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Did the imam say to kill all jews
Executive summary
Cases exist in media reporting where individual imams were recorded or quoted citing a specific apocalyptic hadith that includes language like “O Muslim, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,” and those incidents prompted police complaints, indictments, apologies, or suspensions (examples: Copenhagen, Montreal, multiple U.S. incidents) [1] [2] [3]. Different outlets and organizations document that some imams recited or cited this tradition; reporting shows a mix of legal action, community condemnation, and debate over context and translation [4] [5] [6].
1. What the most‑cited line actually is: a hadith about end‑times
Several reports and translations point to a widely cited hadith (a reported saying/tradition attributed to Prophet Muhammad) describing an apocalyptic scene in which stones or trees allegedly call to Muslims that a Jew is hiding behind them and to “come and kill him” — that phrasing appears in footage or transcripts quoted in the reporting [2] [7]. Journalists and watchdogs usually say imams cited this tradition verbatim or recited the Arabic formula in sermons, which is what provoked outrage [1] [8].
2. Documented incidents: from Copenhagen to North America
Reporting names multiple incidents where imams either recited or were accused of reciting that hadith or similar language: a Copenhagen imam filmed in 2017 drew police reports and later an indictment related to calling for the killing of Jews (Mundhir Abdallah) [1] [4]; at least two Montreal mosque incidents were reported after videos surfaced in which imams asked for Jews to be killed [2] [9]; U.S. reporting tracked several sermons after 2017 in which imams invoked the same tradition or language, prompting suspensions, apologies or ADL attention [3] [6].
3. How sources frame intent and translation disputes
Coverage shows disagreement about whether the recitations were intended as literal incitements to murder, theological citations of an apocalyptic text, rhetorical flourish, or mistranslation. MEMRI is frequently cited for translating Arabic footage into English and publicizing such clips, and some reports note that translations and the context of the Arabic can affect how the remarks are understood [5] [8]. The Washington Institute notes that the hadith’s authenticity and use are contested and that these sermons often reference end‑time narratives rather than immediate operational instructions [7].
4. Legal and communal reactions: complaints, indictments, apologies
Consequences varied: in Denmark the imam was reported and later charged under hate‑speech/hate‑preaching provisions after footage circulated [4]; in North America, some imams were suspended or issued apologies after their sermons were publicized, and community leaders and Jewish organizations lodged complaints or condemned the remarks [3] [6] [2]. These responses show democratic‑society mechanisms—law enforcement, institutional discipline, public condemnation—are commonly invoked [4] [6].
5. Broader context: how reporting links to antisemitism debates
Analysts and institutions frame these incidents within a wider problem of antisemitic rhetoric appearing in some clerical speeches, and they warn that quoting such hadiths can feed bigotry or violent interpretation by impressionable listeners [1] [7]. Some outlets track multiple imams and say the phenomenon increased in certain political moments (e.g., post‑Jerusalem announcement in 2017), while others emphasize the need for moderate Muslim voices to counteract extremist readings [3] [7].
6. Limits of available reporting and what is not established
Available sources document multiple instances where imams recited or were reported to recite the hadith‑style language; however, available sources do not mention a universal statement by "the imam" as if referring to one single, definitive speechmaker who represents all imams worldwide — incidents are specific and distinct [1] [2] [3]. Available sources do not provide comprehensive scholarly consensus here about the hadith’s authenticity across all collections, although some outlets note authenticity is disputed [7] [10].
7. Takeaway for readers seeking clarity
If your question asks whether “the imam said to kill all Jews” in the abstract: reporting shows some named imams did recite or quote an end‑time hadith that includes a call to kill Jews; these were controversial, led to complaints or discipline, and were widely reported [1] [2] [4]. But each case is specific — context, translation, and intent were debated in coverage — and there is no single, uniform “imam” statement that applies to all clerics [3] [7].