What Do Judaism And Islam Have In Common?

Judaism and Islam may seem very different at first glance, but the two Abrahamic faiths actually have many beliefs and practices in common. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Judaism and Islam share religious texts, prophets, monotheistic beliefs, Abrahamic origins, rituals like prayer and fasting, and values like charity and hospitality.

In this comprehensive article, we will explore the many overlaps between the two religions. We will look at their scriptures, prophets, teachings about God, views on Abraham, religious rituals, moral values, and more.

By the end, you will have a deep understanding of how Judaism and Islam are related.

Common Religious Texts and Prophets

The Torah/Old Testament

Judaism and Islam share common religious texts, most notably the Torah, which is known as the Old Testament in Christianity. The Torah contains the Five Books of Moses – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy – which Muslims refer to as the Tawrat.

These scriptures tell the story of God’s covenant with the Israelites and provide guidance on ritual, legal, and moral matters. The Quran, Islam’s central religious text, references the Torah frequently and considers it to be a revealed scripture from God.

However, Muslims believe that over time, the original Torah was corrupted or altered by human hands. The Quran reinforces and confirms the teachings in the original Torah, according to Islamic belief. So while Muslims revere many of the same figures and stories from the Old Testament, they rely primarily on the Quran for spiritual guidance and legal rulings.

Abraham, Moses, and Other Shared Prophets

In addition to sacred texts, Judaism and Islam share reverence for many of the same biblical prophets. According to both faiths, Abraham is seen as the father of monotheism and entered into a covenant with God.

The story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to prove obedience to God is a foundational narrative in both the Torah and Quran.

Moses, known as Musa in Arabic, occupies a central role as God’s lawgiver in both Judaism and Islam. Muslims believe God revealed the Torah to Moses just as He revealed the Quran to Muhammad. Other prominent prophets recognized in both religions include Adam, Noah, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon, Elijah, Jonah, Job, and Zechariah.

Judaism and Islam diverge in their treatment of Jesus (Isa in Arabic) and Muhammad. While Christians believe Jesus to be the Messiah, Jews and Muslims see him as an honorable prophet but not divine. Muhammad is revered in Islam as the final and greatest prophet, but he is not recognized as such in Judaism.

Monotheistic Beliefs

Judaism and Islam share many similarities when it comes to monotheistic beliefs. Both religions believe in the existence of one God who is omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent and eternal. This sets them apart from religions like Hinduism or Buddhism which have multiple gods and goddesses.

The sacred texts of Judaism and Islam both emphasize the oneness and unity of God. The Shema prayer in Judaism states “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One”. Likewise, the Shahada states “There is no god but Allah”.

The Quran repeatedly stresses that God is One and has no partners or equals. Both faiths strongly reject the concept of polytheism.

In both religions, God is considered the sole creator of the universe. He is transcendent and exists outside of His creation, not bounded by the limitations of time and space. The Abrahamic God in Judaism and Islam is personal – He communicates with prophets and humans can have a relationship with Him through prayer and worship.

However, He remains ultimately unfathomable to the human intellect.

Another commonality is their strict opposition to idolatry. Jewish and Islamic theology forbid any depictions or images of God, as they could lead to idol worship. There are no statues, paintings or visual representations of God in their places of worship.

Any attempt to portray or humanize the Divine is seen as utterly false.

While Judaism and Islam share the same core monotheistic theology, there are some differences too. In Islam, God is often referred to as Allah, which simply means “the God” in Arabic. The 99 names of God in Islam describe His attributes. In Judaism, Yahweh is the proper name of God.

Judaism also prohibits speaking or spelling this name directly. Islam does not have the same taboo against saying Allah’s name.

Another key difference is that Islam considers the Quran to be the direct word of God, while Judaism sees the Torah as divinely inspired but written by prophets. The Quran holds a more exalted position as the eternal, uncreated speech of Allah.

Despite some differing doctrines, the shared belief in one supreme, transcendent God unites Jews and Muslims.

Abrahamic Origins and Beliefs About Abraham

Judaism and Islam share a common origin in the biblical figure of Abraham. According to Jewish and Islamic tradition, Abraham was the first person to teach monotheism – the belief in one God. Abraham is considered a founding patriarch of Judaism, while in Islam he is seen as an important prophet who helped establish the tradition of monotheism that would later be continued by Muhammad.

Here are some of the key beliefs that Judaism and Islam share regarding Abraham:

• Abraham entered into a covenant with God, agreeing to worship only Him. This covenant was an important foundation for Jewish identity and practice.
• Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son Ismail (in Islamic tradition) or Isaac (in Jewish tradition) as an act of submission to God’s command. God intervened to stop the sacrifice at the last moment.
• Abraham and his wife Sarah were ancestors of the Israelites through their son Isaac. In Islam, Abraham and his wife Hagar were ancestors of the Arabs through their son Ismail.
• Abraham purchased land at Hebron as a burial place for his wife Sarah. This land became home to the tombs of other biblical patriarchs and matriarchs and is considered holy in both faiths.
• The ritual of circumcision as a sign of God’s covenant originated with Abraham in both Jewish and Islamic tradition.

However, there are also some distinct differences between Jewish and Islamic perspectives on Abraham:

• Jews trace their descent primarily through Isaac while Muslims trace their descent primarily through Ismail.
• In the Quran, Abraham is mentioned 69 times and described as a model of faithfulness to the one God. He is not as central a figure in Jewish scriptures.
• Jewish teachings focus more on Abraham’s relationship with Isaac and God’s covenant with the Israelites. Islamic teachings focus more on Abraham’s role as an early prophet teaching monotheism.

Nevertheless, the common spiritual heritage traced back to Abraham is an important link between these two major monotheistic faiths. The shared reverence for some of the same holy sites associated with Abraham, such as Hebron, reinforces this spiritual connection.

Rituals and Practices

Prayer

Prayer is a fundamental ritual in both Judaism and Islam. Jews pray three times a day, facing towards Jerusalem. The major prayers include the Shema, the Amidah, and the Aleinu. Muslims pray five times a day facing towards Mecca. The major prayers include the Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha.

Both faiths use prescribed movements and recitations during prayer. Some of the similarities in prayer rituals include bowing, kneeling, and prostrating.

There are also differences. Jews pray individually or in a quorum of 10 men called a minyan. Muslims can pray individually but congregational prayers are strongly encouraged, especially for the noon prayer on Fridays. Jewish women are not obligated to pray three times a day as men are.

Muslim women do have the same obligation as men for the five daily prayers.

Dietary Restrictions and Fasting

Both Judaism and Islam have rules about permitted and forbidden foods. In Judaism, kosher laws prohibit the consumption of pork, shellfish, mixing of meat and dairy, and more. In Islam, halal dietary laws prohibit pork, alcohol, and any meat that is not slaughtered according to Islamic procedure.

Fasting is also an important ritual. Jews fast on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan. Fasting is seen as a way to cleanse the soul, develop self-discipline, and grow closer to God in both religions.

In terms of frequency, Muslims fast for the entire month of Ramadan, while Jews only fast for one day on Yom Kippur. The Islamic fast is a complete fast from all food and drink, while the Jewish fast still allows for eating and drinking at night.

The intentions also differ – for Jews it is repentance while for Muslims it is to develop humility and gratitude.

Values and Ethics

Charity

Both Judaism and Islam place great importance on charity and giving to the poor. In Judaism, charity is considered a mitzvah or commandment. Jews are expected to donate at least 10% of their income to charitable causes through tzedakah.

In Islam, charity or zakāt is one of the Five Pillars that every Muslim must follow. Muslims must donate 2.5% of their excess wealth annually as purification for their remaining wealth. Both religions have mandates around caring for orphans, widows and the poor more broadly through charitable donations.

There are some similarities in how charity is carried out as well. For example, both Judaism and Islam emphasize the importance of giving charity secretly and discreetly without expecting recognition. The cultures around charity in the two religions can differ however.

Judaism has a long tradition of establishing organized charitable societies whereas in Islam charity is often given directly from one individual to another.

Hospitality

Hospitality, known as hachnasat orchim in Judaism and diyafa in Islam, is also viewed as highly virtuous in both religions. Jewish texts command practitioners to welcome guests into their homes graciously, feed them and make them feel comfortable. This applies equally to strangers and acquaintances.

Islam has similar teachings around warmly welcoming guests, providing them food and shelter as an honorable duty. Stories around the hospitality of the prophets Abraham and Muhammad serve as models for hospitality in both traditions.

Practicing hospitality allows followers of both faiths to emulate the generous qualities of prophets and God. The emphasis placed on hospitality has led to tight-knit communities where taking care of guests is a cultural norm.

Both religions teach that God shows grace and kindness to those who graciously host others in their time of need. Overall, charity and hospitality form a cornerstone of good deeds in both faiths.

Conclusion

As we have seen, Judaism and Islam have many core beliefs and practices in common, even though they developed separately over the centuries. By understanding their shared Abrahamic roots and monotheistic worldviews, we can appreciate the profound connections between these faiths.

Recognizing their similarities fosters cooperation and respect between members of the two religions.