Islam and Judaism are two different religions that have been in existence for a long time and share a history. This existence of these religions side by side has also influenced the beliefs of each religion and thus created similarities and differences. Conflicts have also arisen among members of each religion and continue to exist in modern times. This essay will compare these two religions and discuss a conflict that has existed for quite some time now.
History
During Prophet Muhammad’s time, there was already a strong presence of Judaism. This presence was felt more in Hijaz which also happened to be the birthplace of Muhammad. The Jews in Hijaz were opposed to Muhammad’s mission and saw him as a false prophet (Newby, n.d.). This hostility towards Muhammad became the definition of the Jewish character and would influence the relationship between Islam and Judaism.
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The Jewish rejection of Prophet Muhammad’s mission has been used by Muslims to define the role of Judaism in Islamic history. Islamic literature is filled with negative accounts of Judaism that describe their past and present (Newby, n.d.). They are described as rebellious and against God while their rejection of a Muslim state in Medina likened to the present conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Basic Beliefs
Both religions share similarities in their belief. They are all monotheistic and believe in the existence of one God (“Comparison Table”, n.d.). Muslims believe in Allah, and the Jews believe in Yahweh. The two religions also have a single Holy book which they use in their teachings – the Quran/Koran for Islam and the Hebrew Tanakh for Judaism. These similarities also extend to their perception of Jesus in their beliefs.
Jesus exists in both religions, and he is not divine. In Islam, Jesus is referred to as Isa and is considered a prophet while in Judaism he is an ordinary Jew (“Comparison Table”, n.d.). Both religions do not view Jesus as divine. However, there are differences on how he died. In Islam, Isa (Jesus) was not crucified but was instead raised to heaven by Allah. On the other hand, the Jews believe Jesus was crucified for claiming to be divine.
The concept of sin is also similar in both religions. Both Islam and Judaism do not believe in original sin as Christians do (“Comparison Table”, n.d.). Both also believe in the existence of the Holy Spirit, however, in Islam, the Holy Spirit is identical to Angel Gabriel while in Judaism it is considered as divine power. However, there is one main difference which is based on the foundation of these religions.
The basis of the beliefs in Islam and Judaism differ considerably. Islam has its beliefs rooted in the prophecy of a single individual – Muhammad. On the other hand, Judaism is rooted in the divine revelation to Abraham that was experienced by everyone. Therefore, these two individuals have become the founders of these two religions (“Comparison Table”, n.d.).
Conflicts
As stated before, conflicts between Islam and Judaism all stem from the rejection of Prophet Muhammad’s mission by the Jews in Hijaz. However, the main conflict is the religious claim on Jerusalem. In Judaism, it is the city where Abraham almost sacrificed his son Isaac while in Islam it is the last place that was visited by Prophet Muhammad before his ascension into heaven (Little, 2017).
The religious relevance of the Jerusalem is what drives this conflict. Both religions occupied the cities at different periods of time, and in recent times it is occupied by the Israeli and Palestinians. The move by one religion to claim the city as their own is what increases the tensions between the two religions. This tension has become politicized making it even harder for these two religions to co-exist.
Conclusion
Islam and Judaism share a lot more than just similar beliefs. Both have religious claims on Jerusalem and have existed side by side for many years.
References
Comparison Table between Christianity, Islam and Judaism. (n.d.). Christianity in View . Retrieved 3 April 2018, from http://christianityinview.com/xncomparison.html .
Little, B. (2017, December 6). Why Jews and Muslims Both Have Religious Claims on Jerusalem. History . Retrieved 3 April 2018, from https://www.history.com/news/why-jews-and-muslims-both-have-religious-claims-on-jerusalem .
Newby, G. (n.d.). Muslim, Jews and Christians - Relations and Interactions. The Institute of Ismaili Studies . Retrieved 3 April 2018, from https://iis.ac.uk/academic-article/muslim-jews-and-christians-relations-and-interactions
