Islam and Judaism: similarities and differences

The Jewish Shema declares that “the Lord is one,” and the Islamic shahada declares that “there is no god but God.” Both religions reject the idea that God has a son, partners or physical form, and both regard idolatry as a fundamental wrong.

Medieval Jewish and Muslim philosophers, such as Maimonides and Ibn Rushd, worked within a shared intellectual world and often addressed similar questions about God’s unity and attributes.

Both traditions honour Abraham, called Avraham in Hebrew and Ibrahim in Arabic, as a model of faith in one God. Jewish tradition traces the people of Israel through Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob. Islamic tradition gives special importance to Ishmael, Abraham’s elder son, whom it associates with Mecca and the Kaaba.

The two traditions also tell the story of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son differently. The Torah names Isaac; the Quran does not name the son, and most Muslim commentators identify him as Ishmael.

Judaism and Islam are often called religions of law, meaning that faith is expressed through a comprehensive way of life. Jewish law, halakhah, is derived from the Torah and developed in the Mishnah, Talmud and later codes. Islamic law, sharia, is derived from the Quran and the sunnah of Muhammad and developed by jurists in schools of law.

Both systems use similar methods: scholars interpret texts, reason by analogy and consider community consensus. Both cover prayer, food, family life, business, purity and ethics. In both traditions, communities differ in how strictly and in what way they apply traditional law today.

Jewish scripture is the Tanakh: the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings. Moses is regarded as the greatest prophet, and Judaism holds that prophecy in the biblical sense ended in antiquity.

Islam honours Moses, called Musa, as a major prophet and the Torah as a revealed book, but teaches that the Quran is God’s final revelation and that Muhammad is the last prophet. Judaism does not recognize Muhammad as a prophet or the Quran as revelation. Many Muslims believe earlier scriptures were altered over time; Jews reject that view of the Torah.

Judaism understands the Jewish people as bound to God in a covenant made at Sinai. Jewish identity combines religion and peoplehood: one can be born Jewish or convert.

Islam addresses its message to all humanity and understands the Muslim community, the ummah, as defined by faith rather than descent. Anyone becomes Muslim by sincerely declaring the shahada.

Observant Jews pray three times daily, traditionally facing Jerusalem; Muslims pray five times daily facing Mecca. Both traditions have communal prayer and ritual washing practices, though in different forms.

Judaism’s major fast is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a full day without food or drink. Islam’s major fast is the month of Ramadan, from dawn to sunset. Both religions require charity: tzedakah in Judaism and zakat in Islam.

Kosher and halal rules overlap: both prohibit pork, require animals to be slaughtered in a prescribed way and forbid consuming blood. There are important differences. Kashrut requires separating meat and dairy and forbids shellfish, while most Muslim schools permit seafood and do not separate meat and dairy. Islam prohibits alcohol, while Judaism permits wine and uses it in ritual. Each system has its own certification and authorities.

Both religions believe in resurrection and divine judgment. Islam describes paradise and hell in vivid detail in the Quran and makes the afterlife central to its teaching. Jewish tradition speaks of the world to come and the resurrection, but places strong emphasis on life in this world. Judaism awaits a messiah from the line of David; Islam teaches that Jesus will return as the Messiah near the end of time.

Islam and Judaism share uncompromising monotheism, Abraham, a law-centred religious life, regular prayer, fasting, charity and dietary laws. They differ on whether prophecy continued after Moses, on the Quran and Muhammad, on covenant and peoplehood, and on many legal details. Both are internally diverse, with different movements and schools interpreting tradition in different ways.