Islam and Judaism are two distinct cultures and religions that have different belief systems, values as well as elements. However, these are not without similarities that canonically accrue from their related origins. Judaism is a monotheistic religion whose background and history is traced back to the Jewish people. According to literature, the foundation of the religion is hinged on the original covenant between God and Abraham when he was asked to live his home in Ur and travel to Canaan (ABC, 2018). This was in 1900 BCE, a year which served as a prelude to the second covenant 450 years later between God and Moses which saw him lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land.
Following the distraction of the Jewish temple in 70 CE by the Romans, Judaism emerged as a religion that replaced the sacrificial Jewish religion with a tradition of learning and studying around synagogues. 2014 estimates indicated that the faith had approximately 13 million followers globally mainly in the United States and Israel (BBC, 2014). On the other hand, Islam is a religion for all people regardless of the race and background. However, its prevalence and spread are mainly in the Arabic nation. In essence, regardless of the validity and reliability concerns of the early sources, the literature suggests that Islam originated in Medina and Mecca at the outset of the 7 th century.
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The religion was founded by Muhammad, the Prophet born in Medina and the proclaimer of the Quran. Essentially, they worship the same God as the Jews only that they call him Allah. In its religious sense, Islam means submission to the will of God (Allah), and it has a following of approximately 1.6 billion Muslims globally (Koenig & Al Shohaib). In this regard, this paper is aimed at providing not only a meticulous discourse regarding the array of beliefs and values of both religions but also their similarities and differences to Christianity.
Main Body
Jews, who are the followers of Judaism, have belief systems and values that uniquely identify them as a people. Part of their belief system is that they have a mandate to the world, and as such, to them, human conditions bear with them responsibility. They believe in seeking out the goodness in every individual and situation thereby identifying, praising and strengthening this virtue. Another fundamental element of Judaism is that its adherents believe in the criticism of the rule of the powerful such as empires. This facet hinges on the belief that all humans are equal and as such, none should be above the other. This belief is primarily drawn from the Bible.
Additionally, the Jewish people believe in hope, a precept that according to them constantly renews them. To this end, they perceive themselves as a people of hope rather than victims. According to Madorsky (1993), Judaism believes in the element of the afterlife, a concept enshrined in the Bible under the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Moreover, redemption is yet another element of Judaism greatly proffered in the Talmud and Midrash literature. Under the teachings of Messianic redemption, the Talmud and Midrash edify the fate of the soul after death, a precept that elaborates their belief system. In this regard, Judaism believes in the reincarnation of the soul, a concept that emerged in the medieval times as a theme under the Kabbalistic literature. However, according to Madorsky, this belief is mainly prevalent among the Orthodox Jews.
Judaism believes in a single deity that the Jews refer to as God with whom they have a special covenant established by their forefathers and founders (Moses and Abraham). The Jews believe that God is good and in exchange for all his goodness, they keep his laws and try to lead a holy life in every aspect of their lives. Judaism, according to BBC (2014), is a faith of actions in the sense that individuals should not only be judged by their faith but also by their actions in the world. A fundamental element of Judaism is that Torah is its most holy book of the Hebrew Bible which proffers them the rules or commandments for their everyday life. Also, the Jews worship in the synagogues led by a teacher referred to as a Rabbi. Judaism believes in the Sabbath as the holiest and important day of the week. They also believe in festivals such as the Pesach, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, as well as the Hanukkah. Symbolism is another element of Judaism, and as such, its most profound symbol is the Shield of David, which is also referred to as the Star of David.
The belief system of Islam is significantly hinged on unity which opposes any discrimination due to race or ethnicity. This is based on the religion’s belief that Islam is meant for all people regardless of their origins, race, or background. An additional element of the religion is that it neither opposes nor discourages learning and studying as long as these concepts do not impugn or undermine its beliefs and practices. The religion embraces and believes in brotherhood as well as sisterhood, a phenomenon that transcends any attachments or alignments to race, language, or tribe (Haghnavaz, 2013). Also, Islam believes in a single true God they refer to as Allah. According to research and literature, Allah is the same God as the one that Christians and Jews worship, only that he is named differently in Islam.
An additional element of Islam is that it has a prophet, the messenger of God (Allah) they refer to as Muhammad, who was also the founder of the religion and the Quran. Thus, the Islam faith believes in prophets who are ordained by God and guided by angels just like Muhammad was. Therefore, the Muslims trust that Muhammad was the last of the long line of prophets such as Moses and Elijah including Jesus Christ, the only prophet raised to heaven. Also, Islam believes in divine and holy books such as the Quran as the word of God. Other books include the Hadith, Sunnah, Torah, Zabur (Psalms) and the Injil (Gospel).
Also, Islam believes in judgment day also referred to as the day of resurrection as proffered in the Quran, a day which only God knows. Destiny, as well as angels, are a fundamental part of Islam’s belief system. Life after death is yet a firm belief of Islam which also sees Muslims believe in heaven and hell; places one goes after death based on his performance and deeds during his or her life. In addition to these beliefs, other elements of Islam include Zakat, Hajj, importance or family and prayers, positivity, polygamy, as well as forbidding adultery (Koenig & Al Shohaib, 2014).
Similarity
My belief system is Christianity, a religion like Judaism, whose followers believe in one true deity referred to as God (Gilman, 2014). According to Judaism, God is the creator of the world and man, a precept that Judaism deduces from the Bible similar to Christianity. Moreover, both belief systems concede that God is Holy and due to his goodness, he should be worshipped and his commands adhered to. The belief in God is also similar to the Islam faith that acknowledges one true God whom they refer to as Allah, an Arabic translation of the word God. Similar to the Christian assertions about God and creation, Islam as well believes in him as the creator, the merciful, as well as alpha and omega.
Difference
A fundamental departure between Christianity and Judaism is the belief regarding original sin. Regardless of both faiths believing in sin, Christianity holds that the original sin by Adam and Eve is the sole reason for all evil in humanity. To this end, human nature tends towards sin. However, Judaism contradicts this by asserting that all humans were created with the freedom of choice given by God, a human principle that determines to undertake good or evil. Therefore, to Judaism, the fall of man is as a consequence of the freedom of choice that humans possess. Christianity departs from Islam regarding the doctrine of polygamy which is permitted by the Quran but refuted by the Bible. Indeed, the Quran allows polygamy if the husband is capable of treating each wife equitably. Otherwise, the man should marry one woman. However, according to Christianity, a man is allowed to only marry one woman as his life companion and partner.
Conclusion
The paper has discussed not only the various beliefs and values of both religions but also their similarities and differences to Christianity. Judaism traces its origin to Abraham and Moses while Islam traces it to Muhammad born in Medina and the father of the religion as well as the Quran. Judaism believes in God, his creation, his commandments, Torah and the Hebrew Bible, as well as life after death. Other elements of the religion include festivals such as the Pesach, the Sabbath, as well as symbolism such as the Shield of David. On the other hand, Islam believes in God and his creation, angels, holy books such as the Quran, prophets such as Muhammad, as well as life after death. Additional elements of the religion are inclusive but not limited to acceptance of polygamy, forbidding of adultery, Hajj, zakat, the importance of family, as well as positivity as an Islam virtue. The paper has also highlighted fundamental similarities and differences between the two religions and Christianity. Regarding the belief in God, this is a common element in all the three religions. However, when it comes to the doctrine of the fall of man and original sin, Judaism departs from Christianity by asserting that the fall of man is as a consequence to the freedom of choice rather than a tendency towards sin as Christianity maintains.
Regarding Muslim, a substantial departure is the belief regarding polygamy; a precept refuted by Christianity and the Bible but embraced by Islam and the Quran. Thus, contrary to the common aspersions regarding the differences, between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, the religions have more in common than the differences. To this end, perhaps theological research and study should concentrate more on the convergence and similarities of the religions rather than the differences that divide the masses as observed in the religious wars in the contemporary society.
References
ABC. (2018). Judaism. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/religion/stories/s796551.htm
BBC. (2014). Judaism - An introduction. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/judaism/
Gilman, S. L. (Ed.). (2014). Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Collaboration and Conflict in the Age of Diaspora . Hong Kong University Press.
Haghnavaz, J. (2013). A Brief History of Islam (The Spread of Islam). International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4 (17). Retrieved from http://ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol_4_No_17_Special_Issue_December_2013/26.pdf
Koenig, H. A. G., & Shohaib, S. A. (2014). Health and Well-Being in Islamic Societies . Springer International Publishing. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-05873-3_2.
Madorsky, J. G. (1993). Judaism and the belief in an afterlife. Western journal of medicine, 158 (2), 201. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1021988/
