The United Arab Emirates has printed copies of the Holy Qur’an for free distribution in which Surah Al-Isra is titled “Surah Bani Israel”.
According to the International Qur’anic News Agency, IQNA, social media users circulated images claiming that the UAE had printed a new edition of the Qur’an under the sponsorship of an organisation called Dar Al Ber, which distributes copies free of charge to Muslim countries.
Those sharing the images alleged that the purpose of the new printing was to replace the name Surah Al-Isra with Surah Bani Israel in order to please Jews and accommodate their wishes.
The change, and the timing of the edition, prompted surprise among citizens and social media users in several Arab countries.
Surah Al-Isra Has More Than One Recognised Name
A surah may be known by the most prominent subject mentioned within it or by a feature that distinguishes it from others.
For example, Surah Al-Fatihah is also known by names including Fatihat Al-Kitab, Al-Hamd, Al-Waqiyah and Al-Sab’ Al-Mathani.
In the same way, Surah Al-Isra is known by that name because it recounts the Night Journey of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, from the Sacred Mosque to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It has also been called Surah Bani Israel because it discusses the circumstances of the Children of Israel, their corruption on earth and the Assyrians’ domination over them.
It is also known as Surah Subhan because it begins with that word.
The author of Al-Tahrir wa Al-Tanwir wrote at the beginning of his commentary on Surah Al-Isra that the chapter is titled Surah Al-Isra in many copies of the Qur’an, while during the era of the Companions it was known as Surah Bani Israel, as recorded in Sunan Al-Tirmidhi and Sahih Al-Bukhari.
He also noted that it is known as Surah Subhan.
In summary, Islamic scholars have mentioned three names for this surah: Surah Al-Isra, Surah Bani Israel and Surah Subhan.
Why Was This Edition Printed at This Time?
The question raised by critics is why such an edition was printed and distributed free of charge at this particular time.
According to activists, the most likely explanation is that the printing reflects a policy pursued by Mohammed bin Zayed aimed at pleasing Jews and strengthening relations with them.
Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf said it had withdrawn copies of the Qur’an received from the UAE in which Surah Al-Isra had been titled Surah Bani Israel.
The copies were linked to Dar Al Ber Society in Dubai, according to Jordan’s Al-Rai newspaper.
Abdul Karim Younis, head of the Holy Qur’an Affairs Department at the Ministry of Awqaf, said that copies circulating among the public and discussed on social media had entered the kingdom from a publishing house in a neighbouring country.
He said the editions had not been approved by the ministry and that all copies printed in the Pakistani script had been withdrawn from mosques.
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