Basic Practices in All Abrahamic Religions Are the Same

By S. Arshad, New Age Islam

22 December 2022

All The Followers Of Abrahamic Religions Are Called Muslims In The Quran

Main Points:

1.    Namaz and Zakat were prescribed for all Abrahamic religions.

2.    Prophet Jacob's sons are called Muslims in the Quran.

3.    Jesus and Mother Mary a.s. are the signs of God.

4.    Quran praises all the previous prophets including Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus, Prophet Yunus, Prophet David and Prophet Solomon a.s.

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God raised one hundred and twenty four thousand prophets to guide the humanity. Some of them have been mentioned in the Quran, Bible and Torah. Some of them have been mentioned in detail while others in brief. Not all could possibly have been mentioned. But Quran did say that there is no nation where a prophet has not been sent and no prophet who was not sent revelations which once collected become books, as in the case of Quran. However, all the prophets have been given the same respect in the Quran.

Though all the prophets preached unity of God and good manners, the religion revealed to Prophet Abraham a.s. and all the Prophets after him are calked Abrahamic religions. Until Prophet Abraham a.s. humanity was in its primitive stage and the prophets raised among them preached to them oneness of God, good manners, justice and pious ways of life. By the time Prophet Abraham a.s. was anointed a prophet, humanity had evolved and a civilised society had come into existence. Therefore, religion had to play an active role in formulating laws and principles governing the personal, social and economic life of the people. Therefore, Abrahamic religions were more organised and covered almost all the aspects of life that were known then.

The first commonality of all the Abrahamic religions is that their followers are called Muslims. A Muslim is one who submits and bows only to God. Therefore, the followers of all the Abrahamic religions are Muslims. They believe in the unity of God and bow before Him alone.

Secondly, the primary practice of all Abrahamic religions is namaz. It was the primary practice in Abraham a.s.'s religion, in Prophet Ismail's faith, in Judaism, in Christianity and in Islam. The Quran gives testimony to this fact:

"And strive in the path of God as He deserves it, He chose you and did not cause hardship in your Deen, the Deen of your forefather Abraham, He named you Muslim before and in this Qur'an so that the prophet will be your guide and you will be guide to others."(Al Hajj: 78)

This verse makes it clear that the followers of Islam are called Muslims in the Qur'an and also the followers of all Abrahamic religions before Islam.

That namaz was prescribed to all Abrahamic religions is testified by the Qur'an.

"And mention Ismail in the Book, he was true to his promise and was a prophet with a Scripture (Rasool, Nabi) and preached his family members to offer namaz and to pay zakat and was blessed by God."(Maryam: 55)

This verse also shows that Zakat was also prescribed for all the Abrahamic religions. The Qur'an says:

"And We blessed him (Abraham) with Isaac, and Jacob as reward and made all of them pious and guide, they would guide people under Our supervision, and revealed to them enjoinments on virtues, and establishing namaz and paying Zakat, and they were devotees."(Al Ambiya: 73)

As for namaz, the Qayam (standing), Ruku (bowing) and sajda (prostration) were parts of it in all the Abrahamic religions. However, some sections of the People of the Book have made changes in later centuries. But namaz is still offered in all Abrahamic religions.

"And (remember) when We prepared for Abraham the place of the (holy) house, saying: Ascribe thou nothing as partner unto Me, and purify My house for those who make the round (thereof) and those who stand, and those who bow and make prostration." (Al Hajj: 26)

God says to Prophet Moses a.s to establish prayer:

"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)

God says to Hadhrat Maryam (Mary) a.s.

"O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow with those who bow (in prayer).”(Al-e-Imran: 43)

This verse also indicates collective prayers.

Roza is also a common practice among the followers of Abrahamic religions.

"O believers! Roza (fasting) was made obligatory for you as it was for those before you."(Al Baqarah: 183)

According to the Quran, Prophet Moses a.s. observed fasting for forty days, Hazrat Zakariya observed fasting for three days. According to the Bible, other prophets also observed fasting.

Prophet Jesus said:

"He said, 'I am the slave of God, He has revealed the Book to me, and made me a blessed one where I am, and enjoined on me to offer namaz, and to pay zakat as long as I am alive and to treat well my mother and did not make me merciless."(Maryam: 30-34)

The common practices in all the Abrahamic religions shows that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the parts of a chain of the same faith. The ways of worship differs and the number of Rekats (units) of namaz and times of namaz are different so are the number of days of fasting are different for different religions. The belief that God is one is a common feature of these religions. The Quran has been revealed as the last divine scripture. Therefore, it has pointed out the apocrypha that had entered in the previous Abrahamic religions.

The Quran does not adopt a confrontationist approach with other religions, even with non-Abrahamic religions. It only points out the false beliefs in other religions that were invented by latter day followers and asks them to create harmony on the basis of common practices and beliefs. Dialogue (Mujadla) is encouraged.

The Quran, therefore, strives for the creation of a society that is based on communal harmony and peaceful co-existence. It calls for a dialogue for the resolution of all religious and social disputes and differences.

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S. Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islam-pluralism/practices-abrahamic-religions-/d/128684

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