Islamic Understanding of Jewish Sabbath

Question

I just wanted to know how Sabath was practiced during the time of Musa (Moses) alaihis salam time. I want to know the Islamic understanding of Sabath.

Answer

Wa Alaykum Al-Salam,

We (as Muslims) do not observe the Sabbath but rather have been prescribed Friday as the day of gathering for specific worship. On the Friday we have not been ordered to rest and forbidden from work but rather advised to seek provision after the Friday prayer as mentioned in Surah Al-Jumu’ah. Anyhow, the Sabbath is mentioned in the Quran in a few places where Allah mentions the Jews. For example,

“And verily you know of those from amongst yourselves who broke the sabbath, so we said unto them: become apes, despised and hated!” (Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Verse: 65)

“And ask them (O Beloved Prophet) about the town that was by the sea, when they broke the Sabbath, when the fish would appear and be visible on the Saturday and on other days the fish did not appear. In this way, we tested them due to their wrong doing”. (Surah Al-A’raaf (7), Verse: 163. This topic continues till the end of verse 166)

“The Sabbath was appointed only for those who differed concerning it, and verily your lord will judge between them on the day of resurrection concerning that wherein they used to differ.” (Surah Al-Nahl (16), Verse: 124)

The explanation mentioned in the books of Tafseer is that Sayyiduna Musa (upon him be peace) ordered his nation to uphold respect for, and revere, the day of Friday. This was in accordance to a command that they must spare a day of the week from work for the worship of Allah. Majority of the nation disputed that the day should be Saturday rather than Friday besides a small group which argued for Friday as was the command of the Prophet Musa (upon him be peace). Allah, the almighty revealed to Musa that Staurday it shall be, made this an obligation upon them and put them to the test. Hunting and all other work was now forbidden. On that day they must not work at all.

One group from amongst a people who lived in a town near the sea disobeyed the command of Allah and transgressed. They dug traps into the sea sides on the Saturday mornings so that water would stream in to them and bring with it, it’s fish. This continued for around 40 to 70 years. there were about 70’000 of them. Another group from the people would condemn them from this act. They continued to condemn them throughout the years. At one point they decided to build a wall between themselves and the group that transgressed. This was to separate themselves and their homes from the transgressors in fear that the punishment of Allah would soon come. There were about 12’000 of these people. A third small group of the people remained quiet on the issue. When the time of Sayyiduna Dawood’s (upon him be peace) prophethood came, he also forbade them from this act but they continued to disobey. He cursed these transgressors. One day, the transgressors never came out from the door made in the wall for them to enter and exit. Some of the people climbed the wall to look on to the other side and saw that the transgressors had faces of apes. When they entered the door, the transgressors recognised their relatives and came to them. They would sniff their clothes and bodies but could not speak. Allah had left their intellect and senses but taken their power of speech. They remained like this for three days and then they died.

There is much difference in opinion regarding the name and place of this town. From the opinons are, a town between Madinah and Egypt, a town between Madyan and Toor, a town called Tabriyah in Syria or a narration of Ibn Abbas says it was Madyan.

The group that condemned the act were saved as they remained steadfast upon the command of Allah. As for the group that remained quiet, there is a narration that Ikramah mentioned to Ibn Abbas (Allah is pleased with them) that they are forgiven because condoning good and forbidding evil is a collective necessity (wajib kifayah) which had been fulfilled. Ibn Abbas liked this opinion so much that he stood, hugged and kissed the forehead of Ikramah. This is mentioned in Fath Al-Azeez.

The Jews deny any sort of incident in their history and say that it is not found in their books. However, something not mentioned does not necessitate its non-existence and there is nothing that refutes the possibility of such incident.

As Muslims we believe the Quran is the word of God and thus that which is mentioned in the Quran is absolutely true and as for the detail in the commentaries, it is not absolutely authentic but there is no reason to reject it.

We do find that the command was very clear and with emphasis according to the Jewish text from Exodus 20,

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant [male slave], nor thy maidservant [female slave], nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates….” (8-11)

We also find that the punishment of disobeying the command of the Sabbath was very severe. It was capital punishment to be precise.

“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses: ‘The man shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.” (15:32-35)

This was the punishment for merely gathering sticks on a Saturday. The similar punishment in Islam is for those who commit adultery (sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not his or her spouse). Only a married person who is loyal and loves his spouse and children can understand the severity of such an irresponsible and unreliable crime. Yet people slander Islam for having such punishments but do not utter a word against the Jews.

And verily Allah knows best.

Zahid Hussain Al-Qadri
(Beggar at the doorstep of the Scholars)