To truly understand Judaism and Islam and many of the conflicts today between the two, you need to understand the birth of two ethnic groups

… Jews and Arabs.

About 4000 years ago, in the city of Ur in Sumer there lived a man named Abraham. He believed that God spoke to him, telling him that his descendents would be God’s chosen people and that they would out number the stars (A great nation). However, he and his wife were getting old and they still had not had a child. So, Abraham had a child with Hagar, an Egyptian woman who was not his wife. This child was named Ishmael. Later, Sarah, Abraham’s wife, did in fact have a son, whom they named Isaac. Jealous of Hagar and Abraham’s oldest son, Ishmael, Sarah demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, which he did.

Ishmael’s descendents came to be known as the Arabs – being the descendents of Abraham’s oldest son, they believe they are God’s chosen people.

Isaac’s descendents came to be known as Jews (or Hebrews or Israelites) – they believe their bloodline is the true chosen of God.

Abraham

•Married to Sarah

•Had a son – Isaac

•Descendents – Hebrews (later known as Jews or Israelites)

•Hagar (Egyptian)

•Had a son – Ishmael

•Descendents - Arabs

Therefore, “bad blood” between the two groups since the time of Abraham!

Abraham – lived in the city of Ur in Sumer – more than 3000 years ago (Babylon area)

God chose Abraham and his descendents to be His people

When Abraham was 100 years old, he had a son he named Isaac

Abraham and Isaac's descendents are the Jewish people

First monotheistic (belief in one God) religion!

Birth place of AbrahamWhat present-day country is this today?

Jerusalem is a holy city for the

Jews.

During Biblical times, Jerusalem

was a political and religious center of Jewish people.

King David made it the capital city and later his son, King Solomon built the first Jewish temple here (900’s BC).

This temple was built, destroyed, and rebuilt many times over several hundred years as other people conquered Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed for the last time in 70 AD by the

Romans. All that remains today is the Western Wall.

The Western Wall

When Rome burned the temple in 70 AD, they left the outer wall. This wall was not part of the original temple, but rather surrounded the temple. However,

being the only remaining remnant of their most sacred temple, this wall soon became a very holy place to the Jewish people.

Jews come to this wall to pray. Because of the heartfelt prayers offered here, non-Jewish people refer to the wall as

the Wailing Wall. However, the Jewish people refer to the wall as the Western Wall.

•1st 5 books of the Bible – written by Moses

•Recounts the history of the Jewish people•Believed to be the law as given to Moses by God

Holy book of the Jewish faith

Torah

…Synagogue

The Birth of Christianity

Jesus was born to a Jewish family about 2030 years ago in the city of Bethlehem. At 30 years old, he began preaching and teaching about God. Soon his followers grew, as well as his enemies.

Three years later, his enemies crucified Him on the hill of Calvary in Jerusalem. Three days later He rose from

the dead, appeared to His followers, and eventually went to heaven. His followers continued his work and began

the religion of Christianity.

Therefore, Jerusalem is also very holy to

Christians. The Church of the Holy

Sepulcher is believed to stand on the hill of

Calvary.

www.worldreligions.psu.edu

Christianity began to spread by the preaching and teachings of Christians.

The holy book for Christians is the Holy Bible.

The Birth of Islam

Muhammad (an Arab) was born in Mecca in 570 AD. At age 40, he received revelations from God. He began preaching about these messages from God as well as against the corruption of society. He also gained many followers as well as enemies.

In 622 AD nobles of Mecca were threatening his life, so he fled Mecca to Medina. There he built an army and eight years later (630 AD), he returned to Mecca. He took the city of Mecca and destroyed the idols in the Kaaba. He proclaimed that only Allah (God) was to be worshipped and proclaimed Mecca a holy city.

The KaabaThe Qu’ran

(Islam’s holy book) states that the Kaaba was

built by Abraham and his son

Ishmael. The Kaaba had been filled with over 300 idols, but

when Muhammad took Mecca, he destroyed the

idols and proclaimed that only Allah would be worshipped

here.

Muslims (followers of Islam) consider the Kaaba so sacred, they believe that at least once in their life

they must make a pilgrimage (or Haj) to the Kaaba.

Another sacred place for Muslims

Dome of the Rock

Muslims believe that Muhammad rose to heaven from this site and the rock marks the site. Where is this rock and dome located?

Jerusalem!

http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/262/268312/art/figures/KISH_07_156.gif

During the 7th and 8th centuries, Islam spread by conversion and military conquest throughout the Middle East and North Africa. By 733, just 100 years after the death of Muhammad, an Islamic state stretched from the Indus Valley

in the east to Spain in the west. (Caliphs – rulers of Islam)

The holy book of Islam is the Qu’ran.

…Mosque

Mosque in Brunei

Blue Mosque in Turkey

So…let’s sum it up

and compare these 3

religions.

Basic BeliefsChristianit

y Islam Judaism

•One God•Bible is written word of God•Jesus Christ God manifested in flesh•Jesus died for sinners•Believe in life after death•Holy Book – the Bible

•One God•Belief in all prophets•Belief in Day of Judgment and life after death•Holy Book – Qu’ran or Koran

•G-d exists•G-d is one•G-d is eternal•Pray to G-d alone•Words of prophets are true•G-d will reward the good and punish the evil•Holy Book - Torah

Jews believe the name of God is so holy that they do not spell out His name. Instead, they write G-d.

There is only 1 God Praying 5 times a day in the

direction of Mecca Giving to the poor and needy Fasting during the month of

Ramadan Making a pilgrimage, or haj, to

Mecca

Just when you thought you were through!

We have one more aspect to discuss!When have you ever

known of a people who get along 100%! Well,

people of the same religion have differences

too!

Let’s take a look!

Jews have differences of opinions…

•Orthodox Jews believe in strict observance of the traditions and principles of Judaism.

•Secular Jews do not follow all the laws and traditions as strictly.

Christians have differences of opinions…

Just to name a few, you have the …

•Methodists

•Baptists

•Lutherans

•Presbyterians

•Episcopalians

Likewise, Muslims have their differences of opinions as well. This has caused a division among Muslims, dividing them into two separate groups…

•Sunnis

•Shi’ites

The major reason for this division came in the 7th century with the question of succession. The Shi’ites believed that Mohammad’s successor should be a direct descent of Mohammad while Sunnis believed that Mohammad’s successor should be selected by religious leaders. This sparked a civil war between the two groups, and the two groups continue to be divided on major issues today.

Sunnis

Shi’ites

Believe in

-One God

-5 Pillars

-Qu’ran

•Successor should be direct descent of Mohammad

•Leaders - Imams

•12 Imams – the last one is still in hiding and will return one day

•Interpret the Qu’ran

•Imams can reinterpret Qu’ran’s meaning

•Extremely conservative

•Most believe in jihad

•Successor should be elected by leaders

•Leaders - caliphs

•Do not believe in “hiding” Imam

•Take Qu’ran literally – not interpretations

•Caliphs are guardians of Qu’ran

•Very conservative

•Some willing to practice jihad (holy war)

Muslim Distribution Today

Sunni

Shi’ite

Monotheism Polytheism Judaism Christianity Islam Muslims Sunni Shi’ite Haji Torah Qu’ran (Koran) Jihad

Muhammad Abraham Jesus Caliph Mosque Synagogue Dome of the Rock Western Wall

People and places to know…

Why is Jerusalem so important to all 3 religions?

What is the origin of Judaism? What is the origin of Christianity? What is the origin of Islam? Why did Muslims divide into two

separate groups? What are these two groups? What are the similarities and differences of these two groups of Muslims?