Common Legacy of World Religions

 

By S. Arshad, New Age Islam

22 April 2025

There are thousands of religions in the world. The names of most of them are not popular. However, there are religions whose followers are spread across the world in great numbers. Abrahamic religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam are among the most popular religions of the world. Apart from them, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism.and Zoroastrianism are also popular in different regions of the world.

All the religions profess belief in a Supreme Power that has created the universe and controls and masters the life of all the beings.They have different practices and ways of worship and have different philosophy and ideology about God and worship. However, all the religions have some common practices and values. For example, all the religions profess peaceful co-existence, honesty, good behaviour towards other human beings and tolerance.

However, due to the extremist and exclusivist interpretation of religious texts and teachings, ideas of intolerance, hatred of others and violence became popular among the followers of religions. Killing of the followers of oter religions in the name of God and purity of religion was declared an act of virtue and worthy of reward in the world and in the afterlife. The followers of other religions were declared non -believers worthy to be killed. Derogatory words and terms were coined for the followers of other religions.

As a result, massacres, civil wars and destruction of places of worship in the name of God became commonplace. City after city and even countries were destroyed due to the fire of religious fanaticism and people were forced to flee their homes to seek refuge in other cities and countries. Women and children were not spared in the war of religions.

Therefore, in order to revive the true spirit and principle of religion, and to end the religious fanaticism and ideology of hate, the last divine scripture, the Quran was revealed in which belief in all the divine scriptures and respect for all the prophets was ordained for the believers.

The Quran points out and stresses on the common practices and features of different religions to remind the followers of their common legacy so that the followers of different religions develop respect and tolerance towards others and consider others their brothers and members of the same religious lineage. If this happens, hostility towards other religions, hatred of other religious community and separatist, exclusivist and extremist ideology will come to an end.

For example, fasting, zakat (alms tax), Namaz, animal sacrifice and hajj (pilgrimage) are common in all Abrahamic religions:

Fasting

"O believers, fasting is prescribed for you as it was for those before you, so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah."(Baqarah: 183)

Zakat (Alms Tax) In Bani Israel:

"Establish prayer, pay alms tax and bow down with those who bow down. "(Baqarah:43)

"And remember when We took covenant from the children of Israel stating worship none but Allah: be kind to parents, relatives, orphans and th needy, speak kindly to people, establish prayer and pay alms tax. But you Israelites turned away ----except for a few --and were indifferent."(Baqarah:83)

Namaz For Prophet Moses A.S. And His Nation:

"It is truly I. I am Allah, there is no God worthy of worship except Me. So worship Me alone and establish prayer for My remembrance."(Taha:14)

Namaz And Zakat For Prophet Jacob And Prophet Isaac A.S.

"We also made them leaders, guided by Our command and inspired them to do good deeds, establish prayer and pay alms tax. And they were devoted to our worship."(Al Ambiya:73)

Namaz for Prophet Abraham a.s.

"And remember when we assigned Abraham the site of the House saying, 'Do not associate anything with Me in worship and purify My House for those who circle the Kabah, stand in prayer and bow and prostrate themselves."(Hajj:26)

"Strive for the cause of Allah on the way He deserves for it is He who has chosen you and laid upon you no hardship in the religion ---the way of your forefather Abraham. It is Allah who named you the ones who submit (Muslims) in the earlier scriptures and in the Quran so that the Messenger may be a witness over you and that you may be witness over you and that you may be witness over humanity. So establish prayer pay alms tax and hold fast to Allah. He aline is your Guardian and what an excellent Guardian and what an excellent Helper."(Al Hajj:78)

Address to Prophet Moses a.s.

"Ordain for us what is good in this life and the next. Indeed we have turned to you in repentance, Allah replied 'I will inflict My torment n whoever I will. But My mercy encompasses everything. I will ordain Mercy for those shun evil, pay alms tax and believe in Our revelations."(Al Araf:156)

Zakat for Muslims

"Establish prayer and pay alms tax. What good you send forth for yourselves you will certainly find its reward with Allah. Surely, Allah is All seeing of what you do”. (Baqarah:110)

Ruku and Sajda Ordained for Hadhrat Mayam A.S.

"O Mary, be devout to your Lord, prostrate yourself in prayer and bow along with those who bow down."(Al-e-Imran:43)

These are the verses which make it clear that Tawheed (belief in one God), Namaz, fasting and zakat were common in all the Abrahamic religions although the Jews and Christians abandoned some of them. The parts of Salat (Qayam, Ruku Sajda) are common in all Abrahamic religions. Collective prayers are also ordained in verses relating to Bani Israel and Hadhrat Marym a.s.

Moreover, animal sacrifice is also common in some religions. In Surah Al Baqarah, Prophet Moses a.s. tells his followers of God's revelation about animal sacrifice. Animal sacrifice is also practiced in Hinduism.

Holy Silence or Maun Vrat

The practice of Holy Silence or Maun vrat practiced in some Indian religions also finds mention in the Quran in verses related to Prophet Zachariah and Hadhrat Maryam a.s. When Prophet Zachariah prayed to God for a son, he got the glad tiding of a son named Yaha during Namaz. Prophet Zachariah a.s. asked for a sign for this blessing. The Quran narrates the incident:

"Zachariah said" My Lord ! Grant me a sign, He said "your sign is that you will not be able to speak to people for three days except through gestures. Remember your Lord often and glorify Him morning and evening”. (Al-e-Imran:41)

Hadhrat Maryam a.s. was also instructed to observe holy silence during her pregnancy to avoid the questions of the people.

"So eat and drink, and put your heart at ease. But if you see any of the people, say ' I have vowed silence to the Most Compassionate so I am not talking to anyone today."(Maryam:26)

Therefore, the common beliefs and practices found among world religions is underlined by the Quran to remind the followers of different religions of their common religious legacy so that hatred, violence and separatist views and ideas are shunned and a peaceful multicultural society can be built. The Quran stresses on interfaith dialogue to find common ground for peace and harmony ignoring the points of difference.

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S. Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.

 

URL:   https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/common-legacy-world-religions/d/135258

 

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