Aaron), they are commanded to go to Pharaoh in Egypt to call him to Islam and to free Bani Isra'il from slavery.

Musa performs miracles and signs of prophecy, but Pharaoh refuses to believe and free the Israelites. Musa and his people escape to Sinai, where they establish a covenant with Allah to hold firmly to the scripture and worship Allah alone. Musa is later commanded to fight the people of Canaan and capture the city of Jerusalem, but only two of his followers agree to fight. Eventually, Musa passes away, and his brother Yusha' (Joshua) becomes the leader of the Israelites, leading them into battle and establishing the 12 kingdoms of Isra'il around 1400 BCE.

The Division of the Kingdoms and the Rise of Prophets

The kingdom thrives under Yusha's rule, but a civil war breaks out, leading to the division of the kingdom into the Kingdom of Israel in the North and the Kingdom of Judah in the South. The people of the Northern Kingdom begin to worship an idol named Baal, prompting the prophet Elijah (Elias) to remind them of their covenant. However, the kingdom is eventually conquered by the Assyrian Empire, and a fifth of the population is deported and resettled in neighboring lands, becoming known as the Lost Tribes of Israel.

The Kingdom of Judah continues to worship only Allah, and the Major Prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel preach during this time. However, the kingdom also faces destruction when the Neo-Babylonian Empire rises to power, conquering the land, destroying the Temple of Solomon, and taking the Israelites into captivity in Babylon. This captivity does not last long, as a righteous king named Cyrus the Great rises to power and conquers the lands, freeing the Israelites and allowing them to return to their homeland.

The Israelites Under Foreign Rule and the Birth of Jesus

This section discusses the history of the Israelites from their return to Judea under the Persian Empire in 537 BCE, through their rule under various foreign empires, and the eventual rise of the Roman Empire. During this time, the prophets Zechariah (Zachariah) and Yahya (John the Baptist) were sent to the Israelites, paving the way for the birth of Isa (Jesus) and his mother, Maryam (Mary).

However, not all Israelites accepted their message, and some rulers, such as Herod the Great, oppressed their people. Herod is said to have ordered the massacre of all boys in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill Isa. Zechariah, Maryam's father, is believed to have been killed during this time, though there are no Islamic sources for the story of him hiding in a tree. Eventually, Isa was taken to a high place for safety.

Herod's son later inherited his kingdom and wanted to marry his sister Maryam, but Yahya refused to officiate the marriage, leading to his execution. Isa is considered the final prophet of the Israelites, marking the split between those who became Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Muslims believe that Isa was a prophet like those before him, that he was not crucified, nor was he the son of Allah, but that he will return as a messiah. The history of the Israelites is seen as the history of the Muslims, who are regarded as the successors to the Israelites who swore an oath to worship none other than Allah and to hold on to the scripture and the teachings of His prophets.