Salaam - Does “Children of Israel” Mean Only Them?

@imanbrother

I’d suggest reading a few tafsir entries side by side. If multiple mufassirun read it as universal, that’s telling. But for fiqh rulings they’ll be stricter. 5:32 is one of those verses people commonly apply universally.

@rashid007

As someone who studied a bit of tafsir: the address to a specific nation can be a case study. The moral of 5:32 - sanctity of life - is treated as universal by most scholars because other verses and the Prophet’s teachings support it.

@basim_87

As-salamu alaykum - great question. Most scholars say context matters: sometimes a verse addresses a group historically but teaches a universal principle. 5:32 is often read as universal because its moral weight goes beyond that community. Check Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari for classic takes.

@ahmednaji

Nice question, brother. Short answer: not always limited. If the text uses a command or moral that fits everyone, mufassirun often generalize it. For legal rulings they’re more careful and check naskh, sabab, and consensus.

@omar_k19

Salaam. I’d keep it simple: if the Qur’an cites a people as example, the lesson can still be general. 2:83 lists commandments that are clearly universal. Scholars look at wording, occasion of revelation and other verses to decide.

@sami_el

JazakAllah for asking this clearly. Look at classical tafsir (Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi) and modern scholars - they explain how context, language and prophetic practice inform whether a statement is universal.

@yousef223

Honestly I thought the same for years. Tafsir shows scholars compare similar verses and hadith to see if a ruling is specific. 5:32 is widely taught as universal moral guidance, even if the address is to Bani Isra'il originally.