Parallels between Islam and Judaism, but not concerning salvation?

[meltzerboy]

Based on my reading, I’ve found some parallels between Islam and Judaism, which are not surprising since they are both Abrahamic religions, as is Christianity.
Of course, I’m not saying Islam and Judaism have identical beliefs, but only that there are similarities. For example, the strict belief in the Oneness of G-d (Allah), in which both religions deny the divinity of Jesus (although Islam accepts Jesus as the Messiah). Further, the belief that we are not born into original sin is common to both Islam and Judaism. Further, emphasis on the importance of good deeds, as well as faith. Also, the observance of dietary laws and the way animals are killed. And so on.

However, I’m a little unclear about what Islam says about the salvation of non-Muslims. Can non-Muslims be saved without converting to Islam? Do they have to accept Muhammad as the last and greatest of the Prophets? Or does salvation depend only on belief in One G-d (Allah) and open to non-Muslims? Are good deeds also essential for salvation? Finally, are there different views within Islam on this subject?

 

[hamba2han]

Based on my reading, I’ve found some parallels between Islam and Judaism, which are not surprising since they are both Abrahamic religions, as is Christianity.
Of course, I’m not saying Islam and Judaism have identical beliefs, but only that there are similarities. For example, the strict belief in the Oneness of G-d (Allah), in which both religions deny the divinity of Jesus (although Islam accepts Jesus as the Messiah). Further, the belief that we are not born into original sin is common to both Islam and Judaism. Further, emphasis on the importance of good deeds, as well as faith. Also, the observance of dietary laws and the way animals are killed. And so on.

However, I’m a little unclear about what Islam says about the salvation of non-Muslims. Can non-Muslims be saved without converting to Islam? Do they have to accept Muhammad as the last and greatest of the Prophets? Or does salvation depend only on belief in One G-d (Allah) and open to non-Muslims? Are good deeds also essential for salvation? Finally, are there different views within Islam on this subject?

Islam (specifically mainstream Islam) teaches that salvation does not depend on believing that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the greatest of the Prophets but it certainly does depend on believing that he is the Final Messenger of God i.e. the Seal of the Prophets.

And it is best that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself answer the question asked:

"By the One in whose hand my soul is, no Jew or Christian of this community hears about me - {that is from the community of people from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment} - and then does not follow me - or he said does not believe in what I brought - except that he is from the inhabitants of the Hell-fire." [Saheeh Muslim]

Good deeds are indeed important for Muslims because these deeds will please their Lord. However, on the Day of Judgment, what will really save the soul of a believer is the Mercy of Allah.

 

[MorningSong51]

Based on my reading, I’ve found some parallels between Islam and Judaism, which are not surprising since they are both Abrahamic religions, as is Christianity.

Hi meltzerboy,

O.K - now where do you get ahold of this question? hmmm…lol. There are many similarities between all three religions and sometimes there are clashes.

Jews and Muslims do have many beliefs & practices that they both share together, for example a non-Trinitarian belief - the oneness of Gd, the body of Islamic law “Sharia” (The term means “way” or "path) that deals with specifically religious, political, social, domestic and private life issues and within the Jewish faith-Torah refers to as the “path to follow,” or a “way on which to go,” dealing with everyday life events - The Halakha, and for the rabbinical laws they are discussed, and at times, even argued - the Mishnah (but there are differences in the way we apply laws that are “d’oraita” (from the Torah) and laws that are “d’rabbanan” (from the rabbis)). As it states, “The Mishnah reflects debates between 70-200 CE by the group of rabbinic sages known as the Tannaim. The Mishnah teaches the oral traditions by example, presenting actual cases being brought to judgment, usually along with the debate on the matter and the judgment that was given by a wise and notable rabbi based on the halakha, Mitzvot, and spirit of the teaching (“Torah”) that guided his sentencing.” Then a posek (plural: poskim) is someone thoroughly versed in Talmud, Jewish law and Codes, who can give authoritative answers to questions of halacha - also is a person who will hear discrepancies as well as gives ruling on issues…, etc. There are other similarities to the two religions, that is the practice of ritual circumcision, also a great respect for the prophets of Israel (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc…) Muslims have set times of the day for prayer, for Muslims it’s five times a day–Jews three times a day, they practice similar dietary codes-Halal laws and for Jews Kosher laws.

 

[MorningSong51]

continue:

However, Muslims have accepted Jesus (not as equal to Gd) but as a Messanger (prophet) sent from Gd- and Muhammad (spelt: Mohammed–in certain countries) is another messager (the Last Prophet). How much do Muslims take into account the New Testament from the point of starting at “the book of Acts-and further”? I’m not really too sure but my understanding is that they do not accept the book of revelations. What makes the book of revelations in the Quran any different then the revelations listed in the NT? Both books speak of the end of days? Don’t they? What are Muslim beliefs when ushering in the Last Days? Will there be only “one” prophet and “one” Messiah? Will He be recognized by all religions?

What do all three religions account to, we need to turn to the word “Messiah” and how it first originate in the Old Testament (or Tanakh) also how this will have an affect on all other religions. And so, as in the initial thought of the Messiah, belief & concept, I went on a search, I found similarities in some areas for instance that each religion wants peace. I really don’t know if we’re able to fix or repair completely (maybe to a degree-Tikkun Olam-Repairing the World) and also referring to that wholeness of universal peace (even to the state of returning back to Garden of Eden/Gad Eden sense is impossible for ourselves to do). Pope Bendict XVI wrote, "Through this close link with truth, charity can be recognized as an authentic expression of humanity and as an element of fundamental importance in human relations, including those of a public nature. Only in truth does charity shine forth, only in truth can charity be authentically lived. Truth is the light that gives meaning and value to charity. That light is both the light of reason and the light of faith, through which the intellect attains to the natural and supernatural truth of charity: it grasps its meaning as gift, acceptance, and communion. Without truth, charity degenerates into sentimentality. Love becomes an empty shell, to be filled in an arbitrary way. In a culture without truth, this is the fatal risk facing love. It falls prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions, the word “love” is abused and distorted, to the point where it comes to mean the opposite. Truth frees charity from the constraints of an emotionalism that deprives it of relational and social content, and of a fideism that deprives it of human and universal breathing-space. In the truth, charity reflects the personal yet public dimension of faith in the God of the Bible, who is both Agápe and Lógos: Charity and Truth, Love and Word. (CARITAS IN VERITATE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF-BENEDICT XVI)

We will have to wait until the Messiah brings that gift from Gd, “27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The best story was Esau and Jacob which in some way strikes the core; that If there is ever going to be “Peace” with our brothers then B’Ezrat HaShem (with the help of God) and with similarities (or liken) to Jacob’s prayer and its intensity toward Esau, our prayers can be heard. If we make a change in the way we are directing ourselves, we redirect our steps; to change the pattern of the world, we change our own selves with (and always) B’Ezrat HaShem. “Seek the peace of the city to which I have exiled you, and pray to G-d for its sake” (Jeremiah 29:7). Jacob said a prayer to G-d to reconcile those differences between brothers. There is Peace, which man himself brings to the world but there is an “Everlasting” peace, which G-d will bring to everyone; G-d is the main catalyst and we can’t find that kind of peace anywhere else. To maintain peace (like within a family) some will fight it and try to return back to the differences or will change and repair them (which now I beginning to understand) are many and complex-only the Messiah can repair them.

What is the road to salvation and what is the road back from original sin - “Who will then be saved” - I have to look toward John 17, “3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Many blessings,
Mary

 

[jakasaki]

Also, **the observance of dietary laws **and the way animals are killed. And so on.

That’s not quite true.

Regarding Leviticus dietary laws, the only thing muslims don’t eat is pig/pork, but they do eat everything else which is forbidden for Jews.

 

[meltzerboy]

That’s not quite true.

Regarding Leviticus dietary laws, the only thing muslims don’t eat is pig/pork, but they do eat everything else which is forbidden for Jews.

Thank you for your comment. I realize that Islamic Halal and the kosher laws are not exactly the same, but there are similarities. In addition, Halal covers more than the restriction concerning not eating pork. It includes not eating carrion, birds of prey, animals that hunt with claws, animals killed or who died in a variety of “non-Halal” ways (for example, not in the name of Allah, strangled, gored, as a result of falling, etc.), and so on. Many of these restrictions are also forbidden by the kosher laws of Leviticus, which forbids several other types of food as well. Further, the dietary laws refer not only to the types of food forbidden, as well as not eating meat and milk products together, but also the method of preparing foods (including utensils) and the way the foods (animals) are slaughtered, such as using a knife with the sharpest edge and no nicks so as to inflict the least pain on the animal. There are similarities between Islam and Judaism on this last point, although the method is not identical.

 

[meltzerboy]

Islam (specifically mainstream Islam) teaches that salvation does not depend on believing that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the greatest of the Prophets but it certainly does depend on believing that he is the Final Messenger of God i.e. the Seal of the Prophets.

And it is best that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself answer the question asked:

"By the One in whose hand my soul is, no Jew or Christian of this community hears about me - {that is from the community of people from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment} - and then does not follow me - or he said does not believe in what I brought - except that he is from the inhabitants of the Hell-fire." [Saheeh Muslim]

Good deeds are indeed important for Muslims because these deeds will please their Lord. However, on the Day of Judgment, what will really save the soul of a believer is the Mercy of Allah.

Thank you for this informative comment. I gather therefore that belief in Muhammad as the Final Messenger of G-d (the Seal of the Prophets) is necessary and that belief in Allah apart from Muhammad may be insufficient. However, the mercy of G-d (Allah) on the Day of Judgment is something that Judaism, Islam, and Christianity all appear to have in common.

 

[meltzerboy]

continue:

However, Muslims have accepted Jesus (not as equal to Gd) but as a Messanger (prophet) sent from Gd- and Muhammad (spelt: Mohammed–in certain countries) is another messager (the Last Prophet). How much do Muslims take into account the New Testament from the point of starting at “the book of Acts-and further”? I’m not really too sure but my understanding is that they do not accept the book of revelations. What makes the book of revelations in the Quran any different then the revelations listed in the NT? Both books speak of the end of days? Don’t they? What are Muslim beliefs when ushering in the Last Days? Will there be only “one” prophet and “one” Messiah? Will He be recognized by all religions?

What do all three religions account to, we need to turn to the word “Messiah” and how it first originate in the Old Testament (or Tanakh) also how this will have an affect on all other religions. And so, as in the initial thought of the Messiah, belief & concept, I went on a search, I found similarities in some areas for instance that each religion wants peace. I really don’t know if we’re able to fix or repair completely (maybe to a degree-Tikkun Olam-Repairing the World) and also referring to that wholeness of universal peace (even to the state of returning back to Garden of Eden/Gad Eden sense is impossible for ourselves to do). Pope Bendict XVI wrote, "Through this close link with truth, charity can be recognized as an authentic expression of humanity and as an element of fundamental importance in human relations, including those of a public nature. Only in truth does charity shine forth, only in truth can charity be authentically lived. Truth is the light that gives meaning and value to charity. That light is both the light of reason and the light of faith, through which the intellect attains to the natural and supernatural truth of charity: it grasps its meaning as gift, acceptance, and communion. Without truth, charity degenerates into sentimentality. Love becomes an empty shell, to be filled in an arbitrary way. In a culture without truth, this is the fatal risk facing love. It falls prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions, the word “love” is abused and distorted, to the point where it comes to mean the opposite. Truth frees charity from the constraints of an emotionalism that deprives it of relational and social content, and of a fideism that deprives it of human and universal breathing-space. In the truth, charity reflects the personal yet public dimension of faith in the God of the Bible, who is both Agápe and Lógos: Charity and Truth, Love and Word. (CARITAS IN VERITATE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF-BENEDICT XVI)

We will have to wait until the Messiah brings that gift from Gd, “27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The best story was Esau and Jacob which in some way strikes the core; that If there is ever going to be “Peace” with our brothers then B’Ezrat HaShem (with the help of God) and with similarities (or liken) to Jacob’s prayer and its intensity toward Esau, our prayers can be heard. If we make a change in the way we are directing ourselves, we redirect our steps; to change the pattern of the world, we change our own selves with (and always) B’Ezrat HaShem. “Seek the peace of the city to which I have exiled you, and pray to G-d for its sake” (Jeremiah 29:7). Jacob said a prayer to G-d to reconcile those differences between brothers. There is Peace, which man himself brings to the world but there is an “Everlasting” peace, which G-d will bring to everyone; G-d is the main catalyst and we can’t find that kind of peace anywhere else. To maintain peace (like within a family) some will fight it and try to return back to the differences or will change and repair them (which now I beginning to understand) are many and complex-only the Messiah can repair them.

What is the road to salvation and what is the road back from original sin - “Who will then be saved” - I have to look toward John 17, “3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Many blessings,
Mary

Thank you so much, Mary, for your typical erudite comments. Ultimately, therefore, we are all subject to the mercy of HaShem, Allah, Jesus.

 

[meltzerboy]

That’s not quite true.

Regarding Leviticus dietary laws, the only thing muslims don’t eat is pig/pork, but they do eat everything else which is forbidden for Jews.

A further point: I believe Muslims are forbidden to eat the blood of animals, as are Jews. How the blood is drained according to Halal law, I don’t know.

 

[MorningSong51]

Thank you so much, Mary, for your typical erudite comments. Ultimately, therefore, we are all subject to the mercy of HaShem, Allah, Jesus.

I have a couple of comments to make along this line - awhile back I had gone through a kind of transformation period, as all of us do – at a certain age. Some would say that this particular period is the most frustrating because of the struggle or struggles that one endures with the way we are living our lives and also how we feel about it. The question that sometimes go through the mind, what needs to change, “What does God ask of us?” And as the answer always comes out, like from a thick cloud, “Ask, Seek, and Knock” - and in Judaism, and as this is the time for Elul, we search out God with all our heart (hearts – plural – heart and mind, and the soul). So during Elul – Rosh Hashanah – Yom Kippur, it is a propitious time for prayer, self introspection, and repentance and to read/study the Torah. The meaning of the Sound of the Shofar: Wake up and Listen! At this time, also, the Muslim religion, celebrate Ramadan which is considered one of the five “pillars” of Islam. Muslims who are physically able are required to fast each day of the entire month, from sunrise to sunset. The evenings are spent enjoying family and community meals, engaging in prayer and spiritual reflection, and reading from the Qu’ran.

This is a wonderful time of the year! for all three religions, God calls out and we respond - “Hineni” — meaning “Here I am”

Blessings,
Mary