For more than 70 years, Muslims and followers of the Jewish faith have lived in a state of discord, fighting over land, each claiming to have more of a right over it than the other. But what many people do not realize is that these two seemingly different faiths have more commonalities than differences. Let us take a look back to where it all began.
In the beginning, there were two human beings, Adam and Eve (pbut), who were cast out of the Garden of Eden and made to inhabit the Earth. In their union, the human race began to multiply.
After thousands of years a man named Abraham pbuh was born, a Prophet and Messenger of God. Those who adhere to Judaism and Islam declare the religion of Abraham pbuh to be their religion, and the God of Abraham pbuh to be their God. Both claim that this one man is their spiritual source.
In the Quran, it states:
“And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself. And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah: 130
Just as Muslims also believe Abraham pbuh to be a great Prophet from God, they also believe in and share every Prophet that you can find in the Old Testament. From the Book of Genesis starting with Prophet Adam pbuh, all the way to down to The Book of Malachi, finishing with Prophet Malachi pbuh. Muslims believe in every Prophet that the Jews believe in, and it is impermissible for any Muslim to believe in one of God’s Prophets while neglecting another Prophet. Whomever God has sent must be believed in. Just as Judaism has this belief, so does Islam.
In the Quran, it states:
“Say, [O believers], “We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah: 136
So If Judaism and Islam share Abraham pbuh as the same Prophet God had sent, wouldn’t they adhere to his teachings and ways? Wouldn’t the religion then be more similar than it is different? Well, the fact of the matter is, when you examine the two religions closely, you will find remarkable similarities.
The definition of a Semite is ‘a member of a modern people that speak a Semitic language.’ Most people are unaware that the Arabic language is a Semitic Language. In fact, it is the largest Semitic Language in the world. So this would, in turn, mean that Jews and Arabs are Semitic people.
So now that we know that both Jews and Arabs are Semite, what does this mean? What classifies a person to be Semite? Let us take a look at the Genealogy of the Ancestor of Abraham pbuh. Prophet Noah pbuh, when you look at the family tree, you will find that Noah pbuh had three sons, Ham, Japheth, and Shem. Abraham pbuh is the direct descendant of Shem. The name Semite comes from Shem, the eldest of the three sons of Noah pbuh. In the Greek and Latin versions of the Bible, Shem becomes Sem, hence his descendants were called “Semites.”
Wouldn’t this mean that Arabs and Hebrews share a common ancestor? The answer is yes.
Both Arabs and Jews trace back their lineage to Prophet Abraham pbuh through his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael (pbut) who were both prophets of God. Isaac (pbuh) was the father of Jacob pbuh whom God had blessed and was named ‘Israel.’
And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said,
“Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
– Holy Bible: Genesis 32:26-28
Jacob pbuh fathered 12 Sons. And from them sprang out 12 tribes. The Tribes of Israel or the Children of Israel who God had blessed as his chosen Nation. The Kingdom of Israel. The Land of the Jews.
“O my people, enter the Holy Land which Allah has assigned to you and do not turn back [from fighting in Allah’s cause] and [thus] become losers.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Ma’idah: 21
“O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah: 47
It is without a shadow of a doubt that the Jewish people are the direct descendants of Abraham pbuh through his Son Isaac and his grandson Jacob pbut.
Not only were the Descendants of Isaac pbuh made into a great nation, but so too were the Descendants of Ishmael pbuh. God tells Abraham pbuh the following:
“And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.”
-Holy Bible: Genesis 17:20
It is no coincidence that the Muslims claim these 12 Rulers to be the 12 Imams pbut from the Lineage of Ishmael pbuh and that Prophet Muhammad pbuhahf is also a descendant of Ishmael pbuh. Perhaps one might ask, what is the proof that the Arabs are from the lineage of Ishmael pbuh?
According to one of the oldest Jewish Historians Titus Flavius Josephus, in his book Antiquities of the Jews, he writes about Ishmael pbuh:
“When the lad was grown up, he married a wife, by birth an Egyptian: from whence the mother was her self derived originally. Of this wife were born to Ishmael twelve sons: Nabaioth, Kedar, Abdeel, Mabsam, Idumas, Masmaos, Massaos, Chodad, Theman, Jetur, Naphesus, Kadmas. These inhabited all the country from Euphrates, to the Red Sea: and called it Nabatene. They are an Arabian nation, and name their tribes from these: both because of their own virtue, and because of the dignity of Abraham their father.”
– Titus Flavius Josephus
The Nabatene were the Nabataean Arabs and the Qedarite Arabs are from the lineage of Kedar. Without a shadow of a doubt, the father of the Arabs was none other than Ishmael pbuh. Which makes Arabs and Jews cousins.
There is no doubt amongst the Jews and Arabs that they are cousins of one another, tracing back to the same family, to the same man, the Prophet of God Abraham pbuh. Isn’t it obvious, especially when we look at the way they greet each other? The Arabic “asalamu alaykum” which means “peace be upon you” is said nearly identically to the Hebrew way of saying it “shalom aleichem.”
Judaism and Islam should rationally have a common belief, since they both claim to adhere to Abraham’s teachings. Let us take a look at some of their teachings.
In the Old Testament, you will find that Judaism is a strictly monotheistic religion. Moses pbuh said,
“You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other.”
– Holy Bible: Deuteronomy 4:35
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
– Holy Bible: Deuteronomy 6:4
God revealed unto Moses the 10 Commandments, the first of which was:
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
– Holy Bible: Exodus 20:3
– Holy Bible: Deuteronomy 5:7
And just as Judaism believes in this One God, the followers of Islam believe in one God. The same God of Prophet Abraham pbuh. After all, Abraham pbuh is the Ancestor of the Founder of the religion.
“And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself. And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah: 130
So it is no surprise that the teachings of Abraham are the teachings of Islam, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad pbuhahf, who had declared that God – Allah the Almighty, is in fact, One.
As it is stated in the Quran say,
“He is Allah, the One”
– Holy Quran, Al-Ikhlas: 1
One of the most commonly known practices amongst the Jewish people is circumcision. Circumcision is the practice of the removal of the foreskin of the male genitalia. It is a practice that started with Prophet Abraham pbuh. Both religions follow the teachings of Abraham pbuh and are thus part of the Covenant that God had placed upon Abraham pbuh.
“Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
– Holy Bible: Genesis 17:9-14
The Covenant of Abraham still applies to them today as was revealed to God by Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf). In the following verse:
“And when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Ahzab:7
It is clear that circumcision, according to the Old Testament, is to be practiced by the descendants of Abraham as part of the covenant with their lord, thus proving further the ancestral roots of the Arab people.
Another interesting similarity is what both groups have rejected together. Jews entirely reject the Christian belief that Jesus pbuh is the begotten son of God or God himself. The Jewish people see Jesus pbuh as only a man.
According to Judaism, Jesus pbuh was nothing more than a man. Because according to scripture, the Ultimate God cannot be human.
The Old Testament states:
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?”
– Holy Bible, Numbers 23:19
Jesus pbuh in Islam is not depicted as the begotten son of God but he was a man, rather he was a great man, a Prophet from God to the people of his time to correct the wrongs and corruptions circulating at the time just as the Prophets before him have. In fact, Jesus pbuh himself denies those who ascribed him with absolute divinity or as a partner with God.
The Quran states:
“And when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah ?'” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Ma’idah: 116
And it is stated:
“He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Ikhlas: 3-4
One of the most noticeable differences between the two religions is their direction of worship. Today you will find in Jerusalem the adherents of Judaism facing the direction where the Temple of Solomon pbuh used to be in place. Adherents of Judaism outside of the land pray towards the direction where the holy city of Jerusalem lies, much like how Muslims today pray towards the land where the city of Mecca is and perform pilgrimage to its sites. However, in the beginning, it was not like this.
Adherents of Judaism outside of Israel pray towards the land of Israel where the holy city of Jerusalem lies, much like how Muslims today pray towards the land where the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia and perform pilgrimage to its sites. However, in the beginning, it was not like this. Did you know that Prophet Muhammad pbuhahf originally made the Muslims face Jerusalem for their daily prayers? It is considered a holy place to the Muslims, who in turn believe this place to be the very place two great Prophets, David and Solomon pbut, ruled. Thus the name, the Temple of Solomon.
“Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Isra: 1
Atop the temple mount also lies a Shrine, the Dome of the Rock, which Muslims believe is the exact location to which Prophet Muhammad pbuhahf ascended into heaven, thus showing how important this city is to the Muslims, along with the Jewish nation.
Another aspect that may seem exclusive to Islam is the religion’s dietary restrictions. Muslims can only eat that which is deemed “Halal” meaning “Permissible”, instead of that which is “Haram” or “Forbidden” to consume.
In the Quran, it states:
“He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah:173
It is also forbidden to eat any meat that did not have the name of God mentioned preceding the slaughter of the animal. Muslims make the sacrificial animal face the direction of prayer towards Mecca, and keep the blade hidden from the sight of the animal until the moment of the slaughter takes place. The name of God is pronounced on the animal, then the animal’s throat is slit, cutting its large arteries without touching and severing the spinal cord, then the animal is drained of its blood….. This is the humane slaughter Muslims perform so that the animal is permissible for consumption.
Just as the Muslims have laws for what deems food to be permissible and forbidden, so do their cousins. Jews have dietary laws that are set into place for what is permissible and forbidden as well. Just as Muslims may only eat what is deemed “Halal,” Jews can only eat that which is deemed “Kosher” or “Kasher” meaning “fit” in the context of “fit for consumption.” In Judaism, it is forbidden to consume swine, and an animal that is suitable for consumption must be slaughtered according to Jewish laws.
“And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.”
– Holy Bible: Leviticus 11:7-8
Similar to Muslims, Jews are not permitted to consume blood.
“I will turn against those who eat blood whether they are citizens of Israel or foreigners living among you, I will separate them from their people.”
Holy Bible: Leviticus 17:10
Isn’t this very similar to how Muslims slaughter animals?
One of the most recognized practices in Islam is the modest dress code among its female adherents. God had revealed to his Messenger Muhammad pbuhahf that women must be dressed in a modest fashion.
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Ahzab:59
Many Muslims today consider this verse to not only mean that you must cover your body, but the Muslims today believe that it is also talking about covering the hair of your head, and that is why, today, you will find most religious Muslim women are covered with what is known as “the hijab” which is a headscarf placed around the head of Muslim women to cover their hair. It is important to note that Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan fhip has clarified that the hijab or head covering has never been required as obligatory in God’s religion.
In Judaism, a married Jewish woman must wear what is called a “Mitpahat” which acts similarly to the Islamic Hijab, in which women are to dress modestly and cover their hair. It is a headscarf worn by many married Orthodox Jewish women in compliance with the code of modesty known as tzniut which means “Modesty.” Only the husband is allowed to look at the hair of his wife, while she must remain covered in front of other males.
Similar to Islam in which people of the opposite gender are forbidden from any physical contact with one another, such as shaking hands or hugging. This Law also applies to Judaism as a code of modesty.
Around the world, during the times in which Muslims are meant to Pray, a call to prayer known as the Adhan can be heard, calling the adherents of Islam to worship God.
But the call to prayer isn’t exclusive to Muslims. In Judaism, the Barechu also acts as a part of Jewish prayer service, functioning as a call to prayer.
One example that sounds most similar to the Muslim Adhan is Shema Yisrael.
After the Adhan is called, Muslims go make Ablution, also known as Wudhu, in order to be ritually pure for the performance of the prayer. The ablution is a famous purification ritual that is quite famous as a Muslim practice. In Judaism, this practice is no secret.
If necessary, a Muslim will shower or immerse his whole body into water, performing an act known as Ghusl for those who are ritually impure, mainly due to sexual impurity. In Judaism, people have what is called a Mikveh, a ritual bath or immersion in water, used to achieve ritual purity.
Muslims pray five times a day towards Mecca. Part of the prayer involves positions such as standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting. This form of worship is known exclusively as a Muslim prayer.
Muslims pray five daily prayers at three separate times of the day Dawn, Noon, and Sunset in the direction of Mecca, part of the prayer involves positions such as standing, bowing, prostration and sitting. This form of worship is known exclusively as a Muslim prayer to many people….
“So exalted is Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning. And to Him is [due all] praise throughout the heavens and the earth. And [exalted is He] at night and when you are at noon.”
– Holy Quran, Ar-Rum: 17-18
Most people believe that Jewish prayer only involves people standing towards a wall while reciting from scripture. In reality, this is not the only prayer that the Jews perform.
People of the Jewish faith also have positions within the prayer that consists of standing, bowing, prostration, sitting, and at times you even find them supplicating very much similar as the Muslims perform Dua.
“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
– Holy Bible: Daniel 6:10
“Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them.”
– Holy Bible: Numbers 20:6
“Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king.”
– Holy Bible: 1 Chronicles 29:20
Though it mentions that Daniel pbuh prayed 3 times a day, since the Second Temple period Jews have included 2 extra prayers, making their prayers 5 times a day.
One cannot deny that Islam and Judaism have more in common than most people might think. All of the hate is due to propaganda, to keep the people divided… many have lost their lives over the past 70 years because of the Elite and non-working scholars who wish to keep the two at each others’ throats for the sake of personal interest, even though the two religions are essentially the same.
Both religions teach of a divine Saviour of Mankind – one that will bring peace and justice into the world, after it has been filled with oppression and tyranny.
It’s about time that we settle our differences and put them aside. It’s time to open our hearts to one another. It’s time that we unite under one man, sent by the same God we all worship. The Saviour of Mankind is here, and his name is Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan fhip. He is the one whom the Jews and Muslims have been waiting for. He is the one who will unite the nations and settle their differences. He is the one who was sent by Prophet Elijah pbuh.
“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” – Holy Bible: Malachi 4:5-6
Both Islam and Judaism believe in one God, they both believe Abraham pbuh to be their spiritual founder, and they both trace their genealogy back to him, making them both Semites. They also believe in the same prophets and messengers. They believe Jesus pbuh is not the Ultimate God, they share the same holy city of Jerusalem, they have an identical dietary law that forbids the consumption of certain foods, they perform circumcision, they have a very familiar method of calling to prayer, they both have a ritual purification, a minor one and a major one, they even pray the same way with supplication, standing, bowing and prostration, and they even share the same belief in a saviour, a messiah, who appears during The End Times. And now, the Messiah is here, along with Imam Al-Mahdi and his son and successor Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan fhip.
He has come to resurrect the spiritually dead, to eradicate the world of falsehood and oppression and replace it with truth and justice. It is time that we put aside our differences. It is time that we pave the way for the Saviour. It is time to be united.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is a 501c3 non-profit organization. This is the Call of Imam Al-Mahdi, the saviour of mankind, to all the people of the world.
Imam Al-Mahdi has appeared, with his successors Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan, and Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (From Them is Peace).
Imam Al-Mahdi is calling the people to the true Supremacy of God.
