A psychosocial analysis of the israelites in the context of surah al-Baqarah

This study analyzes the Qur'anic narratives concerning the Children of Israel in Surah al-Baqarah from a psychosocial perspective. The findings demonstrate that these accounts are not confined to historical circumstances but instead convey universal lessons about fundamental human tendencies and psychological defense mechanisms. The attitudes displayed by the Children of Israel—such as ritualism, disobedience, worldliness, and rejection of authority—are examined in relation to psychological vulnerabilities including arrogance, selective perception, collective narcissism, and death anxiety. The research further reveals that behavioral patterns such as the dilemma between faith and rebellion, partial acceptance of revelation, denial of prophethood, avoidance of death, and the monopolization of salvation are not exclusive to the Children of Israel but represent recurring human frailties across different societies and eras. Concepts such as cognitive dissonance, dogmatic egocentrism, and hedonic adaptation are employed to illustrate how psychological frameworks can serve as interpretive tools for religious texts. In conclusion, the study argues that the narratives of the Children of Israel in Surah al-Baqarah provide moral, educational, and spiritual admonitions for individuals and communities alike. By highlighting the interplay between religious teachings and human psychology, the research underscores the value of religious texts as rich sources of universal insight for the fields of the psychology of religion and Qur'anic exegesis.