I heard a lecture wherein the speaker said that the 'Jews' were first referred to as the Bani Israel but those elites who eventually changed the Torah

Answer

The Jewish nation is Bani Israaeel. Even after they interpolated and mutilated the Tauraah, they remained Bani Israaeel. Even the Christians in the early days were Bani Israaeel. Nabi Isaa came to Bani Israaeel. However, the followers of Nabi Musaa (Alayhis salaam) from Bani Israaeel are called Yahood (Jewish) even the sincere ones who were great Ulama and Auliya as the Qur'aan makes it clear.

From Bani Israaeel, the followers of Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam) are called Nasaara.

The name 'christian' is a fabrication of non-Bani Israaeel, westerners. Westerners - those who are not Jews - have c o i n e d t h e t e r m 'Judaisim'. The religion of Nabi Musaa (Alayhis salaam) and of all the Ambiya was always Islam.

There is no contention in the fact that Nabi Musaa (Alayhis salaam) appeared before Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam). It is therefore correct that the Islam propagated by Nabi Musaa (Alayhis salaam) to which westerners refer to as 'Judaism) was before the advent of Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam).

Yahood is a race/ nation. This nation is called Bani Israaeel. Hence all Yahudis (Jews) regardless of the religion and ideology they follow are Bani Israaeel. Even atheist Jews are Bani Israaeel. Those Jews who embraced Islam at the hands of Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam) are called Nasaara by the Qur'aan. However, the term Nasaara is not restricted to only Jews who followed Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam). It refers to all people of any nation who followed Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam).

The term 'Yahudi' is also used in the Qur'aan for only the followers of Nabi Musaa (Alayhis salaam). It is used to distinguish between the followers of Nabi Isaa (Alayhis salaam) and Nabi Musaa (Alayhis salaam). In this regard the Qur'aan Majeed states:

"Ibraaheem was neither Yahudi nor Nasaara. But, he was an uprighteous Muslim. He was not among the mushrikeen). (Aal-e-Imraan, Aayat 67)

THE STILL-

BORN CHILD

1. If the foetus has developed any human parts, eg. Hand, finger, nail, hair etc. It will be regarded as a child. This foetus will be given ghusal, wrapped in a cloth without observing the Masnoon kafn and buried in the normal Masnoon way. However, Janaazah Salaat will not be performed.

2. If the foetus has not developed any human organ, it will not be regarded as a child. There is no ghusal, no kafan and no Masnoon dafan (burial) for this foetus. It shall be wrapped in a cloth and buried.

3. If a fully-formed child is born dead, it will be given ghusal and wrapped in a cloth and buried in the usual way without performing Janaazah Salaat.

4. If the child is born alive, but dies immediately on birth, it will be treated in exactly the same way in which a mayyit is treated. All Shar'i rites are applicable to it. (Kitaabul Janaa-iz)

KHUNTHA

MUSHKIL

A hermaphrodite or a person with both male and female sexual organs is termed Khuntha Mushkil. It is not permissible to effect ghusal to the mayyit if the person is a Khuntha Mushkil. Tayammum should be effected.

Khuntha Mushkil is a person whose sex cannot be determined on account of both sex organs being equally functional. If any one organ has greater dominance, the person will be classified accordingly and will then not be Khuntha Mushkil, e.g.. If the male organ only functions or is more functional than the female organ, the person will be classified as a male or vice versa.

(Kitaabul Janaa-iz)

HARAAM

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