Abrahamic Religions

JUDAISM

Historical Background

It is quite difficult to separate the history of Judaism from the history of the Jews themselves. The ancestors of
the Jews were groups of Semites called Hebrews whose origins can be traced in the desert lands of Arabia. The
origins of the Jewish people in the beginning of Judaism are recorded in the first five books of Hebrew Bible, in
the Pentateuch. As a religion and culture, Judaism has three notable founding figures or patriarchs namely,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These biblical patriarchs are the physical and spiritual forebears of the Jewish
people. Judaism is anchored upon Gods revelation to Abraham that he is the creator and ruler of the universe
and that he loves the creatures and demands righteousness from them. God chose Abraham and hid family
from all people living on earth as recorded in Genesis 12. God entered in to a covenant with Abraham
promising him that would become the father of a great nation.

Sacred Scripture

According to the Jewish Tradition the Hebrew Bible in to three principal sections namely the Torah, Nevi’im,
Ketuvim. The foundation text Torah (teaching) is composed of the first “Five Books” or the Pentateuch
traditionally believed to have been authored by Moses through divine instruction in Sinai. These include
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Apart from containing basic laws, the Pentateuch, also
narrates the history, religious statutes, and moral regulations for individuals and society, ceremonial rites,
creation stories by Yahweh.

Meanwhile, the Nevi’im, (prophets) subdivided in to the Earlier Prophets, Later Prophets, and twelve minor
prophets. Prophets served as spokesperson who criticized the hypocritical practices of Jewish rituals. They
were specifically chosen by God to preach his message to the people.

Lastly, the Ketuvim (writings) form the third sections of the Tanakh that contains works on poetry, temple
ritual, private prayer, philosophical explorations, and canonical works.

Pilgrimage Festivals

During the olden days the Torah commanded the ancients Israelites to go to Jerusalem on three pilgrimage
and participates in the worship at the Temple.

Also called the Shalosh Regalin these are Pesach(Passover), Shavuot(weeks or Pentecost) and
Sukkot(tabernacles). Pesach, is an eight day festival that originally mark the beginning of the barley harvest. Its
principal purpose is to commemorate and recreate the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt. A festive meal is
celebrated (seder) wherein the story of Exodus is narrated by the heads of the family. Shavuot, is a two day
festival that was originally a celebration of the wheat harvest. Presently, it is now being held to commemorate
the revelation of the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai. Sukkot, is a nine day festival commemorating the autumn
harvest and the forty years of Israelites stay in the desert wilderness subsisting solely on the bounty of God.
Temporary booths or structure (sukkah) are built in the homes with a roof through which one can see the stars
in the sky. This is an attempt to recreate Israelites life in the desert.

ISLAM

Historical Background

Islam began with the Arabia desert people around early 7th century. These people had developed their own
set of beliefs prior to the formal establishments of Islam and had been influenced by the other religions for a
long period of time, including Byzantine Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrinism. Perhaps the single most
important factor that accelerated the development of a new religion in the Arabian interior was the negative
religion practiced by the Arabs. Pre Islamic people worshipped variety of gods. While they recognized the
existence of one supreme god, local and tribal gods were venerated most by the people. Carved images were
done to represent these gods there were also angels, fairies, demonic creature and evil spirits in pre Islamic
religion.
Life of Muhammad

Around the year 570 C.E Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born in the oasis town of Mecca just off the western
coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Muhammad father died before he was born while his mother died before he
was six years old. He belonged to the clan of Hashim of the Quaraysh tribe that controlled the Kaaba and the
camel trade that passed through Mecca. When his mother died Muhammad was raised by his grand father
Abd al Muttalib. Around the year 610 C.E, Muhammad began hearing the voice of God in a cave on the summit
of Mount Hira just outside Mecca in the Arabian Hijas. God was speaking to Muhammad in the Arabic
language. Mostly auditory but occasionally visual form began to experience divine revelations delivered by the
angel Gabriel Muhammad first disclosed these revelations only to his wife since revealing these messages to
his tribe could disturb the social order that was primarily anchored on clan and kinship. The term Islam
originated from the Arabic word meaning submit. In other words, Islam means to surrender or submit oneself
for obedience to God or to enter into a condition of peace and security with God through allegiance and
surrender to him. On the other hand the word muslim is the Arabic word for a person who submit. A Muslim
therefore, is a person who surrenders or submits himself to obey God. In Arabic, the word Allah is a compound
of al (the definite article, the) and ilah(god and deity). Joined together, the words signify god. Henceforth he is
called Allah or the one who is God. Muhammad was now preaching that there can only one God. The Muslim
considered Muhammad as a messenger and the last prophet sent by God to humankind who was visited by
the angel Gabriel.

Beliefs

If one wants to convert to the Islam religion, one must only utter “there is no god but Allah” Muhammad is the
messenger of Allah in the presence of two witness. By affirming this declaration of faith and accepting the
duties as required under Islamic laws a person now become part of the fastest growing religion in the world.
For all Muslims there is only compassionate everlasting and omnipotent God being the lord of everything in
existence, including humans. A Day of Judgement shall ensure wherein all human kind will resurrected and
individually on accounted for. Based on their deeds and fully aware of this deeds in this life everyone will be
sent to either or hell for perpetuity. All these knowledge had been revealed by God to Muhammad and
written down in the Quran. Obligatory prayer (Salat) facing in the direction of Mecca or qiblah, Muslim must
pray or salat five times each and everyday before sunrise (as-subh), noon (az-zuhr), mid-afternoon (al-asr),
immediately after sunset (al-maghreb) and before midnight (al-isha). In a mosque or masjid (place of
prostration) where Muslims offer prayers in congregation men and women pray separately. A structure of
masjid can range from simple desert prayer ground (musalla) or just any space whereby rules of ritual purity
are properly observed.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar wherein Muslims are expected to observe sawm. Muslims
may not drink, eat or have sex during daylight hours. The last 10 days of the month may be spent by
continuous prayers of the most devoted Muslims. Finally the sawm ends with Id al Fitr or the Festival of
Breaking the Fast Marked by popular rejoicing festal prayer.

CHRISTIANITY

Historical Background

Christianity develop in Palestine around 100 C.E. it was founded by Jesus, considered to be the Son of God and
Messiah or Savior. Regarded as an offshoot of Judaism, Christianity has survived and even surpassed Judaism
and other religions in terms of number of adherents. Today Christianity is divided into three major sect –
Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox Church, and Protestantism. These major Christian sects are further
subdivided by Christians denominations that differ in certain beliefs and practices but are united in
worshipping Jesus Christ as the Son Of God.

Deity/God

Christian believes in one God, therefore Christianity is a monotheistic religion. God is seen as the creator and
maintainer of the universe, and is believed to be omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient(all-knowing),
omnipresent(all-present) and omnibenevolent(all-good). God is also sacred, moral, unchangeable,
compassionate, graceful, and timeless.

Beliefs

Christianity has a certain beliefs and doctrines that serve as moral guidelines for its followers. As much as
possible Christians should follow this teachings strictly if they want to redeem God’s promise of eternal life.
These teachings are essential to their beliefs system as Christians and not following them would lessen their
chances of being called true Christians and reduces their chances of salvation in the afterlife.

Different beliefs of Religion

Abrahamic Religions. (Judaism, Islam and Christianity)

The three Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam all originated from a region we now call
Southwest Asia. They are also called Semitic religions since they came from an area where people speak the
Semitic languages particularly Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic. Judaism originated from a land called Canaan;
Christianity began in Palestine; while Islam developed in Arabia. Followers of these religions namely the Jews,
Christians and Muslim all believed that Abraham and his family played significant roles in the beginnings of
their respective faiths. Since these religions came from the same region it is not surprising that they share
common beliefs foremost of which is the belief that they share common roots to the patriarch Abraham. Aside
from this, they also share certain similarities such as belief in one God.

Dharmic Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism)

One major commonality of dharmic religions is that they all emerged from the vast subcontinent of India, a
land of complexity and diversity in terms of people, culture, practices, customs and tradition. These religions
include Hinduism and the two branches of Buddhism, the Theravada and Mahayana schools of thought.
Central to their fundamentals teachings are the beliefs in Dharma with each religion having their own special
meaning for their term. Interestingly, the word Dharma has no exact and specific translation in the western
languages. For the Hindus it could mean an individual appropriates behavior or duty to be filled in observance
of a custom or law. For the Buddhist, it could mean universal law and order or the Buddhist teaching itself. The
unique character of each Dharmic religions fascinate a great multitude of faithful followers all over the world.

Daoic Religions (Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism and Legalism)

In the midst of chaotic periods in China, namely the Spring and Autumn Period as well as the Warring States
Period, several schools of thought were born. This is known as the hundreds schools of thought, which has to
characterized by the struggle to impose social order in China through philosophical teachings of great Chinese
thinkers. Four of the most influential schools of thought which flourished in China during this period were
Confucianism. Daoism, Mohism, and Legalism. These religions are centered on the Chinese philosophy of Dao
( or The Way )which permeates the universe or the force behind the natural order. Dao is immanent and it
pervades the natural world, “the mother of universe” which nurtures natures. One’s goal therefore is to live
with the Dao.

Religion Promotes Social Harmony

Religion believe in supernatural beings and power. It practices a set of rituals and ceremonious rites to
passage and rites of intensification it also holds religious specialist such as priest, priestesses and shamans in
high esteem. These characteristics help advance social harmony by assimilating and stabilizing cultures and
nations. Religions provide divine authority to ethical and moral principles which also help promotes unity
among people. Common participation in rituals together with basic uniformity of beliefs help promote social
cohesiveness.

Belief in supernatural beings and supposed divine powers they can wield to reward and punish people have
been a major concept in religion since ancient times. It helps lessen the feeling of helplessness among people
who believe that they are not alone in this world, that they need not rely on capabilities alone, and that
everybody else is on the same boat, so to speak. Whenever people are afflicted with crisis, they tend to think
that a greater force or high being is there to help them, a belief people to tend to share with others.

Another important characteristics of religion is the performance of common rituals and practices on a regular
basis. Such religious activities can be considered as one component which helps bind people together and
reinforce their identification with a particular group. Ritual participation often creates an atmosphere
stimulated with emotions. The elated feeling of people may experience in such situations serves as a positive
reinforcements because they feel good as result. Take the case of the Sufi Dervishes’ practice of whirling or
spinning, wherein the aim is to reach the source of all perfection by abandoning one’s ego or personal desire
through listening to the music focusing on God, and spinning one’s body in repetitive circles. This kind of
rituals provides people of particular religion with positive feeling by doing something together for a common
purpose – that is the glorification of god. Furthermore, even attendance to masses provides people with a
common ground who despite differences in social statuses and political ideologies, visit a common place to
worship the same god.

People from ancient societies have a common belief on the need for intermediaries to communicate with the
deities and the supernaturals. Thus this, reinforced the call for spiritual leaders in every society and the
authority and respect people bestowed upon them. These intercessor can be considered as one source of
social solidarity. They provide crucial points of interest by guiding people in their religious efforts, thereby
maintaining group unity.
Jews

• A member of the people and cultural community whose traditional religion is Judaism and who traces their origins through the
ancient Hebrew people of Israel to Abraham.
• The word “Jew” ultimately comes from Judah, an ancient kingdom centered in Jerusalem, in the 2nd century BCE.
• Believe there’s only one God who has established a covenant—or special agreement—with them and their God communicates to
believers through prophets and rewards good deeds while also punishing evil.
• Believe that their Messiah hasn’t yet come—but will one day.
• Jewish people worship in holy places known as synagogues, and their spiritual leaders are called rabbis. The six-pointed Star of
David is the symbol of Judaism.
• Traditionally, a person is considered Jewish if his or her mother is Jewish.
• The Jewish holy book that is considered the sacred text is called the Tanakh or the “Hebrew Bible.” It includes the same books as
the Old Testament in the Christian Bible. The Torah—the first five books of the Tanakh—outlines laws for Jews to follow. It’s
sometimes also referred to as the Pentateuch.

Patriarchy

• A system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male
line.
• The word ‘patriarchy’ literally means the rule of the father or the ‘patriarch’, and originally it was used to describe a specific type
of ‘male-dominated family’ – the large household of the patriarch which included women, junior men, children, slaves, and
domestic servants all under the rule of this dominant male.
• It is a system of male dominance - basically, a system where men have the power.
• Examples:
o Early 20th century when women could not vote, have certain jobs, etc. because men controlled the power.
o Another example is religions wherein the central authority figure is male.

Yom Kippur

• The most solemn religious fast of the Jewish year, the last of the ten days of penitence that begin with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish
New Year).
• According to tradition, Yom Kippur is the day when God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and
ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year.
• It is Judaism’s most sacred day of the year; it is sometimes referred to as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths.”
• Fasting and prayer on the 10th day of Tishri following the rites described in Leviticus 16 called also the Day of Atonement.

Insha Allah

• An Arabic phrase with literal meaning is, "If God wills, it will happen," or "God willing.”
• It’s derived directly from one of the fundamental tenets of Islam, a belief in Divine Will or destiny.

Purdah

• A state of seclusion or concealment.

• Seclusion of women from public observation among Muslims and some Hindus especially in India.
• Meaning curtain is the word most commonly used for the system of secluding women and enforcing high standards of female
modesty in much of South Asia.
• The Purdah system is its limitation on the interaction between women and males outside certain well-defined categories, which
differ among Muslims and Hindus.

Burka

• A loose enveloping garment that covers the face and body and is worn in public by certain Muslim women.
• A veil that covers the entire body and face, with a mesh window or grille across the eyes for a woman to see out of.
• This veil is a means of protection from unwanted attention.

Hijab

• A general term meaning ‘to cover’ or ‘veil’, most commonly refers to a headscarf that covers the hair and neck, but not the face.
• The traditional covering for the hair and neck that is worn by Muslim women.

Polygyny

• The state or practice of having more than one wife or female mate at a time.
• The practice or condition of being married to more than one wife at the same time.

Predestiny

• The belief is that all events are determined in advance by divine will or fate.
• In Christianity, the doctrine is that God has eternally chosen those whom he intends to save.
• The belief in predestination is drawn from the doctrines of God's sovereignty and omniscience. Sovereignty means 'in authority
over' or 'in control over’ while Omniscience means 'all-knowing.'

Ummah

• The whole community of Muslims is bound together by ties of religion.

• Is an Arabic word, meaning “people” or “group” or “community” formed based on some common and coherent features like
language, race, religion, culture, and economic interest with a common leader, goal, and constitution.
• Its sometimes translated as ‘nation’, or the worldwide one and united community with common beliefs and practices.
• The term ummah is from the root word umm, meaning “mother” or Hebrew word em, meaning also “mother”, or “stock, or
“race”, or “community” that expresses intimate relationships among the members.

Abraham’s wife

Sarah:

• She is the wife of Abraham, the mother of Isaac, and thus the ancestress of all Israel.
• Sarah received the miracle of being able to conceive a child in her old age, and she bore to Abraham a son of promise, Isaac.
• She became the mother of many nations and the mother of a royal line of kings. She became a symbolic type of Jerusalem above.
• Sarah was a freewoman, a symbolic mother of the child of promise, a mother of heirs of the promises given by God to Abraham,
and a mother of children who would enter into the New Covenant with God.

Hagar:

• Sarah's Egyptian slave-girl; mother of Abram's first son, Ishmael; much conflict with Sarah after his birth; even more after the
birth of Sarah's son, Isaac.
• She was an Egyptian slave girl in the tribe of Abraham. She belonged to Sarah, the top woman.
• Sarah decided to give her handmaid, Hagar, to her husband in order to obtain children by her.
• Hagar became pregnant, and God promised that her child would be the ancestor of a great nation. She bore a son, Ishmael.
• But she was never fully accepted into the tribe, and in the end she was rejected, and expelled into the desert.
• God stepped in and He protected her twice from Sarah’s hatred by sending an angel so Hagar escaped, and lived as a free
woman.
• She was a bondwoman and symbolized Jerusalem “which now is, and is in bondage with her children.”

Keturah:

• She became Abraham's wife after Sarah died.

• She was one of Abraham’s wives and has six children; Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah,.
• Her six sons to Abraham became the progenitors of six Arabian tribes of Southern and Eastern Palestine.
• Rabbis describe her as a woman of virtue, for which she was worthy of being joined to Abraham.

Last prophet

Muhammad
• He is the Blessed Prophet, he was the last prophet sent by Allah, or ‘God’ in Arabic.
• He’s the messenger who has been sent to all mankind.
• Regarded as the most important Prophet (messenger of Allah) in Islam.
• He is so important that Muslims must also declare belief in Muhammad as part of the Shahadah.
• Because Muhammad is such a key figure, Muslims also look to Muhammad and try to live up to his example of his faith in Allah
and his goodness.
• He brought peace and blessings, and the religion of Islam in which we follow today.
• Muhammad was an ordinary person with family and children; he was leader of a nation and a teacher.
• Muhammad worked mostly as a merchant, as well as a shepherd, and married Khadijah, a 40-year-old widow, in 595 CE when he
was twenty-five.

Father of Israel

Abraham

• He is the father of Israel, was the first person to spread the idea of monotheism - belief in one God.
• Abraham is the great patriarch of Israel, and to New Testament believers, "He is the father of us all (Romans 4:16)."
• God appeared to him and promised that his progeny would become “a great nation.” Yet Abraham is much more than the
patriarch of a select group of ancient people.
• Abraham demonstrated remarkable faith and trust, immediately leaving his home and his clan the moment God called him to the
unknown territory of Canaan.
• God commanded him to leave his birthplace and go ... to the land that I will show you.
Sarah’s lady in waiting

• Sarah have been waiting for God’s promise to Abraham of “a great nation” to be fulfilled, a promise that Abraham will have a
child. By the time Sarah laughs, the promise has been repeated four times, and still there is no child born to Abraham by Sarah.
• She had also been waiting 24 years for a child, but Sarah disappoints instead of being excited, she doesn’t believe the promise
delivered under the guise of a visitor and she comments on her old age and the old age and impotency of her husband. She is
questioning the ability of God to produce a child for her.
• After 90 years of barrenness and the onset of menopause, Sarah would have given up the hope of ever having a child of her own.
Fourteen years before, she had already given up by giving Hagar to Abraham as a wife so that Abraham could at least have a
child, even if not by her.
• Sarah had understandably abandoned any hope of ever conceiving and it is quite likely that she had resigned herself to a child-less
existence for the remaining years of her life. However then a stranger comes to her camp and makes an announcement of an
impending pregnancy, a forthcoming son, trying to rekindle her hopes. Even when she discovers that this is a promise made by
God she doesn’t want to begin hoping again to believe that God could actually provide a son for her.
• A long wait is over for Sarah because in the end, God fulfilled his promise and Sarah got pregnant to Isaac.

Father of the Arab people

• Abraham is traditionally known as the father of the Arab peoples.

• Abraham is called Ibrahim by Muslims.
• They see him as the father of the Arab people as well as the Jewish people through his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael.

Muhammad's Uncle

• It is stated that Muhammad had ten paternal uncles. They were eleven brothers including the Prophet’s father. Their names were,
Harith, Zubayr, Abu Talib, Abu Lahab, Qusam, Dirar, Muqawwim, Hajl, Hz. Hamza and Hz. Abbas.However not all of them
accepted Islam. Out of the nine only two accepted Islam - Hamza and Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them).
• Abu Talib took over the care of the Prophet after the death of his grandfather Abdul Mutalib. Even though Abu Talib wasn’t a
Muslim he was a loving guardian to the Prophet and treated him as his very own son, raising the young Muhammad with
overwhelming love. Whilst he was alive he provided his nephew with full protection from the Quraysh and declared war on
anyone who tried to hurt him.
• Hamza and Muhammad were raised together as they were almost the same age. Even before Hamza became a Muslim he still
loved and protected the Prophet from the enemies of Islam. The day he became a Muslim was considered a great victory for Islam
as he was a very brave and strong man. Due to his great physical strength he was given the name Asadullah (The Lion of Allah).
• Abu Lahab was a bitter enemy of Islam and the Prophet. Even though the Prophet was his nephew it didn’t stop him from
hurting and scolding him. Along with his wife Umm Jameel they subjected the Prophet to severe cruelty and abuse.
• Abbas was a paternal uncle and companion of the Prophet, just a few years older than his nephew. Abbas was one of the youngest
brothers of the Prophet's father. A wealthy merchant, during the early years of Islam he protected Muhammad while he was
in Mecca, but only became a convert after the Battle of Badr.

Patriarch

• Comes from the Greek words for “rule” and “father.” It usually means that the father had absolute control of families or clans.
• Is a pateern of society or a system of social administration in which the father of senior male enjoys being head of the family.
• The father and ruler of a family; one who governs his family or descendants by paternal right; -- usually applied to heads of
families in ancient history, especially in Biblical and Jewish history to those who lived before the time of Moses.
• Example: Jews, Muslim, and Christians look to Abraham as their patriarchal head.

Abraham’s second son

Isaac

• The second of the patriarchs of Israel and the only son of Abraham and Sarah.
• Isaac was a miracle child, born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age as the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make his
descendants a great nation.
• He become instrument when God test Abraham’s obedience, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice the boy. Abraham made all
the preparations for the ritual sacrifice, but God spared Isaac at the last moment.
• When Sarah dies, Abraham decides it is time for their son Isaac, who is 37 years old, to marry.
• He marries Rebekah, and has twin sons, Esau & Jacob.

Wife of Isaac

Rebekah (or Rebecca)

• She was the daughter of Bethuel, the great-niece of Abraham, and the sister of Laban.
• She became the wife of Isaac, who was the promised son of Abraham and Sarah.
• She bore two sons, Esau and Jacob. The nation of Israel came from Jacob, and the line of Esau became the Edomites.
• The Hebrew meaning of her name” is “to tie firmly” or “a noose.” “Applied to a female, the figure suggests her beauty by
means of which men are snared or bound.
• She is also one of the most relevant matriarchs in the Bible.
Muhammads first wife

Khadija

• Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad, was born in Mecca into a merchant family of the Quraysh
tribe.
• Khadija was a successful business women in her own right who controlled one of the most important caravan trade routes in the
region.
• She first convert to Islam to support her husband when his revelations began in 610.
• After the death of her husband she refused offers of marriage from many noble Qurayshi men.
• The year in which Khadijah died is known in Islamic history as ‘The Year of Sorrow’.
• She had six children with Muhammad.
o Qasim-died before revelation.
o Zainab-maaried to Abul ‘Aas-son of Hala
o Ruqayyah- married Uthman. Died after Badr.
o Umm Kulthoom-married Uthman. Died 9AH.
o Fatima-born 5 years before prophethood. Died 6 months after An nabi.
o Abdullah-only child to be born after Islam.