Book Review: Islam and the Jews: The Unfinished Battle by Dr. Mark A. Gabriel

Joseph Kwon (Editorial Board Member)

1. Contextual Background

The war that erupted on June 13, 2025, between Israel and Iran is officially explained as a preemptive strike by Israel aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear development. However, this conflict must be understood in the broader context of a series of regional confrontations that began with the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, followed by escalations involving Hezbollah and military tensions with Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Without grasping this cumulative trajectory, the deeper nature of the current war remains elusive.

More importantly, a purely geopolitical lens fails to capture the theological and spiritual dimensions of Middle Eastern conflicts—particularly those centered on Jerusalem. At the heart of these struggles lies Islam’s historic and theological stance toward the Jewish people, deeply rooted in the transformation of the Prophet Muhammad’s attitude toward Jews. This shift is clearly recorded in the Islamic scriptures, especially the Qur’an.

In non-Muslim societies, there is a tendency to regard Islam as tolerant toward Judaism and Christianity, often based on select, conciliatory verses from the Qur’an. However, such perceptions overlook the internal Islamic interpretive principles—particularly naskh (نسخ), or abrogation—wherein later, more aggressive revelations are understood to supersede earlier, peaceful ones.

As a result, the Qur'an’s antagonism toward Jews and Christians is not merely a historical artifact, but a doctrinally sanctioned reality. This book review aims to examine this theological framework through Dr. Mark A. Gabriel’s book and thereby deepen our understanding of anti-Israel sentiment in the Islamic world.

2. About the Author

Dr. Mark A. Gabriel is a uniquely positioned scholar with rare credentials from within the Islamic world. Born in Egypt, he earned his PhD in Islamic History and Culture from Al-Azhar University—considered the highest authority in Sunni Islam—and became the youngest professor ever appointed at the institution.

After undergoing a profound internal crisis and spiritual conversion, Gabriel confessed faith in Jesus Christ and faced intense persecution, eventually fleeing Egypt. He now resides in the West, where he actively writes and lectures on Islamic thought and Christian missions.

His book, Islam and the Jews: The Unfinished Battle, seeks to demonstrate that Islamic antisemitism is not merely a product of modern politics but a deeply rooted theological and historical phenomenon.

3. Overview of the Book

The book traces the development of Islamic attitudes toward Jews through the Qur’an, Hadith (sayings and actions of Muhammad), and early Islamic history. Gabriel argues that Islamic antisemitism stems not from the modern Israeli-Palestinian conflict but from foundational teachings dating back to Muhammad himself. Key topics include:

• Muhammad’s initial expectations of the Jews and his subsequent disillusionment

• The contradictory and hostile depictions of Jews in the Qur’an

• The status of Jews under Islamic rule

• The propagation of antisemitism in the contemporary Islamic world
  

4. Why Islam Opposes the Jews: Theological Foundations in the Qur’an

4.1 Initial Expectations and Disappointment

At the beginning of Islam, Muhammad encountered Jewish communities in Medina. He initially respected their monotheism and hoped they would accept his message. However, when Jewish leaders questioned his prophethood and challenged the integrity of his revelations, Muhammad’s attitude turned hostile.

This shift is reflected in numerous Qur’anic verses:

“God has cursed the Jews; they are among the most evil of creatures.” – Surah 5:60“You will find the most vehement of people in enmity to the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah.” – Surah 5:82

While the Qur’an acknowledges Jews as People of the Book, it also labels them as willful rejecters of divine truth, establishing a dual image of both respect and condemnation.

4.2 Depicted as Blasphemers and Betrayers

The Qur’an often accuses Jews of breaking God’s covenant, distorting His words, and unjustly killing the prophets:

“They broke their covenant, rejected the signs of Allah, killed the prophets without just cause…” – Surah 4:155

Such verses lay the foundation for viewing Jews as traitors and corruptors of God’s revelation. This view contributed to the development of Islamic legal status for Jews and Christians as dhimmis—protected but subjugated minorities under Islamic rule.

From a biblical perspective, however, this depiction is theologically distorted. While the Bible acknowledges Israel’s disobedience, it frames this not as unique to the Jews but as a universal human condition. The murder of the prophets and the rejection of God’s covenant are part of a broader narrative in which all humanity is guilty and in need of grace (Romans 3:9–19).

4.3 The Massacre of Banu Qurayza

One of the most significant historical events cited is the massacre of the Jewish tribe Banu Qurayza. After accusing them of colluding with Meccan forces, Muhammad ordered the execution of all their adult males and enslaved the women and children.

This event is indirectly sanctioned in the Qur’an:

“And He brought down those who supported them among the People of the Scripture from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts… and He caused you to inherit their land, their homes, and their properties…” – Surah 33:26–27

This incident solidified a lasting image of Jews as untrustworthy enemies, providing religious justification for violence against them.

5. Modern Islamic Antisemitic Discourse

Gabriel highlights how, since the 20th century, movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and Iran’s Shi’ite theology have increasingly exploited Qur’anic and Hadith texts to promote antisemitic propaganda. Events such as Quds Day (the last Friday of Ramadan, symbolically advocating for the liberation of Jerusalem and Palestine) serve as annual expressions of anti-Israel sentiment across the Muslim world. He further points out how antisemitism is internalized even among children through educational curricula and media.

Rather than viewing this as a political phenomenon, Gabriel frames it as a product of theological narrative—one of the central barriers to Muslim evangelism.

6. Evaluation and Missiological Implications

Gabriel’s book offers a rare, insider-based analysis grounded in deep Qur’anic knowledge. It convincingly demonstrates that Muslim hostility toward Jews is more than reactionary politics; it is a doctrinal and spiritual construct.

For Christian missionaries, this insight is crucial. Understanding that anti-Jewish sentiments in Muslim societies stem from theological and spiritual structures—not just cultural prejudice—can shape more effective gospel engagement. Deconstructing such beliefs requires spiritual warfare, not mere argumentation.

Moreover, the biblical vision—especially in Romans 11—of a reconciled relationship between Jews and Gentiles within God’s redemptive plan shows that this issue transcends the Jewish-Muslim conflict and constitutes a critical eschatological concern for the global Church.

7. Conclusion

Islam and the Jews: The Unfinished Battle is a vital resource for those involved in Islamic studies and Christian missions. By unveiling the Qur’anic and Hadith-based roots of Islamic antisemitism, it equips readers to both understand and confront these challenges with the power of the cross. The book offers strategic insights for missions and calls the global Church to deeper awareness, theological clarity, and missional focus in engaging the Muslim world.