JUDAISM, JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND CHRISTIANITY AND

ISLAM: ISLAM:

THE ABRAHAMIC THE ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONSRELIGIONS

From Bernard LewisFrom Bernard Lewis

JERUSALEMJERUSALEM

ISLAMISLAM

Closer to Judeo-Christian tradition Closer to Judeo-Christian tradition than to any of the great religions of than to any of the great religions of Asia – Hinduism, Buddhism, Asia – Hinduism, Buddhism, ConfucianismConfucianism

ISLAM and JUDAISMISLAM and JUDAISM

Shared belief in a divine law that regulates Shared belief in a divine law that regulates all aspects of human activity.all aspects of human activity.

That includes food – kosher and hillelThat includes food – kosher and hillel

AbrahamAbraham

Founder of monotheismFounder of monotheism Had a wife – Sarah, God promised Had a wife – Sarah, God promised

them childthem child Sarah was too old to have a child so Sarah was too old to have a child so

she told him to have a child w/ she told him to have a child w/ Hagar, their servantHagar, their servant

Abraham had two sons- Ishmael w/ Abraham had two sons- Ishmael w/ Hagar and Isaac w/ SarahHagar and Isaac w/ Sarah

Isaac and IshmaelIsaac and Ishmael

God promised Abraham and his God promised Abraham and his family all the land between the Nile family all the land between the Nile and the Euphrates Riversand the Euphrates Rivers

Arabs claim their ancestry to IshmaelArabs claim their ancestry to Ishmael Jews claim their ancestry to IsaacJews claim their ancestry to Isaac This is one of the reasons for the This is one of the reasons for the

Arab – Israeli conflictArab – Israeli conflict

Abraham’s family treeAbraham’s family tree

Hagar – Abraham - Sarah

Ishmael

Who is Abraham’s rightful heir?

Isaac

ISLAM and CHRISTIANITYISLAM and CHRISTIANITY

Belief that they alone are the custodians Belief that they alone are the custodians of God’s final message to humanityof God’s final message to humanity

Their duty is to bring it to the rest of the Their duty is to bring it to the rest of the world.world.

Shared heritage of Jewish revelation and Shared heritage of Jewish revelation and Greek philosophy and science, influence of Greek philosophy and science, influence of ancient Middle East.ancient Middle East.

Belief in prophets, single GodBelief in prophets, single God For most of their history, they have been For most of their history, they have been

locked in combat. locked in combat.

DIFFERENCESDIFFERENCES Separation of church and state in WestSeparation of church and state in West Islamic society is both a political state and a Islamic society is both a political state and a

religious community. God is highest authorityreligious community. God is highest authority Mohammad died as a successful leader and Mohammad died as a successful leader and

conqueror; Jesus died as an outcast and martyr; conqueror; Jesus died as an outcast and martyr; Moses died before reaching the Promised Land. Moses died before reaching the Promised Land.

No priesthood in Islam. No priesthood in Islam. Koran is not a collection of books, it is a single Koran is not a collection of books, it is a single

book by a single author.book by a single author. No certainty of personal salvation.No certainty of personal salvation.

SUNNIsSUNNIs

Means “path of the Prophet”Means “path of the Prophet” Almost 90% of all MuslimsAlmost 90% of all Muslims Believed Mohammad’s successor should be Believed Mohammad’s successor should be

chosen from within community (umma)chosen from within community (umma) Many sects and divisions.Many sects and divisions.

SHI’A or Shi’itesSHI’A or Shi’ites

Believed Mohammad’s successor Believed Mohammad’s successor should have been chosen from should have been chosen from among his family.among his family.

Earliest leaders, Hussein and Ali, Earliest leaders, Hussein and Ali, were murdered – tradition of were murdered – tradition of martyrdom.martyrdom.

Big in Iran, southern Iraq, Bahrain, Big in Iran, southern Iraq, Bahrain, and parts of Lebanon and Syria.and parts of Lebanon and Syria.

SH’IA PracticesSH’IA Practices

Imams, mullahs Imams, mullahs and ayatollahsand ayatollahs

Imam is a spiritual Imam is a spiritual leader, a leader, a descendant of the descendant of the prophet (or sharif)prophet (or sharif)

Shi’ites revere holy Shi’ites revere holy figures, allow figures, allow images of martyrs images of martyrs and ‘saints’and ‘saints’

THE “SHI’ITE CRESCENT”THE “SHI’ITE CRESCENT”