“What is Similar About Islam, Christianity and Judaism?” is a question that has been asked throughout the years as adherents of each faith have tried to understand their relationship with one another and find a place where common ground exists between their beliefs and practices. Each of these three major Abrahamic religions, along with smaller groups such as the Druze and Baha’i, have powerful historical links, making them a prominent part of the global human experience.
From a historical perspective, each of these faiths stretches back to the patriarch of the Abrahamic origin story, Abraham himself. The fact that all three faiths share this common ancestor is a foundational point of similarity that is hard to ignore. From this, each faith also shares common teachings regarding monotheism, the importance of prophets, their concept of an afterlife, their focus on morality and righteousness, and the idea of an ultimate deliverance.
Each of these faiths is structured around individual scriptures, each of which contains a divine message passed down from the patriarch Abraham and are held in the highest regard by their adherents. While the exact interpretations of these scriptures can differ – and in some cases, be in direct conflict with one another – all three faiths ultimately worship the same God and pursue the same goals of faith, virtue, and love.
The three faiths also share many of the same customs, rituals, and organizational structures. All three of them, for example, observe special holidays or festivals that mark key points in their religious calendars, including Passover for the Jews and Christianity, Id for Muslims, and the Day of Atonement for the Jews. As well, all three have elaborate structures of prayer and have a structured approach to fasting, whether it’s the Islamic month of Ramadan, the Christian Lenten season, or the Jewish Yom Kippur.
Another significant similarity between the three religions is their shared rituals. Baptism, for example, is practiced across all three religions in varying ritual forms. Similarly, the ritual of the Eucharist is commonplace in Christian churches while a similar ritual, the Kiddush, is practiced in the Jewish tradition. Weddings are also observed in similar fashion across the three religions, with varying degrees of levels of participation.
The three faiths also have a shared focus on love, charity and mercy. Each of these religions, in some form or another, encourages its followers to be good to one another and to show acts of kindness to their fellow man. Similarly, through their rituals and teachings, they also emphasize the need to be fair and equitable in all matters and to work towards a harmonious world.
Finally, perhaps the most powerful commonality shared by the three faiths is their focus on the divine judgment that awaits all believers upon death. This concept of an afterlife in which everyone will be judged according to their beliefs and deeds is something that all three of these religions have in common, although the specifics of the judgment may be different for each.
Common Worship
The main commonality in the worship of Islam, Christianity and Judaism is the concept of one God. According to the three monotheistic religions, God is the creator of the Universe, is ever-present and has the power to intervene directly in the affairs of mankind if He so chooses. As such, adherents of all three faiths revere and seek to please Him through prayer, devotion and acts of charity and kindness.
Also, all three faiths place great importance on the observance of religious studies and rituals. These are often seen as a way to connect with God and the divine on an individual and community level. Examples of these rituals include the reciting of special prayers (such as the Lord’s Prayer for Christians and the Shema for Jews), attending services at a place of worship, or observing festivals throughout the year.
The role of clergy and religious leaders is also seen in all three faiths in various ways. While each religion has its own way of appointing religious leaders, they all share a common thread in that these individuals serve as spiritual guides and are seen as benevolent teachers and counselors to the faithful.
Finally, the three faiths share a common understanding of the afterlife. All adherents believe that their actions in this life will have an impact on their afterlife, and all of the three religions advocate for a life lived in accordance with the teachings of their faith, as a way to secure the blessings of an eternal paradise after death.
Common Texts
Each of the three major religions claim a unique religious scripture as their primary source of teaching and guidance for worship and morality. For Judaism this is the Tanakh, or writings from the Torah, Prophets and Writings, commonly known as the Hebrew Bible. Christians look to the New Testament, including the four Gospels, Acts, and Epistles as their primary source, while Muslims look to the Quran as their holy book.
All three holy books share similar stories, doctrines, and ethical principles, and followers of each faith refer to them for guidance and explanations for life’s challenges and questions. Despite the differences in interpretation by each faith, there are many common teachings between them, including the need to show love and kindness to one another, the importance of observing religious practice, and the importance of living a life of virtue and righteousness.
Furthermore, each of these scriptures also speak to the concept of prophetic authority and the guidance of a higher being. In all three faiths the concept of prophets are upheld, with each faith’s adherents believing that these prophets were divinely appointed to communicate God’s word to them. The prophets of the Bible and Quran share many similar qualities, while each faith has identified a specific prophet to whom they have an extra special connection. Among Christians this is Jesus, for Jews this is Moses, and for Muslims this is Muhammad.
The scriptures of each faith are still presented in a different format and order, yet all of them contain messages and teachings of a higher being who uses His prophets to bring about the ultimate deliverance of man.
Common Practices
Though there are many differences between the three religions, there are some practices that have a strong commonality between them.
One of these is the practice of performing charitable acts. All three religions emphasize the importance of reaching out to those less fortunate and of caring for others. This is expressed through various rituals and practices, such as the tithe in Christianity, the zakat in Islam, and the offering of charity in Judaism.
Another common practice across the three faiths is that of pilgrimage. In Christianity, the traditional pilgrimage is to the holy city of Jerusalem. In Islam, the Hajj is an obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca, and in Judaism, the pilgrimage is the festival of Pesach (Passover) to Jerusalem. All of these are powerful demonstrations of faith and a chance to come together and celebrate the commonality of religious practice.
The three Abrahamic religions also have much in common when it comes to dietary restrictions. All three faiths place great emphasis on the consumption of certain foods and abstaining from certain others. In Judaism, this is generally referred to as “kashrut”, in Islam it is known as “halal”, and in Christianity, this is called “keeping the Sabbath”.
Finally, all three faiths place great importance upon the congregation of believers. All three religions have a concept of the faithful gathering on a regular basis for special services or periods of prayer, and each one promotes a sense of community and belonging through church services, mosque meetings, and temple attendance.
Common Values
At their core, the three Abrahamic religions, in addition to other faiths, share common values that they all seek to uphold and promote.
The core value that connects all of the three faiths is the concept of service to God, who is referred to as Allah, YHWH or Yahweh depending on the faith. This is expressed through the faith’s belief that all of life is in service to Him and His will, and that by adhering to the teachings of the faith one can receive His blessings and guidance. Additionally, each of the three faiths promote the values of love, mercy, and justice all of which are essential components of living in harmony and relationship with the divine. Similarly, they all emphasize the importance of knowledge and learning, and share the belief that all people are equal in the eyes of God and deserve to be treated with fairness and respect.
These common values continue to be expressed in the teachings and practice of each of the three faiths, and are an integral part of the history, culture and traditions of each one.
Common Experiences
The three Abrahamic faiths have many similarities, in terms of their beliefs and practices, but they have also forged strong relationships through shared experiences and a common covenant to uphold the laws of God. As a result of this shared covenant, the three monotheistic faiths have also developed a common understanding of faith as a journey leading to the ultimate reward of eternal life.
In addition to this journey, adherents of the three faiths have also shared a number of common experiences. This includes the concept of persecution, which has been faced by all three of the evidenced by the widespread expulsion of Jews from the Christian world during the Spanish Inquisition, the exodus of Jews from Arab countries, and the persecution of various religious minorities in today’s world.
Furthermore, all three of the Abrahamic faiths have faced the hardship of displacement of their people, with the current situation of the Palestinian people being just one example. Even through this difficulty, each of the faith communities chooses to remain resilient and continue to adhere to the commandments of their faith, despite the challenges they may face in doing so.
The three faiths also continue to interact on various levels. Whether it is through dialogue and cooperation in the political arena, or the interfaith movement that seeks to bring together adherents of each faith in the service of common objectives, the shared experiences of the three Abrahamic religions help to forge a deep understanding of one another and a respect for the commonalities between them.
Common Goals
Ultimately, the three faiths are united in their pursuit of a collective goal – that is, to seek the pleasure and guidance of God in their daily lives. All three religions have a deep-seated belief that the laws and teachings of their faith are the only way to receive God’s grace and mercy, and they strive to live in accordance with His will.
In the face of modern divisions, scholars of all three Abrahamic faiths are increasingly focused on the commonalities that bind their faiths together in an effort to foster peace and understanding between them. Despite the differences in their beliefs and practices, all three faiths share a common goal in their pursuit of an eternal reward and blessings from the divine.
Furthermore, each of the three Abrahamic faiths also shares a common value in their commitment to education and knowledge. Each of the three religions elvovates the importance of learning and teaching, and the sharing of wisdom from their scriptures. Through this knowledge, each of the three faiths seeks to expand its reach and create a more unified understanding between its adherents.
Adherents of all three faiths are also united in the understanding that worshipping God is a collective task, in that all of mankind is responsible for carrying out His will. All three have a shared understanding that a true believer will put forth their best effort in order to serve Him, regardless of their specific spiritual path or practices.
