View source for Abrahamic religions

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
[[File:4_Abrahamic_symbols.png|thumb|Clockwise from Top Left: [[Christian cross]], [[Islamic]] [[star and crescent]], [[Bahá'í symbols|Bahá'í nine-pointed star]], [[Jewish]] [[Star of David]]]]

'''Abrahamic religions''' (also '''[[Semitic people|Semitic]] religions''') are [[monotheism|monotheistic]] [[religion]]s of [[West Asian]]<ref>Spirituality and Psychiatry - Page 236, Chris Cook, Andrew Powell, A. C. P. Sims - 2009</ref> origin, emphasizing and tracing their common origin to the tribal patriarch [[Abraham]]<ref>{{cite web|year=2010|title=Philosophy of Religion|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/497132/philosophy-of-religion|work=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|accessdate=24 June 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100721151923/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/497132/philosophy-of-religion| archivedate= 21 July 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him.  They comprise one of the major divisions in [[comparative religion]], along with [[Indian religions|Indian]]<ref name="Adams2">[https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-38030/classification-of-religions C.J. ''Classification of religions: Geographical''. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007]. Accessed: 15 May 2013</ref> and [[East Asian religions]].<ref name="Adams2" /> [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]] are the largest Abrahamic religions.<ref name="Massignon 1949">{{harvnb|Massignon|1949|pp=20–23}}</ref><ref name="J.Smith98">{{harvnb|Smith|1998|p=276}}</ref><ref name="Anidjar2001">{{harvnb|Derrida|2002|p=3}}</ref>

The largest Abrahamic religions in chronological order of founding are [[Judaism]] (2nd millennium BCE)<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=fuczEUuOt6UC&pg=PA274&lpg=PA273&ots=NIV1rBL9eA&focus= Collapse of the Bronze Age:The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea] Proto-Jewish ([[Yahwism|Yahwist]]) religion originates in the Bronze Age, modern Rabbinic (Pharisaic) Judaism originates in the 1st century BC)</ref>, [[Christianity]] (1st century CE) and [[Islam]] (7th century CE).

Abrahamic religions with fewer adherents include [[Rastafari]]anism,<ref name="christianity-guide" /> [[Samaritans#Samaritanism|Samaritanism]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Introduction to Judaism Classroom Materials |publisher=Jewish Museum of Maryland |year=2007 |url=https://www.jhsm.org/sites/default/files/IntroductiontoJudaismcurriculum2007_000.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=19 September 2009}}</ref> [[Druze|Druzism]] (sometimes classified as a branch of [[Shia]] [[Islam]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurospanbookstore.com/display.asp?K=9780815630975&ds=Islam&sf1=bic2_subj_code&st1=HRH*&sort=sort_date/d&m=79&dc=232 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314232656/https://www.eurospanbookstore.com/display.asp?K=9780815630975&ds=Islam&sf1=bic2_subj_code&st1=HRH*&sort=sort_date/d&m=79&dc=232 |archivedate=14 March 2012 |title=Synopsis of book, "The Druze and Their Faith in Tawhid"}}</ref> [[Mandaeism]],<ref name="The Mandeans of Iraq and Iran">Mandeans claim Abraham was of their people (see [https://books.google.com/books?id=hcQUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA265&q=Mandeanism+Abrahamic#v=onepage&q&f=false The Mandeans of Iraq and Iran], pp. 265–269). On the other hand, though they have many affinities, they consider that, "the Jewish God was an evil spirit, the law was given by the evil ''ruha'' and the seven planets, and the Hebrew Bible was read with a particularly critical eye" (see [https://books.google.com/books?id=qE4jXXhr8X8C&pg=PA536&q=Mandeanism+Abrahamic# Neusner on Judaism: History], [[Jacob Neusner]], pp. 536–537)</ref> [[Bábism]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Onyeakor |first1=Joachim |title=Did We Create God? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tbn5AAAAQBAJ |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |publication-date=2012 |isbn=9781477136973 |accessdate=2015-01-10 |quote=Abrahamic religions (Christianity encompassing Anglican, Catholic, evangelical, Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter-day Saints, Orthodox, Pentecostal (having more than thousand denominations), Islam, Judaism, Rastafari movement, Babism, Baha'i Faith, Gnosticism, Mandaeans and Sabians, and Samaritanism)}}</ref> and the [[Bahá'í Faith]].<ref>* {{cite web |title=Why "Abrahamic"? |publisher=Lubar Institute for Religious Studies at U of Wisconsin |url=https://lisar.lss.wisc.edu/welcome/Why%20Abrahamic.html |accessdate=3 March 2012}}
* {{cite journal |last=Lawson |first=Todd |editor-last=Cusack |editor-first=Carole M. |editor2-last=Hartney |editor2-first=Christopher |title=Baha'i Religious History |journal=Journal of Religious History |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=463–470 |date=December 13, 2012 |url=https://bahai-library.com/lawson_bahai_religious_history |jstor=|issn=1467-9809 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-9809.2012.01224.x |accessdate=September 5, 2013 }}
* {{Cite journal |last=Collins |first=William P., reviewer |title=Review of: The *****ren of Abraham : Judaism, Christianity, Islam / F. E. Peters. -- New ed. -- Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, 2004 |journal=Library Journal |volume=129 |issue=14 |pages=157, 160 |publisher=|location=New York |date=September 1, 2004 |url=https://www.hclib.org/pub/bookspace/discuss/?bib=1061320&theTab=Reviews  | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130927174736/https://www.hclib.org/pub/bookspace/discuss/?bib=1061320&theTab=Reviews| archive-date = September 27, 2013 |accessdate=Sep 13, 2013 }}</ref>

{{As of|2005|alt=As of 2005}}, it was estimated that 54% (3.6 billion people) of the world's population considered themselves adherents of an Abrahamic religion, about 32% adherents of other religions, and 16% adherents of no organized religion. Christianity is the largest Abrahamic faith, with 33% of the world's population,  [[Islam]] is second with 21%, and [[Judaism]] has 0.2%.<ref name=adherents>The numbers were based on upper bounds and do not add to 100%.  {{cite web |last=Hunter |first=Preston |title=Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents |url=https://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html |publisher=Adherents.com }}</ref><ref name="britannica_stats_w">{{cite web |title=Worldwide Adherents of All Religions by Six Continental Areas, Mid-2002 |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/table?tocId=9394911 |work=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |year=2002 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312004028/https://www.britannica.com/eb/table?tocId=9394911 |archivedate=12 March 2007 |deadurl=yes|accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
[[File:Worldwide percentage of Adherents by Religion.png|thumb|450px|Major religious groups as a percentage of world population.]]

It has been suggested that the phrase, "Abrahamic religion", may simply mean that all these religions come from one spiritual source.{{according to whom|date=October 2015}}<ref name="Massignon 1949" /> Christians refer to Abraham as a "father in faith".{{bibleref2c|Rom.|4}} There is an Islamic religious term, ''[[Millat Ibrahim]]'' (faith of Ibrahim),<ref name="J.Smith98" /><ref name="Anidjar2001" /> indicating that Islam sees itself as having practices tied to the traditions of Abraham.<ref>The Quran, albaqarah; v. 135</ref> Jewish tradition claims descent from Abraham, and adherents follow his practices and ideals as the first of the three spiritual "fathers" or [[Patriarchs (Bible)|biblical Patriarchs]]: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

All the major Abrahamic religions claim a direct lineage to [[Abraham]]:

* Abraham is recorded in the [[Torah]] as the ancestor of the [[Israelites]] through his son [[Isaac]], born to [[Sarah]] through a promise made in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]].{{bibleref2c|Gen.|17:16}}<ref>Scherman, pp.&nbsp;34–35.</ref>
* The sacred text of Christianity is the [[Christian Bible]], the first part of which, the [[Old Testament]], is derived from the [[Tanakh|Jewish Bible]], leading to similar ancestry claims as above, though most Christians are [[gentiles]] who consider themselves as grafted into the family tree under the [[New Covenant]], see [[#For Christians|significance of Abraham for Christians]] for details.
* It is the Islamic tradition that Muhammad, as an [[Arabs|Arab]], is descended from Abraham's son [[Ishmael]]. Jewish tradition also equates the descendants of Ishmael, [[Ishmaelites]], with Arabs, as the descendants of [[Isaac]] by [[Jacob]], who was also later known as Israel, are the Israelites.<ref>Saheeh al-Bukharee, Book 55, hadith no. 584; Book 56, hadith no. 710</ref>
* The [[Báb]], regarded by Bahá'í's as a predecessor to Bahá'u'lláh, was a [[Sayyid]], or a direct descendant of Muhammad and thus traces his ancestry to Abraham's son Ishmael. Tradition also holds that [[Bahá'u'lláh]] is a descendant of Abraham through his third wife, [[Keturah]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Part Four – On the Origin, Powers and Conditions of Man |url=https://www.bahai-library.com/writings/abdulbaha/saq/57.html |website=www.bahai-library.com |accessdate=2015-09-05}}</ref>

Other terms sometimes used include Abrahamic faiths, Abrahamic traditions, religions of Abraham, Abrahamic monotheistic religions, Semitic religions, Semitic monotheistic religions, and Semitic one god religions.<ref>David Kay, ''The Semitic Religions—Hebrew, Jewish, Christian & Moslem'', Reqd books, 2008</ref>

Adam Dodds argues that the term "Abrahamic faiths", while helpful, can be considered misleading, as it conveys an unspecified historical and theological commonality that is problematic on closer examination. While there is commonality among the religions, in large measure their shared ancestry is peripheral to their respective foundational beliefs and thus conceals crucial differences.<ref name="Dodds" /> For example, the common Christian beliefs of [[Incarnation]], [[Trinity]] and [[Resurrection of Jesus|Jesus' Resurrection]] are not accepted by Judaism or Islam (see for example [[Islamic view of Jesus' death]]). There are key beliefs in both Islam and Judaism that are not shared by most of Christianity (such as strict [[monotheism]] and [[religious law|adherence to Divine Law]]), and key beliefs of Islam, Christianity, and the Bahá'í Faith not shared by Judaism (such as the [[prophet]]ic and [[Messiah|Messianic]] position of [[Jesus and Messianic prophecy|Jesus]], respectively).<ref>Greenstreet, p.&nbsp;95.</ref>

==Origins and history==
{{See also|Canaanite religion|Arabian mythology}}
Judaism regards itself as the religion of the descendants of [[Jacob]],<ref group="n">Jacob is also called Israel, a name the [[Bible]] states he was given by God.</ref> a grandson of Abraham. It has a [[God in Judaism|strictly unitary view of God]], and the central holy book for almost all branches is the [[Masoretic Text]] as elucidated in the [[oral Torah]].  In the 19th century and 20th centuries Judaism developed a small number of branches, of which the most significant are [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]], [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]], and [[Reform Judaism|Reform]].

Christianity began as a [[Jewish Christian|sect of Judaism]]<ref group="n">cf. [[Judaizer]], [[Messianic Judaism]]</ref> in the [[Mediterranean Basin]]<ref group="n">With several centers, such as [[Early centers of Christianity#Rome|Rome]], [[Early centers of Christianity#Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], [[Early centers of Christianity#Alexandria|Alexandria]], [[Early centers of Christianity#Greece|Thessaloniki and Corinth]], [[Early centers of Christianity#Antioch|Antioch]], and later spread outwards, eventually having two main centers in the empire, one for the [[Western Church]] and one for the [[Eastern Church]] in Rome and [[Constantinople]] respectively by the [[Christianity in the 5th century|5th century AD]]</ref> of the 1st century [[Common Era|CE]] and [[Split of early Christianity and Judaism|evolved into a separate religion]]—the [[Christian Church]]—with distinctive beliefs and practices. [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus]] is the central figure of Christianity, considered by almost all denominations to be [[God the Son|divine]], one [[hypostasis (philosophy)|person]] of a [[Trinity|Triune]] [[God in Christianity|God]].<ref group="n">[[Trinity|Triune God]] is also called the "Holy Trinity"</ref> The [[Christian biblical canons|Christian biblical canon]] is usually held to be the ultimate authority, alongside [[sacred tradition]] in some [[Christian denomination|denominations]] (such as [[Roman Catholicism]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy]]). Over many centuries, Christianity divided into three main branches ([[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]], [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], and [[Protestantism|Protestant]]), [[List of Christian denominations|dozens of significant denominations]], and hundreds of smaller ones.

Islam arose in [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]]<ref group="n">Islam arose specifically in [[Tihamah]] city of [[Mecca]] and [[Hejaz]] city of [[Medina]] of Arabia</ref> in the 7th century CE with a [[God in Islam|strictly unitary view of God]].<ref group="n">The monotheistic view of God in Islam is called ''[[tawhid]]'' which is essentially the same as the conception of [[God in Judaism]]</ref> [[Muslim]]s hold the [[Qur'an]] to be the ultimate authority, as revealed and elucidated through the [[Sunnah|teachings and practices]]<ref group="n">Teachings and practices of Muhammad are collectively known as the ''[[sunnah]]'', similar to the [[Halakha|Judaic concepts of oral law]] and [[exegesis]], or ''[[talmud]]'' and ''[[midrash]]''</ref> of a central, but not divine prophet, [[Muhammad]]. The Islamic faith consider all [[prophets in Islam|Prophets]] and Messengers from Adam through the final messenger (Muhammad) to carry the same Islamic monotheistic principles. Soon after its founding Islam split into two main branches ([[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]]), each of which now have a number of denominations.

The Bahá'í Faith began within the context of [[Shia Islam|Shi'a Islam]] in 19th century Persia, after a merchant named [[Báb|Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází]] claimed divine revelation and took on the title of the Báb, or "the Gate". The Bab's ministry proclaimed the imminent advent of "[[He whom God shall make manifest]]", who Bahá'í's accept as [[Bahá'u'lláh]]. Bahá'í's revere the Torah, Gospels and the Qur'an, and the writings of the Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, and `Abdu’l-Bahá' are considered the central texts of the faith. A vast majority of adherents are unified under a single denomination.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bahá’í Faith – The website of the worldwide Bahá’í community |url=https://www.bahai.org |website=www.bahai.org|accessdate = 2015-09-05}}</ref>

Lesser-known Abrahamic religions, originally offshoots of [[Shi'a Islam]], include the [[Bábism|Babi Faith]]<ref group="n">Historically, the Bahá'í Faith arose in 19th century Persia, in the context of [[Shi'a Islam]], and thus may be classed on this basis as a divergent strand of Islam, placing it in the Abrahamic tradition. However, the Bahá'í Faith considers itself an independent religious tradition, which arose from a Muslim context but also recognizes other traditions. The Bahá'í Faith may also be classed as a [[new religious movement]], due to its comparatively recent origin, or may be considered sufficiently old and established for such classification to not be applicable.</ref> and [[Druze]].<ref>* {{cite news |last=Dolbee |first=Sandi |title=Faith, Hope and Understand: *****agers Questions and learn about each other's Faiths |newspaper=The San Diego Union – Tribune |page=E.1 |date=27 Mar 2003 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sandiego/access/319404861.html?dids=319404861:319404861&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+27%2C+2003&author=Sandi+Dolbee&pub=The+San+Diego+Union+-+Tribune&edition=&startpage=E.1&desc=FAITH%2C+HOPE+AND+UNDERSTAND+%7C+*****AGERS+QUESTIONS+AND+LEARN+ABOUT+EACH+OTHER%27S+FAITHS |accessdate=3 March 2012}}
* {{cite web |title=WORLD RELIGIONS RESOURCES |work=WPC library catalog |publisher=Warner Pacific College |year=2012 |url=https://www.warnerpacific.edu/current-students/library/resources/world-religions-resources |accessdate=16 September 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826035125/https://www.warnerpacific.edu/current-students/library/resources/world-religions-resources |archivedate=26 August 2012 |deadurl=yes}}
* {{cite web |title=The Journey of Abraham |work=Part of Library’s Stories of Faith Program; Discussion to Focus on Shared Beliefs of Semitic Religions |publisher=San Diego Public Library |url=https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/pdf/prabram081004.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2012-03-03}}
* {{cite web |title=Tagged: Abrahamic religions |work=Search Results |publisher=National Library of Australia |year=2012 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/book/result?l-publictag=Abrahamic+religions&q&s=0 |accessdate=3 March 2012}}
* {{cite web |title=Why "Abrahamic"? |publisher=Lubar Institute for Religious Studies at U of Wisconsin |url=https://lisar.lss.wisc.edu/welcome/Why%20Abrahamic.html |accessdate=3 March 2012}}
* {{cite book |last=Mayton |first=Daniel M. |title=Nonviolent Perspectives Within the Abrahamic Religions |publisher=Springer US |series=Peace Psychology Book Series |year=2009 |pages=167– 203 |doi=10.1007/978-0-387-89348-8_7 |isbn=978-0-387-89348-8}}
* {{cite web |title=Abrahamic religions |work=Library of Congress Authorities & Vocabularies |publisher=The Library of Congress |date=16 October 2008 |url=https://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh2008008229 |accessdate=3 March 2012}}
* {{cite journal |last=Bacquet |first=Karen |title=When Principle and Authority Collide: Baha'i Responses to the Exclusion of Women from the Universal House of Justice |journal=Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=34–52 |publisher=University of California Press |date=May 2006 |jstor=10.1525/nr.2006.9.4.034 |doi=10.1525/nr.2006.9.4.034 }}</ref>

==Common aspects==
The unifying characteristic of Abrahamic religions is that all accept the tradition that [[God in Abrahamic religions|God]] revealed himself to the patriarch Abraham.<ref name="Peters" /> All are monotheistic, and conceive God to be a [[Transcendence (religion)|transcendent]] [[Creator deity|creator]] and the source of [[moral law]].<ref>
{{cite web |year=2002 |title=Religion: Three Religions – One God |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/themes/religion/index.html |work=Global Connections of the Middle East |publisher=[[WGBH-TV|WGBH]] Educational Foundation |accessdate=20 September 2009 }}</ref> Their [[religious texts]] feature many of the same figures, histories, and places, although they often present them with different roles, perspectives, and meanings.<ref>Kunst, J. R., & Thomsen, L. (2014). Prodigal sons: Dual Abrahamic categorization mediates the detrimental effects of religious fundamentalism on Christian-Muslim relations. The  International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. doi: 10.1080/10508619.2014.93796 https://www.academia.edu/7455300/Prodigal_sons_Dual_Abrahamic_categorization_mediates_the_detrimental_effects_of_religious_fundamentalism_on_Christian-Muslim_relations</ref> Believers who agree on these similarities and the common Abrahamic origin tend to also be more positive towards other Abrahamic groups.<ref>Kunst, J., Thomsen, L., Sam, D. (2014). Late Abrahamic reunion? Religious fundamentalism negatively predicts dual Abrahamic group categorization among Muslims and Christians. European Journal of Social Psychology, https://www.academia.edu/6436421/Late_Abrahamic_reunion_Religious_fundamentalism_negatively_predicts_dual_Abrahamic_group_categorization_among_Muslims_and_Christians</ref>

In these four Abrahamic religions the individual, God, and [[nature]] are highly separate from each other. Also, these Abrahamic religions believe in a judging, paternal, fully external god to which the individual and nature are subordinate. One seeks [[salvation]] or [[Transcendence (religion)|transcendence]] not by [[meditation]], contemplating the natural world or via philosophical speculation, but by seeking to please God or to comply (such as obedience with God's wishes or his law) and see [[divine revelation]] as outside of self, nature, and custom.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} In these Abrahamic religions, not only are humans not a part of nature, but nature and the [[Earth]] are subordinate to humans. In fact, humans are explicitly instructed to "rule over," and to "subdue" the Earth.<ref>A clarifying point in the relationships between the individual and god and nature in the three Abrahamic religions: [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1 Bible, Genesis 1], 26 (NIV) Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." ...Gen 28: God said: "...fill the earth and subdue it."</ref>

===Monotheism===
{{Main|Monotheism}}
All Abrahamic religions claim to be monotheistic, worshiping an exclusive God, although known by different names.<ref name="Peters">{{Cite book| last = Peters | first = Francis E. | authorlink = Francis E. Peters | last2 = Esposito | first2 = John L. | author2-link = John L. Esposito | title = The *****ren of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam | publisher = Princeton University Press | year = 2006| url = https://books.google.com/?id=Zu6EAAAACAAJ | isbn = 978-0-691-12769-9}}</ref> All of these religions believe that God creates, is one, rules, reveals, loves, judges, punishes, and forgives.<ref name="Dodds">{{Cite journal|last=Dodds |first=Adam |date=July 2009| title=The Abrahamic Faiths? Continuity and Discontinuity in Christian and Islamic Doctrine |journal=[[Evangelical Quarterly]] |volume= 81 |issue=3 |pages=230–253}}</ref>{{Request quotation|date=January 2011}} However, although Christianity does not profess to believe in three gods — but rather three [[Hypostasis (philosophy)|persons]], or hypostases, united in one [[Ousia|essence]] — the [[Trinity|Trinitarian doctrine]], which is a fundamental of faith for the vast majority of Christian denominations, conflicts with Jewish, Muslim, and Bahá'í concepts of monotheism. Since the conception of divine Trinity is not amenable to ''[[tawhid]]'', the Islamic doctrine of monotheism, Islam considers Christianity to be variously [[polytheism|polytheistic]] or [[Idolatry|idolatrous]]{{Citation needed|date=November 2015}}.

[[Jesus]] ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: ''[[Jesus in Islam|Isa]]'' or ''[[Jesus|Yasu]]'' among Muslims and [[Arab Christians]] respectively) is revered by Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá'í Faith but with vastly differing conceptions; viewed as the [[Redeemer (Christianity)|saviour]] by Christians (and [[Incarnation|God incarnate]] by most Christians as well), as a [[Prophet of Islam]]<ref name="EoQP">Uri Rubin, ''Prophets and Prophethood'', ''[[Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an]]''</ref> and Messiah by Muslims, and as the Messiah and a [[Manifestation of God]] (but not God incarnate) by Bahá'í's.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Jesus Christ in the Bahá'í Writings|url = https://bahai-library.com/stockman_jesus_bahai_writings|website = bahai-library.com|accessdate = 2015-09-05}}</ref> However, the worship of Jesus, or the ascribing of partners to God (known as ''[[Shirk (Islam)|shirk]]'' in Islam and ''[[shituf]]'' in Judaism), is typically viewed as the [[heresy]] of idolatry by Islam and Judaism and misguided by the Bahá'ís. The incarnation of God into human form is also seen as a heresy by Judaism, Islam, and the Bahá'í Faith.

===Theological continuity===
{{See also|Messianism}}
All the Abrahamic religions affirm one eternal God who created the universe, who rules history, who sends [[prophecy|prophetic]] and angelic messengers and who reveals the [[divine law|divine will]] through inspired [[revealed religion|Scriptures]]. They also affirm that obedience to this [[creator God]] is to be lived out historically, and that one day God will unilaterally intervene in human history on the [[day of judgment]].

===Scripture===
{{See also|Development of the Hebrew Bible canon|Development of the Christian biblical canon|History of the Qur'an}}
All Abrahamic religions believe that God guides humanity through [[revelation]] to prophets, and each religion recognizes that God revealed teachings up to and including those in their own scripture.

===Ethical orientation===
{{See also|Biblical law in Christianity}}
An [[Ethics|ethical]] orientation: all these religions speak of a choice between good and evil, which is associated with obedience or disobedience to a single God and to [[Divine law|Divine Law]].

===Eschatological world view===
An [[eschatology|eschatological]] world view of history and destiny, beginning with the [[Creation myth|creation]] of the world and the concept that God works through history, and ending with a [[resurrection of the dead]] and [[Last Judgment|final judgment]] and [[World to Come|world to come]].<ref>Wiener, Philip P. [https://etext.virginia.edu/DicHist/dict.html ''Dictionary of the History of Ideas.''] Charles Scribner's Sons, 1973–74. The Electronic Text Center at the University of Virginia Library. Retrieved 4 August 2009.</ref>

===Importance of Jerusalem===
{{See also|Jerusalem in Judaism|Jerusalem in Christianity|Jerusalem in Islam}}
Jerusalem is considered Judaism's holiest city. Its origins can be dated to 1004 BCE<ref>{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Political, Social, and Military History  A Political, Social, and Military History |page=541 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |author=Spencer C. Tucker, Priscilla Roberts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YAd8efHdVzIC}}</ref> when according to Biblical tradition [[David]] established it as the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel, and his son [[Solomon]] built the [[First Temple]] on [[Mount Moriah]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Temple of Jerusalem: From Moses to the Messiah: In Honor of Professor Louis H. Feldman |pages=302–303 |publisher=BRILL |author=Steven Fine |year=2011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s7V-vOjb4IEC}}</ref> Since the [[Hebrew Bible]] relates that [[Binding of Isaac|Isaac's sacrifice]] took place there, Mount Moriah's importance for Jews pre-dates even these prominent events. Jews thrice daily pray in its direction, including in their prayers pleas for the restoration and the rebuilding of the [[Holy Temple]] (the [[Third Temple]]) on mount Moriah, close the Passover service with the wistful statement "Next year in built Jerusalem," and recall the city in the blessing at the end of each meal. Jerusalem has served as the only capital for five out of six Jewish states that have existed in Israel since 1400 BCE (the [[United Kingdom of Israel]], the [[Kingdom of Judah]], [[Yehud Medinata]], the [[Hasmonean Kingdom]], and modern Israel) with the exception of the [[Khazars#Judaism|Khazar State]]. It has been majority Jewish since about 1852 and continues through today.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morgenstern |first=Arie |author2=Translated by Joel A. Linsider |title=Hastening redemption: Messianism and the resettlement of the land of Israel |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2006 |location=US |page=201 |chapter=Epilogue: Emergence of a Jewish Majority in Jerusalem |chapterurl=https://books.google.com/books?id=N4q25b69yQ8C&lpg=PA201&pg=PA201#v=onepage&q&f=false |url=https://books.google.com/?id=N4q25b69yQ8C |isbn=978-0-19-530578-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lapidoth |first=Ruth |author2=Moshe Hirsch |title=The Jerusalem question and its resolution: selected documents |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |year=1994 |page=384 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=e93JIwTBjHgC&lpg=PA384&pg=PA384#v=onepage&q |isbn=978-0-7923-2893-3}}</ref>

[[Early centers of Christianity#Jerusalem|Jerusalem was an early center of Christianity]]. There has been a continuous Christian presence there since.<ref name=Wilken>Wilken, Robert L. "From Time Immemorial? Dwellers in the Holy Land." ''Christian Century,'' 30 July – 6 August 1986, p.678.</ref>  William R. Kenan, Jr., professor of the history of Christianity at the [[University of Virginia]], Charlottesville, writes that from the middle of the 4th century to the [[Islamic conquests|Islamic conquest]] in the middle of the 7th century, the [[Syria Palaestina|Roman province of Palestine]] was a Christian nation with Jerusalem its principal city.<ref name=Wilken/> According to the [[New Testament]], [[Jerusalem in Christianity|Jerusalem]] was the city Jesus was brought to as a ***** to be presented at the temple{{Bibleref2c|Luke|2:22}} and for the feast of the [[Passover]].{{Bibleref2c|Luke|2:41}} He preached and healed in Jerusalem, unceremoniously drove the [[Jesus and the money changers|money changers]] in disarray from the temple there, held the [[Last Supper]] in an "upper room" (traditionally the [[Cenacle]]) there the night before he is said to have died on the cross, was arrested in [[Gethsemane]]. The six parts to Jesus' trial—three stages in a religious court and three stages before a Roman court—were all held in Jerusalem. His [[crucifixion]] at [[Calvary|Golgotha]], his burial nearby (traditionally the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]]), and his resurrection and ascension and [[Second Coming|prophecy to return]] all are said to have occurred or will occur there.

Jerusalem became holy to Muslims, third after [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] (even though not mentioned by name in the Qur'an). The [[Al-Aqsa]] mosque, which translates to "farthest mosque" in [[sura]] [[Al-Isra]] in the [[Qur'an]] and its surroundings are addressed in the Qur'an as "the holy land". Muslim tradition as recorded in the [[ahadith]] identifies al-Aqsa with a mosque in Jerusalem. The first Muslims did not pray toward [[Kaaba]] ([[Al-Haram Mosque]]), but toward al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem (this was the ''[[qibla]]'' for 13 years): the qibla was switched to Kaaba later on to fulfill the order of Allah of praying in the direction of Kaaba (Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:144-150).

{{quotation|We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do. (Qur-an - 2:144)}}

Another reason for its significance is its connection with the [[Isra and Mi'raj|Miʿrāj]],<ref name="Miraj">[https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/384897/Miraj, ''Miraj (Britannica)'']</ref> where, according to traditional Muslim piety, Muhammad ascended through the [[Seven heavens]] on a winged mule named [[Buraq]], guided by the [[Archangel Gabriel]], beginning from the [[Foundation Stone]] on the [[Temple Mount]], in modern times under the [[Dome of the Rock]].<ref name="Britannica_J">[https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/302812/Jerusalem "Jerusalem (Britannica)"], ''Jerusalem(Britannica)''</ref><ref name="AlAqsa">[https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/30995/Al-Aqsa-Mosque Dome of the Rock]</ref>

==Significance of Abraham==
{{Main|Covenant of Abraham}}
[[File:Greater Israel map.jpg|thumb|350px|An interpretation of the borders (in red) of the [[Promised Land]], based on God's promise to [[Abraham]].{{bibleref2c|Genesis|15|HE}}]]
Even though members of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam do not all claim Abraham as an ancestor, some members of these religions have tried to claim him as exclusively theirs.<ref name="Lubar">{{cite web |title=Why "Abrahamic"? |publisher=Lubar Institute for Religious Studies at [[University of Wisconsin - Madison]] |year=2007 |url=https://lisar.lss.wisc.edu/welcome/Why%20Abrahamic.html |accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref>

===For Jews===
For [[Jews]], Abraham (with his wife, Sarah) is the founding patriarch of the *****ren of Israel. God promised Abraham: "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you."{{Bibleref2c|Gen.|12:2}} With Abraham, God entered into "an everlasting covenant throughout the ages to be God to you and to your offspring to come."{{Bibleref2c|Gen.|17:7}} It is this covenant that makes Abraham and his descendants *****ren of the covenant. Similarly, converts, who join the covenant, are all identified as sons and daughters of Abraham (and Sarah).

Abraham is primarily a revered ancestor or [[Patriarch (Bible)|patriarch]] (referred to as ''Avraham Avinu'' (אברהם אבינו in [[Hebrew]]) "Abraham our father") to whom God made several promises: chiefly, that he would have numberless descendants, who would receive the land of Canaan (the "[[Promised Land]]"). According to Jewish tradition, Abraham was the first post-[[Biblical flood|Flood]] prophet to reject [[idolatry]] through rational analysis, although [[Shem]] and [[Eber]] carried on the tradition from [[Noah]].<ref>Shultz, Joseph P. "Two Views of the Patriarchs", in Nahum Norbert Glatzer, Michael A. Fishbane, Paul R. Mendes-Flohr (eds.) (1975). ''Texts and Responses: Studies presented to Nahum N. Glatzer on the occasion of his 70th birthday by his students''. [[Brill Publishers]]. pp. 51–52. ISBN 9789004039803</ref><ref>[[Aryeh Kaplan|Kaplan, Aryeh]] (1973). "The Jew". ''The Aryeh Kaplan Reader''. [[Mesorah Publications]]. p. 161. ISBN 9780899061733</ref>

===For Christians===
[[Abraham#Christianity|Christians view Abraham]] as an important exemplar of [[Faith in Christianity|faith]], and a spiritual, as well as physical, ancestor of Jesus — the [[Son of God]] through whom God promised to bless all the families of the earth. For Christians, Abraham is a spiritual forebear as well as/rather than a direct ancestor depending on the [[Paul of Tarsus and Judaism|individual's interpretation of Paul the Apostle]],{{bibleref2c|Rom.|4:9–12}} with the [[Abrahamic covenant]] "reinterpreted so as to be defined by faith in Christ rather than biological descent" or both by faith as well as a direct ancestor; in any case, the emphasis is placed on faith being the only requirement for the Abrahamic Covenant to apply<ref>Blasi, Turcotte, Duhaime, p.&nbsp;592.</ref> (see also [[New Covenant]] and [[supersessionism]]). In Christian belief, Abraham is a [[role model]] of faith,{{bibleref2c|Heb.|11:8–10}} and his obedience to God by [[Binding of Isaac|offering Isaac]] is seen as a [[foreshadowing]] of God's offering of his son Jesus.{{bibleref2c|Rom.|8:32}}<ref>"The Hymn of Security'' {{Cite book| last = MacArthur | first = John | authorlink = John F. MacArthur | title = The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Romans | publisher = [[Moody Press]] | year = 1996 | location = Chicago| isbn = 0-8254-1522-5}}</ref>

Christian commentators have a tendency to interpret God's promises to Abraham as applying to Christianity subsequent to, and sometimes rather than (as in supersessionism), being applied to Judaism, whose adherents [[Rejection of Jesus|rejected Jesus]].  They argue this on the basis that just as Abraham as a [[Gentile]] (before he was [[Circumcision controversy in early Christianity|circumcised]]) "believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness" {{bibleref2c|Gen.|15:6}} (cf. Rom. 4:3, James 2:23), "those who have faith are *****ren of Abraham" {{bibleref2c|Gal.|3:7}} (see also John 8:39).  This is most fully developed in [[Pauline Christianity|Paul's theology]] where all who believe in God are spiritual descendants of Abraham.{{bibleref2c|Rom.|4:20}} {{bibleref2c|Gal.|4:9}}<ref>"So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."  "In other words, it is not the *****ren by physical descent who are God’s *****ren, but it is the *****ren of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring." (Rom. 9:8)</ref> However, with regards to {{Biblesource|Rom.|4:20}} and {{Biblesource|Gal.|4:9}}, in both cases he refers to these spiritual descendants as the "[[sons of God]]"{{bibleref2c|Gal.|4:26}} rather than "*****ren of Abraham".<ref>Bickerman, p.188cf.</ref>

===For Muslims===
{{Main|Islamic view of Abraham}}
For Muslims, Abraham is a [[Prophet of Islam|prophet]], the "[[apostle (Islam)|messenger]] of God" who stands in the line from Adam to Muhammad, to whom God gave revelations,{{Cite quran|4|163}}, who "raised the foundations of the House" (i.e., the [[Kaaba]]){{Cite quran|2|127}} with his first son, [[Isma'il]], a symbol of which is every mosque.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Leeming | first = David Adams | title = The Oxford companion to world mythology | publisher = Oxford University Press |year = 2005 | location = US | page = 209 | url = https://books.google.com/?id=kQFtlva3HaYC&lpg=PA209&pg=PA209#v=onepage&q| isbn = 978-0-19-515669-0}}</ref> Ibrahim ([[Abraham]]) is the first in a [[genealogy]] for Muhammad. Islam considers Abraham to be "one of the first Muslims" (Surah 3)—the first monotheist in a world where monotheism was lost, and the community of those faithful to God,<ref>{{Cite book| last = Fischer | first =Michael M. J.|author2= Mehdi Abedi | title = Debating Muslims: cultural dialogues in postmodernity and tradition  | publisher = Univ of Wisconsin Press| year = 1990 | pages = 163–166 | url = https://books.google.com/?id=J5RGlpx0j8sC&lpg=PA163&pg=PA163#v=onepage&q | isbn = 978-0-299-12434-2}}</ref> thus being referred to as ابونا ابراهيم or "Our Father Abraham", as well as ''Ibrahim [[Hanif|al-Hanif]]'' or "Abraham the Monotheist". Islam holds that it was Ishmael, (Isma'il, Muhammad's ancestor) rather than Isaac, whom Ibrahim was instructed to sacrifice. Also, the same as Judaisim, Islam believes that Abraham rejected idolatry through logical reasoning. Abraham is also recalled in certain details of the annual [[Hajj]] pilgrimage.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Hawting | first = Gerald R.  | title = The development of Islamic ritual; Volume 26 of The formation of the classical Islamic world | publisher = Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. | year = 2006 | pages = xviii, xix, xx, xxiii | url = https://books.google.com/?id=oCvf76uT3wMC&lpg=PR18&pg=PR18#v=onepage&q | isbn = 978-0-86078-712-9}}</ref>

==Religions==
::''See also section [[#Other Abrahamic religions|Other Abrahamic religions]]''
[[File:Abraham tomb.JPG|thumb|200px|The tomb of [[Abraham]], a [[cenotaph]] above the [[Cave of the Patriarchs]] traditionally considered to be the burial place of Abraham.]]

===Judaism===
One of Judaism's primary texts is the [[Tanakh]], an account of the [[Israelite]]s' relationship with God from their earliest history until the building of the [[Second Temple]] (c. 535 BCE). [[Abraham]] is hailed as the first [[Hebrews|Hebrew]] and the father of the [[Jews|Jewish people]]. One of his great-grandsons was [[Judah (Biblical person)|Judah]], from whom the religion ultimately gets its name. The Israelites were initially a number of tribes who lived in the [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|Kingdom of Israel]] and [[Kingdom of Judah]].

After being conquered and exiled, some members of the Kingdom of Judah eventually returned to Israel. They later formed an independent state under the [[Hasmonean dynasty]] in the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE, before becoming a client kingdom of the [[Roman Empire]], which also conquered the state and dispersed its inhabitants. From the 2nd to the 6th centuries Jews wrote the [[Talmud]], a lengthy work of legal rulings and Biblical exegesis which, along with the Tanakh, is a key text of Judaism.

===Christianity===
Christianity [[Christianity in the 1st century|began in the 1st century]] as a sect within Judaism initially led by Jesus. His followers viewed him as the [[Messiah]], as in the [[Confession of Peter]]; after his [[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion]] and death they came to view him as [[Incarnation|God incarnate]],<ref>Pavlac, Brian A (2010). ''A Concise Survey of Western Civilization: Supremacies and Diversities''.  Chapter 6.</ref> who was [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrected]] and will [[Second Coming|return]] at the end of time to [[Last Judgment|judge the living and the dead]] and create an eternal [[Kingdom of God]]. Within a few decades the new movement [[Split of early Christianity and Judaism|split from Judaism]].

After several periods of alternating persecution and relative peace ''vis a vis'' the Roman authorities under different administrations, Christianity became the [[state church of the Roman Empire]] in 380, but has been [[Early centers of Christianity|split into various churches from its beginning]]. An attempt was made by the [[Byzantine Empire]] to unify [[Christendom]], but this formally failed with the [[East–West Schism]] of 1054. In the 16th century the birth and growth of Protestantism further split Christianity into many denominations.

===Islam===
Islam is based on the teachings of the [[Quran]]. Although it considers Muhammad to be the [[Seal of the prophets]], Islam teaches that every [[Prophets in Islam|prophet]] preached Islam, providing a historical back-story for the religion by independently recognizing Jewish and Christian prophets, and adding others. The teachings of Quran are presented as the direct revelation and words of [[Allah]], and earlier scriptures are considered to have been corrupted over time. Islam (meaning "submission", in the sense of submission to God) is universal (membership is open to anyone); like Judaism, it has a strictly unitary conception of God, called ''[[tawhid]]'', or "strict" or "simple" monotheism.<ref name="BBCIslam">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ataglance/glance.shtml Religions » Islam » Islam at a glance], BBC, 5 August 2009.</ref> Early disputes over who would lead Muslims following the death of Muhammad led to a split between [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shia]], Islam's two main denominations.

==God==
{{Main|God in Abrahamic religions}}
The Abrahamic God is conceived of as [[Eternity#God and eternity|eternal]], [[omnipotent]], [[omniscient]] and as the [[Creator deity|creator of the universe]]. God is further held to have the properties of holiness, justice, [[omnibenevolence]] and [[omnipresence]]. Proponents of Abrahamic faiths believe that God is also [[Transcendence (religion)|transcendent]], but at the same time [[personal God|personal]] and involved, listening to [[prayer]] and reacting to the actions of his creatures.

===Judaism===
{{Main|God in Judaism}}
[[File:JudaismSymbol.PNG|thumb|right|The [[Star of David]] (or ''Magen David''), is a generally recognized symbol of modern Jewish identity and Judaism.]]
In [[Jewish theology]], God is strictly [[monotheistic]]. God is an absolute one, indivisible and incomparable [[being]] who is the ultimate cause of all existence. Jewish tradition teaches that the true aspect of God is incomprehensible and unknowable, and that it is only God's revealed aspect that brought the universe into existence, and interacts with mankind and the world. In [[Judaism]], the one God of Israel is the God of [[Abraham]], [[Isaac]], and [[Jacob]], who is the guide of the world, delivered [[Israelites|Israel]] from [[The Exodus|slavery in Egypt]], and gave them the [[613 Mitzvot]] at [[Mount Sinai]] as described in the [[Torah]].

The [[national god]] of the [[Israelite]]s has a [[Theonym|proper name]], written [[YHWH]] ({{Hebrew name|יְהֹוָה|Yehovah|Yəhōwāh}}) in the [[Tanakh|Hebrew Bible]]. The name YHWH is a combination of the future, present, and past tense of the verb "howa" ({{lang-he|הוה}}) meaning "to be" and translated literally means "The self-existent One". A further explanation of the name was given to Moses when YHWH stated ''Eheye Asher Eheye'' ({{lang-he|אהיה אשר אהיה}}) "I will be that I will be", the name relates to God as God truly is, God's revealed essence, which transcends the universe. It also represents God's compassion towards the world. In Jewish tradition another name of God is [[Elohim]], relating to the interaction between God and the universe, God as manifest in the physical world, it designates the justice of God, and means "the One who is the totality of powers, forces and causes in the universe".

===Christianity===
{{Main|God in Christianity}}
[[File:ChristianitySymbol.PNG|thumb|right|The [[Christian cross]] (or crux) is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity; this version is known as a Latin Cross.]]
In [[Christian theology]], God is the [[Eternity#God and eternity|eternal being]] who [[Genesis creation narrative|created]] and [[Divine providence|preserves]] the world. Christians believe God to be both transcendent and [[immanent]] (involved in the world).<ref name=Leith55>''Basic Christian Doctrine'' by John H. Leith (Jan 1, 1992) ISBN 0664251927 pages 55-56</ref><ref name=Millard87 >''Introducing Christian Doctrine'' (2nd Edition) by Millard J. Erickson (Apr 1, 2001) ISBN 0801022509 pages 87-88</ref> [[Early Christianity|Early Christian]] views of God were expressed in the [[Pauline Epistles]] and the early<ref>Perhaps even pre-Pauline creeds.</ref> [[creed]]s, which proclaimed [[Monotheism|one God]] and the [[Son of God|divinity of Jesus]].

Around the year 200, [[Tertullian]] formulated a version of the doctrine of the [[Trinity]] which clearly affirmed the divinity of Jesus and came close to the later definitive form produced by the [[First Council of Constantinople|Ecumenical Council of 381]].<ref name=Prestige29>Prestige G.L. ''Fathers and Heretics'' SPCK:1963, p. 29</ref><ref name=Kelly280>Kelly, J.N.D. ''Early Christian Doctrines'' A & C Black:1965, p.280</ref> Trinitarians, who form the large majority of [[Christian]]s, hold it as a core tenet of their faith.<ref name=mercer935>''Mercer Dictionary of the Bible'' edited by Watson E. Mills, Roger Aubrey Bullard 2001 ISBN 0865543739 page 935</ref><ref name=Kelly115>Kelly, J.N.D. ''Early Christian Doctrines'' A & C Black: 1965, p 115</ref> [[Nontrinitarianism|Nontrinitarian]] denominations define the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in a number of different ways.<ref name=Mac117>''Theology: The Basics'' by Alister E. McGrath (Sep 21, 2011) ISBN 0470656751 pages 117-120</ref>

The theology of the [[Attributes of God in Christianity|attributes and nature of God]] has been discussed since the earliest days of Christianity, with [[Irenaeus]] writing in the 2nd century: "His greatness lacks nothing, but contains all things".<ref name=Irena27>''Irenaeus of Lyons'' by Eric Francis Osborn (Nov 26, 2001) ISBN 0521800064 pages 27-29</ref> In the 8th century, [[John of Damascus]] listed eigh***** attributes which remain widely accepted.<ref name=Globe352>''Global Dictionary of Theology'' by William A. Dyrness, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Juan F. Martinez and Simon Chan (Oct 10, 2008) ISBN 0830824545 pages 352-353</ref> As time passed, theologians developed systematic lists of these attributes, some based on statements in the Bible (e.g., the [[Lord's Prayer]], stating that the [[God the Father|Father]] is in [[Heaven (Christianity)|Heaven]]), others based on theological reasoning.<ref name=SGuthrie>''Christian Doctrine'' by [[Shirley C. Guthrie]] (Jul 1, 1994) ISBN 0664253687 pages 111 and 100</ref><ref name=Hirschberger>Hirschberger, Johannes. ''Historia de la Filosofía I, Barcelona'': Herder 1977, p.403</ref>

===Islam===
{{Main|God in Islam}}
[[File:IslamSymbolAllahComp.PNG|thumb|right|The word [[Allah]] written in [[Arabic]].]]
In [[Islamic theology]], God ({{lang-ar|{{large|الله}}}} ''[[Allāh|{{transl|ar|ALA|Allāh}}]]'') is the [[Omnipotence|all-powerful]] and [[Omniscience|all-knowing]] creator, sustainer, ordainer and judge of everything in existence.<ref name="EoQ-Quran">Gerhard Böwering ''God and his Attributes'', [[Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān]] Quran.com, ''Islam: The Straight Path'', Oxford University Press, 1998, p.22</ref> Islam emphasizes that God is strictly singular (''[[tawhid|{{transl|ar|ALA|tawḥīd&#x202f;}}]]'')<ref>John L. Esposito, ''Islam: The Straight Path'', Oxford University Press, 1998, p.88</ref> unique (''{{transl|ar|ALA|wāḥid&#x202f;}}'') and inherently One (''{{transl|ar|ALA|aḥad&#x202f;}}''), all-merciful and omnipotent.<ref name="Britannica_A">"Allah." [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica</ref> According to Islamic teachings, God exists without place<ref name="Britannica p3">Britannica Encyclopedia, ''Islam'', p. 3</ref> and according to the [[Quran]], "No vision can grasp him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things."<ref>{{cite quran|6|103|style=ns}}</ref> God, as referenced in the Quran, is the only God.<ref>{{cite quran|29|46|style=ns}}</ref><ref name="Peters1">F.E. Peters, ''Islam'', p.4, Princeton University Press, 2003</ref> Islamic tradition also describes the [[Names of God in the Qur'an|99 names of God]]. These 99 names describe attributes of God, including Most Merciful, The Just, The Peace and Blessing, and the Guardian.

Islamic belief in God is distinct from Christianity in that God has no progeny. This belief is summed up in [[Sura|chapter]] 112 of the [[Qur'an]] titled [[Al-Ikhlas]], which states "Say, he is Allah (who is) one, Allah is the Eternal, the Absolute. He does not beget nor was he begotten. Nor is there to Him any equivalent".{{cite quran|112|1|4}}

==Religious scriptures==
All these religions rely on a body of scriptures, some of which are considered to be the word of God—hence sacred and unquestionable—and some the work of religious men, revered mainly by tradition and to the extent that they are considered to have been divinely inspired, if not dictated, by the divine being.

===Judaism===
{{Main|Masoretic Text|Septuagint|Targum|Tanakh|Bible}}
The sacred scriptures of Judaism are the [[Hebrew Bible|Tanakh]], a Hebrew acronym standing for ''[[Torah]]'' (Law or Teachings), ''[[Nevi'im]]'' (Prophets) and ''[[Ketuvim]]'' (Writings). These are complemented by and supplemented with various (originally oral) traditions: ''[[Midrash]]'', the ''[[Mishnah]]'', the ''[[Talmud]]'' and collected rabbinical writings. The Tanakh (or [[Hebrew Bible]]) was composed between 1,400 BCE, and 400 BCE by Jewish [[:Category:Jewish prophets|prophets]], kings, and [[Kohen|priests]].

The Hebrew text of the Tanakh, and the Torah in particular, is considered holy, down to the last letter: transcribing is done with painstaking care. An error in a single letter, ornamentation or symbol of the 300,000+ stylized letters that make up the Hebrew Torah text renders a Torah scroll unfit for use; hence the skills of a Torah scribe are specialist skills, and a scroll takes considerable time to write and check.

===Christianity===
{{Main|Bible|Books of the Bible|Old Testament|New Testament}}
[[File:Bible.malmesbury.arp.jpg|thumb|250px|A Bible handwritten in [[Latin]], on display in [[Malmesbury Abbey]], Wiltshire, England. This Bible was transcribed in Belgium in 1407 for reading aloud in a monastery.]]
The sacred scriptures of most Christian groups are the [[Old Testament]] and the [[New Testament]]. Latin Bibles originally contained 73 books; however, 7 books, collectively called the [[Apocrypha]] or [[Deuterocanon]] depending on one's opinion of them, were removed by [[Martin Luther]] due to a lack of original Hebrew sources, and now vary on their inclusion between denominations. Greek Bibles contain additional materials.

The New Testament comprises four accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus (the [[Four Gospels]], as well as several other writings (the [[Epistle#New Testament epistles|epistles]]) and the [[Book of Revelation]].. They are usually considered to be [[Biblical inspiration|divinely inspired]], and together comprise the [[Bible|Christian Bible]].

The vast majority of Christian faiths (including Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and most forms of Protestantism) recognize that the Gospels were passed on by oral tradition, and were not set to paper until decades after the death of Jesus, and that the extant versions are copies of those originals.  The version of the Bible considered to be most valid (in the sense of best conveying the true meaning of the word of God) has varied considerably: the Greek [[Septuagint]], the [[Syriac language|Syriac]] [[Peshitta]], the [[Latin]] [[Vulgate]], the English [[King James Version of the Bible|King James Version]] and the Russian Synodal Bible have been authoritative to different communities at different times.

The sacred scriptures of the Christian Bible are complemented by a large body of writings by individual Christians and councils of Christian leaders (see [[canon law]]). Some Christian churches and denominations consider certain additional writings to be binding; other Christian groups consider only the Bible to be binding ([[sola scriptura]]).

===Islam===
{{Main|Muhammad|Qur'an|Hadith|Sunnah|Origin and development of the Qur'an}}
[[File:Quran rzabasi1.JPG|thumb|9th-century Quran in [[Reza Abbasi Museum]]]]
Islam's holiest book is the [[Qur'an]], comprising 114 [[Sura]]s ("chapters of the Qur'an"). However, Muslims also believe in the religious texts of Judaism and Christianity in their original forms, albeit not the current versions (which they [[tahrif|believe to be corrupted]]). According to the Qur'an (and mainstream Muslim belief), the verses of the Qur'an were revealed by God through the Archangel [[Jibrail]] to Muhammad on separate occasions. These revelations were written down and also memorized by hundreds of companions of Muhammad. These multiple sources were collected into one official copy. After the death of Mohammed, Quran was copied on several copies and Caliph [[Uthman]] provided these copies to different cities of Islamic Empire.

The Qur'an mentions and reveres several of the Israelite prophets, including Moses and [[Jesus#Islamic views|Jesus]], among others (see also: [[Prophets of Islam]]). The stories of these prophets are very similar to those in the Bible. However, the detailed precepts of the Tanakh and the [[New Testament]] are not adopted outright; they are replaced by the new commandments accepted as revealed directly by God (through Gabriel) to Muhammad and codified in the Qur'an.

Like the Jews with the Torah, Muslims consider the original [[Arabic language|Arabic]] text of the Qur'an as uncorrupted and holy to the last letter, and any translations are considered to be interpretations of the meaning of the Qur'an, as only the original Arabic text is considered to be the divine scripture.<ref>{{Cite book| author = [[Mona Baker|Baker, Mona]] |author2= Saldanha, Gabriela | title = Routledge encyclopedia of translation studies | publisher = Routledge | year = 2008 | page = 227 | url = https://books.google.com/?id=eXsDckV5GuMC&lpg=PA227&pg=PA227#v=onepage&q | isbn = 978-0-415-36930-5}}</ref>

Like the Rabbinic [[Oral Law]] to the Hebrew Bible, the Qur'an is complemented by the ''[[Hadith]]'', a set of books by later authors recording the sayings of the prophet Muhammad. The Hadith interpret and elaborate Qur'anic precepts. Islamic scholars have categorized each Hadith at one of the following levels of authenticity or [[isnad]]: genuine (''sahih''), fair (''hasan'') or weak (''da'if'').<ref>{{Cite book| last = ʻUthmān ibn ʻAbd al-Raḥmān Ibn al-Ṣalāḥ al-Shahrazūrī |author2= Eerik Dickinson | title = An Introduction to the Science of Hadith: Kitab Ma'rifat Anwa' 'ilm Al-hadith | publisher = Garnet & Ithaca Press | year = 2006 | page = 5 | url = https://books.google.com/?id=Yq-aprUAyuUC&lpg=PA15&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q | isbn = 978-1-85964-158-3 }}</ref>

By the 9th century, [[six major Hadith collections]] were accepted as reliable to Sunni Muslims.
* [[Sahih al-Bukhari]]
* [[Sahih Muslim]]
* [[Sunan ibn Majah]]
* [[Sunan Abu Dawud]]
* [[Jami al-Tirmidhi]]
* [[Sunan an-Nasa'ii]]

Shia Muslims, however, refer to other authenticated hadiths instead.<ref>{{Cite book| last = Momen | first = Moojan | title = An introduction to Shiʻi Islam: the history and doctrines of Twelver Shiʻism| publisher = Yale University Press | year = 1985 | pages = 173–4 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=zot5IK1csp0C&dq| isbn = 978-0-300-03531-5}}</ref> They are known collectively as [[The Four Books]].

The Hadith and the life story of Muhammad ([[Sirah Rasul Allah|sira]]) form the [[Sunnah]], an authoritative supplement to the Qur'an. The legal opinions of Islamic jurists ([[Faqīh]]) provide another source for the daily practice and interpretation of Islamic tradition (see [[Fiqh]].)

The [[Qur'an]] contains repeated references to the "religion of Abraham" (see Suras 2:130,135; 3:95; 6:123,161; 12:38; 16:123; 22:78). In the Qur'an, this expression refers specifically to Islam; sometimes in contrast to Christianity and Judaism, as in Sura 2:135, for example: 'They say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to salvation)." Say thou (O Muslims): "Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with God." ' In the Qur'an, Abraham is declared to have been a Muslim (a ''[[hanif]]'', more accurately a "[[fitra|primordial monotheist]]"), not a Jew nor a Christian (Sura 3:67).

==End times and afterlife==
{{Main|Eschatology}}
In the major Abrahamic religions, there exists the expectation of an individual who will herald the [[Eschatology|time of the end]] or bring about the [[Kingdom of God]] on Earth; in other words, the [[Messianic prophecy]]. Judaism awaits the coming of the [[Jewish Messiah]]; the Jewish concept of Messiah differs from the Christian concept in several significant ways, despite the same term being applied to both. The Jewish Messiah is not seen as a "god", but as a mortal man who by his holiness is worthy of that description. His appearance is not the end of history, rather it signals the coming of the [[Jewish eschatology#Olam Haba|world to come]].

Christianity awaits the [[Second Coming]] of Christ, though [[Full Preterism|Full Preterists]] believe this has already happened. Islam awaits both the second coming of Jesus (to complete his life and die) and the coming of [[Mahdi]] ([[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] in his first incarnation, [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'a]] as the return of [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]]).

Most Abrahamic religions agree that a human being comprises the body, which dies, and the [[soul]], which is [[Immortality of the Soul|capable of remaining alive beyond human death]] and carries the person's essence, and that God will judge each person's life accordingly after death. The importance of this and the focus on it, as well as the precise criteria and end result, differ between religions.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

===Judaism===
{{Main|Olam Haba}}
Judaism's views on the afterlife ("the Next World") are quite diverse. This can be attributed to the fact that although there clearly are traditions in the [[Hebrew Bible]] of an afterlife (see [[Naboth]] and the [[Witch of Endor]]), Judaism focuses on this life and how to lead a holy life to please God, rather than future reward.

===Christianity===
{{Main|Christian eschatology|World to Come#Christianity}}
Christians have more diverse and definite teachings on the [[end times]] and what constitutes [[afterlife]]. Most Christian approaches either include different abodes for the dead ([[Heaven (Christianity)|Heaven]], [[Hell]], [[Limbo]], [[Purgatory]]) or [[universal reconciliation]] in which all souls are made in the [[image of God]]. A small minority teach [[annihilationism]], the doctrine that those persons who are not reconciled to God simply cease to exist.

===Islam===
{{Main|Islamic eschatology}}
In Islam, God is said to be "Most Compassionate and Most Merciful" (Qur'an 1:1, as well as the start of all suras but one). However, God is also "Most Just"; Islam prescribes a literal [[Hell#Islam|Hell]] for those who disobey God and commit gross sin. Those who obey God and submit to God will be rewarded with their own place in Paradise. While sinners are punished with fire, there are also many other forms of punishment described, depending on the sin committed; Hell is divided into numerous levels.

Those who worship and remember God are promised eternal abode in a physical and spiritual Paradise. Heaven is divided into seven [[Jannah|levels]], with the highest level of Paradise being the reward of those who have been most virtuous, the prophets, and those killed while fighting for Allah (martyrs).

Upon repentance to God, many sins can be forgiven, on the condition they are not repeated, as God is supremely merciful. Additionally, those who believe in God, but have led sinful lives, may be punished for a time, and then eventually released into Paradise. If anyone dies in a state of [[Shirk (polytheism)|Shirk]] (i.e. associating God in any way, such as claiming that He is equal with anything or denying Him), this is not pardonable — he or she will stay forever in Hell.

Once a person is admitted to Paradise, this person will abide there for eternity.<ref>{{Cite book|last=al-Misri|first=Ahmad ibn Naqib|title=Reliance of the Traveler (edited and translated by [[Nuh Ha Mim Keller]])|publisher=Amana Publications|year=1994|pages=995–1002|isbn=0-915957-72-8}}</ref>

==Worship and religious rites==
Worship, ceremonies and religion-related customs differ substantially among the Abrahamic religions. Among the few similarities are a seven-day cycle in which one day is nominally reserved for worship, prayer or other religious activities—''[[Shabbat]]'', [[Christian Sabbath|Sabbath]], or ''[[jumu'ah]]''; this custom is related to the biblical story of Genesis, where God created the universe in six days, and rested in the seventh.

===Judaism===
[[Orthodox Judaism]] practice is guided by the interpretation of the [[Torah]] and the [[Talmud]]. Before the destruction of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], Jewish priests offered [[korban|sacrifices]] there two times daily; since then, the practice has been replaced, until the Temple is rebuilt, by Jewish men being required to pray three times daily, including the [[Cantillation|chanting]] of the [[Torah]], and facing in the direction of [[Jerusalem]]'s [[Temple Mount]]. Other practices include [[Brit milah|circumcision]], [[Kashrut|dietary laws]], [[Shabbat]], [[Passover Seder|Passover]], [[Torah study]], [[Tefillin]], [[Niddah|purity]] and [[613 Mitzvot|others]]. [[Conservative Judaism]], [[Reform Judaism]] and the [[Reconstructionist Judaism|Reconstructionist]] movement all move away, in different degrees, from the strict tradition of the law.

Jewish women's prayer obligations vary by [[Jewish religious movements|denomination]]; in contemporary orthodox practice, women do not read from the [[Torah]] and are only required to say certain parts of these daily services.

All versions of Judaism share a common, specialized calendar, containing many festivals. The calendar is lunisolar, with lunar months and a solar year (an extra month is added every second or third year to allow the shorter lunar year to "catch up" to the solar year). All streams observe the same festivals, but some emphasize them differently. As is usual with its extensive law system, the Orthodox have the most complex manner of observing the festivals, while the Reform pay more attention to the simple symbolism of each one.

===Christianity===
{{Main|Christian worship}}
Christian worship varies from [[Christian denominations|denomination to denomination]]. Individual [[Prayer in Christianity|prayer]] is usually not ritualised, while group prayer may be ritual or non-ritual according to the occasion. During church services some form of [[liturgy]] is frequently followed. Rituals are performed during [[sacraments]], which also vary from denomination to denomination and usually include [[Baptism]] and [[Eucharist|Communion]], and may also include [[Confirmation]], [[Confession (religion)|Confession]], [[Last Rites]] and [[Holy Orders]].

Catholic worship practice is governed by the [[Roman Missal]] and other documents. Individuals, churches and denominations place different emphasis on ritual—some denominations consider most ritual activity optional, see [[Adiaphora]], particularly since the [[Protestant Reformation]].

===Islam===
The followers of Islam (Muslims) are to observe the [[Five Pillars of Islam]]. The first pillar is the belief in the oneness of Allah, and in Muhammad as his final and most perfect prophet. The second is to pray five times daily ([[salat]]) towards the direction ([[qibla]]) of the [[Kaaba]] in [[Mecca]]. The third pillar is alms giving ([[Zakah]]), a portion of one's wealth given to the poor or to other specified causes, which means the giving of a specific share of one's wealth and savings to persons or causes, as is commanded in the Qur'an and elucidated as to specific percentages for different kinds of income and wealth in the [[hadith]]. The normal share to be paid is two and a half percent of one's earnings: this increases if labour was not required, and increases further if only capital or possessions alone were required (i.e. proceeds from renting space), and increases to 50% on "unearned wealth" such as treasure-finding, and to 100% on wealth that is considered [[haram]], as part of attempting to make atonement for the sin, such as that gained through financial interest ([[riba]]).

[[Fasting]] ([[sawm]]) during the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, [[Ramadan]], is the fourth pillar of Islam, to which all Muslims after the age of puberty in good health (as judged by a Muslim doctor to be able fast without incurring grave danger to health: even in seemingly obvious situations, a "competent and upright Muslim physician" is required to agree), that are not menstruating are bound to observe—missed days of the fast for any reason must be made up, unless there be a permanent illness, such as diabetes, that prevents a person from ever fasting. In such a case, restitution must be made by feeding one poor person for each day missed.

Finally, Muslims are also required, if physically able, to undertake a [[Hajj|pilgrimage]] to [[Mecca]] at least once in one's life: it is strongly recommended to do it as often as possible, preferably once a year. Only individuals whose financial position and health are severely insufficient are exempt from making Hajj (e.g. if making Hajj would put stress on one's financial situation, but would not end up in homelessness or starvation, it is still required). During this pilgrimage, the Muslims spend three to seven days in worship, performing several strictly defined rituals, most notably circumambulating the [[Kaaba]] among millions of other Muslims and the "[[Stoning of the Devil|stoning of the devil]]" at [[Mina, Saudi Arabia|Mina]].

At the end of the [[Hajj]], the heads of men are shaved, sheep and other [[halal]] animals, notably [[camel]]s, are slaughtered as a ritual sacrifice by bleeding out at the neck according to a strictly prescribed ritual slaughter method similar to the Jewish [[kashrut]], to commemorate the moment when, according to Islamic tradition, Allah replaced Abraham's son [[Ishmael]] (contrasted with the [[Judaeo-Christian]] tradition that [[Isaac]] was the intended sacrifice) with a sheep, thereby preventing human sacrifice. The meat from these animals is then distributed locally to needy Muslims, neighbours and relatives. Finally, the hajji puts of ''[[ihram]]'' and the hajj is complete.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

===Circumcision===
{{See also|Circumcision in the Bible|Brit Milah|Khatna|Circumcision controversy in early Christianity|History of male circumcision}}
Judaism practices [[brit milah|circumcision]] for males as a matter of religious obligation at the age of 8 days old, as does [[Khitan (Circumcision)|Islam]] as part of [[Sunnah]]

[[Western Christianity]] replaced that custom with a [[baptism]]<ref>[https://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=222&letter=B&search=Baptism Jewish Encyclopedia: Baptism]: "According to rabbinical teachings, which dominated even during the existence of the Temple (Pes. viii. 8), Baptism, next to circumcision and sacrifice, was an absolutely necessary condition to be fulfilled by a [[proselyte]] to Judaism (Yeb. 46b, 47b; Ker. 9a; 'Ab. Zarah 57a; Shab. 135a; Yer. Kid. iii. 14, 64d). Circumcision, however, was much more important, and, like baptism, was called a "seal" (Schlatter, "Die Kirche Jerusalems", 1898, p. 70). But as circumcision was discarded by Christianity, and the sacrifices had ceased, Baptism remained the sole condition for initiation into religious life. The next ceremony, adopted shortly after the others, was the [[Laying on of hands|imposition of hands]], which, it is known, was the usage of the Jews at the ordination of a rabbi. [[Anointing]] with oil, which at first also accompanied the act of Baptism, and was analogous to the anointment of priests among the Jews, was not a necessary condition".</ref> ceremony varying according to the denomination, but generally including [[Baptism by immersion|immersion]], [[aspersion]], or [[anointment]] with water. The [[Early Church]] (Acts 15, the [[Council of Jerusalem]]) decided that circumcision is not required for [[Gentile Christians]]. The [[Council of Florence]] in the 15th century<ref>[https://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/councilflorence/ "Ecumenical Council of Florence (1438–1445)"]. The Circumcision Reference Library. Retrieved 10 July 2007.</ref> prohibited it. Paragraph #2297 of the Catholic Catechism calls non-medical amputation or mutilation immoral.<ref>[https://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/fifth.html#PERSONS Catechism of the Catholic Church: Article 5—The Fifth commandment]. Christus Rex et Redemptor Mundi. Retrieved 10 July 2007.</ref><ref>Dietzen, John. [https://www.cirp.org/library/cultural/dietzen1/ "The Morality of Circumcision"], The Circumcision Reference Library. Retrieved 10 July 2007.</ref>  By the 21st Century, the Catholic Church had adopted a neutral position on the practice, as long as it is not practiced as an initiation ritual.  Catholic scholars make various arguments in support of the idea that this policy is not in contradiction with the previous edicts.<ref>https://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu340.htm</ref><ref>https://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/should-catholics-circumcise-their-sons</ref><ref>https://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/the-catechism-forbids-deliberate-mutilation-so-why-is-non-the*****utic-circumcision-al</ref>

Many countries with majorities of Christian adherents have low circumcision rates (with the notable exceptions of the [[United States]],<ref>Ray, Mary G. [https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:8IQnea2UK-UJ:https://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/majority.htm&prmd=ivns&strip=1 "82% of the World's Men are Intact"], Mothers Against Circumcision, 1997.</ref> and the [[Philippines]], [[South Korea]], [[Nigeria]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Equatorial Guinea]] and [[Kenya]], and many African Christian countries).<ref name="williams">{{cite journal |title=The potential impact of male circumcision on HIV in sub-Saharan Africa |author=Williams, B G |journal=PLos Med |year=2006 |volume=3 |issue=7 |pages=e262 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0030262 |pmid=16822094 |pmc=1489185|display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Questions and answers: NIAID-sponsored adult male circumcision trials in Kenya and Uganda |publisher=National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |date=December 2006 |url=https://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/QA/AMC12_QA.htm}}</ref> [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Christianity]] and [[Ethiopian Orthodoxy]] still observe male circumcision and practice circumcision as a [[rite of passage]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Van Doorn-Harder|first1=Nelly|title=Christianity: Coptic Christianity|journal=Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices|date=2006|volume=1|url=https://www.omnilogos.com/2014/11/christianity-coptic-christianity.html}}</ref><ref name=Columbia_encyc_2011_circ>{{cite encyclopedia |year=2011 |title=Circumcision |encyclopedia=Columbia Encyclopedia |publisher=Columbia University Press |url=https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/circumcision.html }}</ref> Male circumcision is also widely practiced among [[Christians]] from [[Egypt]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]], [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], [[Israel]], and [[North Africa]].  ''See also [[Aposthia]].''

Male circumcision is among the rites of Islam and is part of the ''fitrah'', or the innate disposition and natural character and instinct of the human creation.<ref>https://www.missionislam.com/health/circumcisionislam.html</ref>

===Food restrictions===
{{Main|kashrut|halal|ital}}
{{See also|Apostolic Decree}}
Judaism and Islam have strict [[dietary laws]], with permitted food known as [[kosher]] in Judaism, and [[halal]] in Islam. These two religions prohibit the consumption of pork; Islam prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages of any kind. Halal restrictions can be seen as a modification of the [[kashrut]] dietary laws, so many kosher foods are considered halal; especially in the case of meat, which Islam prescribes must be slaughtered in the name of God.  Hence, in many places Muslims used to consume kosher food.  However, some foods not considered kosher are considered halal in Islam.<ref>[https://www.soundvision.com/info/halalhealthy/halal.kosher.asp "Halal & Healthy: Is Kosher Halal"], SoundVision.com—Islamic information & products. 5 August 2009.</ref>

With rare exceptions, Christians do not consider the Old Testament's strict food laws as relevant for today's church; see also [[Biblical law in Christianity]]. Most Protestants have no set food laws, but there are minority exceptions.<ref>Schuchmann, Jennifer. [https://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/todaysculture/healthhealing/3.40.html?start=1 "Does God Care What We Eat?"], ''Today's Christian'', January/February 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2009.</ref>

The Roman Catholic Church believes in observing abstinence and penance. For example, all Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days.<ref>Canon 1250, 1983. The 1983 Code of Canon Law specifies the obligations of Latin Rite Catholic.</ref> The law of abstinence requires a Catholic from 14 years of age until death to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. The [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]] obtained the permission of the Holy See for Catholics in the U.S. to substitute a penitential, or even a charitable, practice of their own choosing.<ref>[https://www.catholic.org/clife/lent/abfast.php "Fasting and Abstinence"], Catholic Online. 6 August 2009.</ref> [[Eastern Rite Catholics]] have their own penitential practices as specified by the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches.

The [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] (SDA) embraces numerous Old Testament rules and regulations such as tithing, Sabbath observance, and Jewish Food laws. Therefore, they do not eat pork, shellfish, or other foods considered unclean under the [[Old Covenant]]. The "Fundamental Beliefs" of the SDA state that their members "are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures."{{Bibleref2c|Leviticus|11:1–47}} <sup>among others</sup><ref>[https://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html "Fundamental Beliefs"], #22. Christian Behavior. Seventh-Day Adventist Church website. 6 August 2009.</ref>

In the [[Christian Bible]], the consumption of strangled animals and of [[Taboo food and drink#Blood|blood]] was forbidden by [[Apostolic Decree]]{{Bibleref2c|Acts|15:19–21}} and are still forbidden in the [[Greek Orthodox]] Church, according to German theologian [[Karl Josef von Hefele]], who, in his Commentary on Canon II of the Second Ecumenical Council held in the 4th century at Gangra, notes: "We further see that, at the time of the Synod of [[Gangra]], the rule of the Apostolic Synod [the [[Council of Jerusalem]] of Acts 15] with regard to blood and things strangled was still in force. With the [[Greek Orthodox|Greeks]], indeed, it continued always in force as their Euchologies still show." He also writes that "as late as the eighth century, [[Pope Gregory III|Pope Gregory the Third]], in 731, forbade the eating of blood or things strangled under threat of a penance of forty days."<ref>Schaff, Philip. "Canon II of The Council of Gangra."

''The Seven Ecumenical Councils.'' 6 August 2009. [https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.viii.v.iv.ii.html Commentary on Canon II of Gangra].</ref>

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] abstain from eating blood and from [[blood transfusions]] based on {{bibleref2|Acts|15:19–21}}.

===Sabbath observance===
{{See also|Biblical Sabbath|Shabbat|Christian Sabbath|jumu'ah}}
Sabbath in the Bible is a weekly day of [[leisure|rest]] and time of [[worship]]. It is observed differently in Judaism and Christianity and informs a similar occasion in several other Abrahamic faiths. Though many viewpoints and definitions have arisen over the millennia, most originate in the same textual tradition. Though not a day of rest (creation does not make God tired and therefore He did not rest on the 7th day in Muslim belief), Islam holds Friday as a day of special prayer.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

==Proselytism==

===Judaism===
Judaism accepts converts, but has had no explicit [[missionary|missionaries]] since the end of the [[Second Temple Judaism|Second Temple era]]. Judaism states that non-Jews can achieve righteousness by following [[Noahide Laws]], a set of moral imperatives that, according to the [[Talmud]], were given by God<ref>According to Encyclopedia Talmudit (Hebrew edition, Israel, 5741/1981, Entry ''Ben Noah'', page 349), most [[Rishonim|medieval authorities]] consider that all seven commandments were given to [[Adam]], although [[Maimonides]] ([[Mishneh Torah]], Hilkhot M'lakhim 9:1) considers the dietary law to have been given to Noah.</ref> as a binding set of laws for the "*****ren of [[Noah]]" – that is, all of humanity.<ref>Encyclopedia Talmudit (Hebrew edition, Israel, 5741/1981, entry ''Ben Noah'', introduction) states that after the giving of the [[Torah]], the Jewish people were no longer in the category of the sons of Noah; however, Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot M'lakhim 9:1) indicates that the seven laws are also part of the Torah, and the Talmud (Bavli, [[Sanhedrin]] 59a, see also Tosafot ad. loc.) states that Jews are obligated in all things that Gentiles are obligated in, albeit with some differences in the details.</ref><ref>Compare {{bibleverse||Genesis|9:4–6|HE}}.</ref>

The [[Rambam]] (Rabbi [[Moses Maimonides]], one of the major Jewish teachers) commented: "Quoting from our sages, the righteous people from other nations have a place in the world to come, if they have acquired what they should learn about the Creator". Because the commandments applicable to the Jews are much more detailed and onerous than [[Noahide]] laws, Jewish scholars have traditionally maintained that it is better to be a good non-Jew than a bad Jew, thus discouraging conversion. In the U.S., as of 2003 28% of married Jews were married to non-Jews.<ref>Kornbluth, Doron. ''Why marry Jewish?''. Southfield, MI: Targum Press, 2003. ISBN 978-1-56871-250-5</ref> ''See also [[Conversion to Judaism]].''

[[File:Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg|thumb|''The [[Sermon on the Mount]]'' by [[Carl Heinrich Bloch]].]]

===Christianity===
Christianity encourages [[evangelism]]. Many Christian organizations, especially Protestant churches, send [[missionary|missionaries]] to non-Christian communities throughout the world. ''See also [[Great Commission]]''. [[Forced conversion]]s to Catholicism have been alleged at various points throughout history. The most prominently cited allegations are the [[Constantine I turn against Paganism|conversions of the pagans after Constantine]]; of Muslims, Jews and Eastern Orthodox during the [[Crusades]]; of Jews and Muslims during the time of the [[Spanish Inquisition]], where they were offered the choice of exile, conversion or death; and of the Aztecs by [[Hernán Cortés]]. Forced conversions to Protestantism may have occurred as well, notably during the [[Reformation]], especially in England and Ireland (see [[recusancy]] and [[Popish plot]]).

Forced conversions are condemned as sinful by major denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, which officially states that forced conversions pollute the Christian religion and offend human dignity, so that past or present offenses are regarded as a scandal (a cause of unbelief). According to [[Pope Paul VI]], "It is one of the major tenets of Catholic doctrine that man's response to God in faith must be free: no one therefore is to be forced to embrace the Christian faith against his own will."<ref>Pope Paul VI. [https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651207_dignitatis-humanae_en.html "Declaration on Religious Freedom"], 7 December 1965.</ref> The Roman Catholic Church in 2015 declared that Catholics should not try to convert Jews, but should fight [[Antisemitism|anti-Semitism]].<ref name=Pullella-2015-12-10>{{cite news|last1=Pullella|first1=Philip|title=Vatican says Catholics should not try to convert Jews, should fight anti-semitism|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-jews-idUSKBN0TT1BK20151210|accessdate=13 January 2016|publisher=Reuters|date=10 December 2015}}</ref>

===Islam===
[[Dawah]] is an important Islamic concept which denotes the preaching of Islam. Da‘wah literally means "issuing a summons" or "making an invitation". A Muslim who practices da‘wah, either as a religious worker or in a volunteer community effort, is called a dā‘ī, plural du‘āt. A dā‘ī is thus a person who invites people to understand Islam through a dialogical process, and may be categorized in some cases as the Islamic equivalent of a missionary, as one who invites people to the faith, to the prayer, or to Islamic life.

Da'wah activities can take many forms. Some pursue Islamic studies specifically to perform Da'wah. [[Mosques]] and other Islamic centers sometimes spread Da'wah actively, similar to evangelical churches. Others consider being open to the public and answering questions to be Da'wah. Recalling Muslims to the faith and expanding their knowledge can also be considered Da'wah.

In [[Islamic theology]], the purpose of Da‘wah is to invite people, both Muslims and non-Muslims, to understand the commandments of God as expressed in the Qur'an and the [[Sunnah]] of the Prophet, as well as to inform them about Muhammad. Da‘wah produces converts to Islam, which in turn grows the size of the Muslim [[Ummah]], or community of Muslims.

==Violent conflicts==
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===Between Abrahamic religions===
* Christians were killed by Jews during the Bar Kochba revolt.<ref name="livius">{{cite web|url=https://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/bk03.html#Justin|title=Texts on Bar Kochba: Eusebius|author=Eusebius|publisher=livius.org|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=Eusebius is the only source cited, but even the Wikipedia page dedicated to Eusebius has a section devoted to the questionable accuracy of his accounts.|date=August 2015}}
* The Yemeni Jewish Himyar tribe, led by King [[Dhu Nuwas]], massacred 20,000 Christians in 524.<ref name="thejc">{{cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/historians-back-bbc-over-jewish-massacre-claim|title=Historians back BBC over Jewish massacre claim &#124; The Jewish Chronicle|publisher=thejc.com|accessdate=14 September 2014}}</ref>
* The [[Sasanian conquest and occupation of Jerusalem]] involved the massacre of Christians by Jews.
* The [[Byzantine–Arab Wars|wars]] between the emerging Islamic [[Caliphates]] and the Christian [[Byzantine]] or [[Eastern Roman Empire]] between the 7th and the 11th centuries CE were a series of military, political and religious conflicts which led to the islamization of large territories in the [[Near East]] such as Egypt and Syria.
* The [[Crusades]] (end of 11th – end of 13th century CE) were a series of military expeditions from Western Europe to the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean: a rather unsuccessful attempt by Western (Catholic) Christians to conquer what was perceived by all Christians as the [[Holy Land]] from its Muslim inhabitants. In passing, Crusades were also marked with conflicts between Western and Eastern ([[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]], [[Syro-Jacobite]] and [[Armenians|Armenian]]) Christians and unilateral damage inflicted by Western Christians to Jews.
* The [[Umayyad conquest of Hispania|conquest]] and the following [[Reconquista]] of Spain, and founding of Portugal (beginning of 8th – end of 15th century CE) were a series of wars between Muslims and Christians in the [[Iberian peninsula]] resulting in the founding of several Muslim and Christian Medieval states and the final victory of the Catholic [[Crown of Castile]] and [[Aragon]] against the Muslim Emirate of [[Granada]].
* The [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] conquest of the [[Balkan peninsula]] (mid-14th – end of 15th century CE) followed by a series of wars between the Islamic [[Ottoman Empire]] and various Christian powers and alliances (end of 14th – beginning of 20th century CE) was an important political, military and cultural process for South-Eastern Europe resulting in the fall of the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine) Empire and its successor states and finally leading to the emerging of several modern nations in that region.
* The [[Spanish inquisition]] was an attempt by the Christian Catholic church in Spain in the wake of the centuries long [[Reconquista]] to suppress or expel Jews and Muslims and to prosecute Christian heretics. Openly Jewish and Muslim people were expelled rather than killed, but many submitted to [[forced conversion]] to Catholicism to avoid expulsion. The [[Inquisitors]] often did not trust the converts, and persecuted them cruelly for being secret adherents of their original religions, which was often [[crypto-Jews|true]] but sometimes fabricated. Jewish forced converts were known as "[[anusim]]," or sometimes by the pejorative "[[morrano]] (pig)."{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}
* At various points in history [[pogroms]] against Jews were common in Christian Europe, and in many Islamic areas. See [[blood libel]].
* [[Persecution of Bahá'ís]] and [[Political accusations against the Bahá'í Faith]] review the substantive efforts in parts of the world against the Bahá'ís and their religion.

===Between branches of the same Abrahamic religion===
* The [[Fourth Crusade]] and subsequent wars between Catholic Europeans and the Orthodox Byzantine Greeks following the [[East–West Schism|Great Schism]].
* The Christian [[Reformation]] of the 16th century CE was an attempt towards a religious reform in the Western (Catholic) Christian Church which resulted in a series of [[Religious Wars]] between Catholic and emerging Reformist/Protestant Christian forces during the 16th and 17th centuries CE throughout Western Europe.
* The [[Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)]] was due to religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant Christians, and economic causes.
* There have been many violent conflicts between the [[Sunni]] and [[Shi'a]] branches of Islam; see [[Shi'a–Sunni relations]].
* [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present|After]] the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] by a [[Coalition of the Willing|western coalition]] there was armed conflict between branches of Islam, with fighting and bombings, even of mosques.

===Between Abrahamic religions and non-adherents===
* Religious hostility fueled the [[Jewish–Roman wars]].
* Many Roman emperors persecuted Christians. For example, see [[Diocletianic Persecution]].
* In the initial expansion of both Christianity and Islam, a number of pagan communities were converted by force.
* The Catholic [[Inquisition]], mentioned above, also targeted non-believers{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} in the orthodox doctrines of Roman Catholicism and many lost their livelihoods or their lives.{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}
* Christian evangelism was a partial motivation for the [[colonization of the Americas]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}
* Communist dictatorships practiced a [[Religion in the Soviet Union#Policy toward religions in practice|policy of religious oppression]] in favour of personality cults revering the leader or the state.

==Other Abrahamic religions==
Historically, the Abrahamic religions have been considered to be Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Some of this is due to the age and larger size of these three. The other, similar religions were seen as either too new to judge as being truly in the same class, or too small to be of significance to the category.

However, some of the restriction of Abrahamic to these three is due only to tradition in historical classification. Therefore, restricting the category to these three religions has come under criticism.<ref name="trialogue">*{{cite web| last = Micksch | first = Jürgen | title = Trialog International – Die jährliche Konferenz | publisher = Herbert Quandt Stiftung | year = 2009 | url =https://www.herbert-quandt-stiftung.de/root/index.php?lang=de&page_id=885 | accessdate =19 September 2009}}
* {{Cite journal| last = Collins | first = William P., reviewer | title = Review of: The *****ren of Abraham : Judaism, Christianity, Islam / F. E. Peters. New ed. Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, 2004 | journal = Library Journal | volume = 129 | issue = 14 | pages = 157, 160 | location = New York | date = 1 September 2004| isbn = 978-0-691-12769-9 | url =https://books.google.com/?id=Zu6EAAAACAAJ | issn = | accessdate =18 July 2010}}</ref> The religions listed below here claim Abrahamic classification, either by the religions themselves, or by scholars who study them.

===Bahá'í Faith===
{{Main|Bahá'í Faith}}
[[File:Bahai star.svg|thumb|110px|Nine-point star of [[Bahá'í Faith]]|link=Bahá'í symbols#Nine-pointed star]]
Recently the Bahá'í Faith, which dates only to the late 19th century, has sometimes been listed as Abrahamic by scholarly sources in various fields.<ref name="Lubar" /><ref name="human rights">{{cite conference |author=Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies |title=Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related forms of Intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durhan Declaration and Programme of Action |booktitle=Human Rights Council; Ninth session; Agenda item 9 |publisher=United Nations |date=29 August 2008 |url=https://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1227_1225896113_egypt.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=19 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="Lawson">{{cite journal |last=Lawson |first=Todd |editor-last=Cusack |editor-first=Carole M. |editor2-last=Hartney |editor2-first=Christopher |title=Baha'i Religious History |journal=Journal of Religious History |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=463–470 |date=December 13, 2012 |url=https://bahai-library.com/lawson_bahai_religious_history |jstor= |issn=1467-9809 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-9809.2012.01224.x |accessdate=September 5, 2013 }}</ref>

Though smaller and *****er than the well-known Abrahamic religions, the Bahá'í Faith is significant because of its activities, distribution and numbers. The religion is almost entirely contained in a single, organized, hierarchical community, and is also recognized as the second-most geographically widespread religion after Christianity.<ref name="britannica_stats_b">{{Cite book |chapter=Worldwide Adherents of All Religions by Six Continental Areas, Mid-2002 |title=Encyclopædia Britannica |author=Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |year=2002 |isbn=0-85229-555-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first=Denis |last=MacEoin |chapter=Baha'i Faith |editor=Hinnells, John R. |title=The New Penguin Handbook of Living Religions: Second Edition |publisher=[[Penguin books|Penguin]] |year=2000 |isbn=0-14-051480-5}}</ref> The [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] estimated some 7.3 million Bahá'ís in 2005<ref name="WCE-05">{{cite web |title=World Religions (2005) |work=QuickLists – The World – Religions |publisher=The Association of Religion Data Archives |year=2005 |url=https://www.thearda.com/QuickLists/QuickList_125.asp |accessdate=4 July 2009}}</ref> and the only religion to consistently surpass population growth in each major region of the planet over the last century, often growing at twice the rate of the population.<ref>{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Todd M. |author2=Brian J. Grim |title=The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography |chapter=Global Religious Populations, 1910–2010 |chapterurl=https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118555767.ch1 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |date=26 March 2013 |pages=59–62 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CkFVF8nFiqkC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q&f=false |doi=10.1002/9781118555767.ch1 |isbn=9781118555767}}</ref>

[[Bahá'u'lláh]], the founder, affirms the highest religious station for Abraham and generally for prophets mentioned among the other Abrahamic religions,<ref name="Dann J. May">{{Cite journal |last=May |first=Dann J |title=The Bahá'í Principle of Religious Unity and the Challenge of Radical Pluralism |date=December 1993 |page=102 |publisher=University of North Texas, Denton, Texas |oclc=31313812 |url=https://bahai-library.com/may_principle_religious_unity |accessdate=2 January 2010}}</ref> and has claimed a lineage of descent from Abraham through [[Keturah]] and [[Sarah]].<ref name="christianity-guide">{{cite web |title=Abrahamic Religion |work=Christianity: Details about... |publisher=Christianity Guide |accessdate=19 September 2009 |url=https://www.christianity-guide.com/christianity/abrahamic_religion.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hatcher |first=W.S. |last2=Martin |first2=J.D. |year=1998 |title=The Bahá'í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion |publisher=Bahá'í Publishing Trust |location=Wilmette, IL |isbn=0-87743-264-3}}</ref><ref name="crimson">{{Cite news |last=Flow |first=Christian B. |last2=Nolan |first2=Rachel B. |title=Go Forth From Your Country |newspaper=[[The Harvard Crimson]] |date=16 November 2006 |url=https://www.abrahampath.org/downloads/harvard_crimson.2006.11.16.pdf |format=PDF |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.abrahampath.org/downloads/harvard_crimson.2006.11.16.pdf |archivedate=16 November 2006 |deadurl=yes |accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref> Additionally Bahá'u'lláh actually did lose a son, [[Mírzá Mihdí]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ma'ani |first=Baharieh Rouhani |year=2008 |title=Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees |publisher=George Ronald |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=0-85398-533-2 |url= |page=150}}</ref> Bahá'u'lláh, then in prison, eulogized his son and connected the subsequent easing of restrictions to his son's dying prayer and compared it to the intended sacrifice of [[Abraham]]’s son.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taherzadeh |first=A. |author-link=Adib Taherzadeh |year=1984 |title=The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Volume 3: `Akka, The Early Years 1868–77 |publisher=George Ronald |place=Oxford, UK |isbn=0-85398-144-2 |pages=204–220 |chapter=The Death of The Purest Branch |chapterurl=https://www.peyman.info/cl/Baha'i/Others/ROB/V3/p204-220Ch10.html |url=https://www.peyman.info/cl/Baha'i/Others/ROB/V3/Cover.html }}</ref>

The religion also shares many of the same commonalities of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.<ref name="Dann J. May"/><ref name="naria">{{Cite book |title=Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America |isbn=0-275-98712-4 |last=Stockman |first=Robert H. |editor-first=Eugene V. |editor-last=Gallagher |editor2-first=W. Michael |editor2-last=Ashcraft |publisher=Greenwood Publishing |year=2006 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=ClaySHbUEogC&lpg=PP1&pg=RA3-PA185#v=onepage&q= |pages=185–218}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Buck |first=Christopher |title=Paradise and paradigm: key symbols in Persian Christianity and the Baháí̕ Faith, Volume 10 of Studies in the Bábí and Bahá'í religions |publisher=SUNY Press |year=1999 |page=326 |isbn=978-0-7914-4061-2 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=whfW9rEG2h4C&pg=PA326#v=onepage&q=}}</ref> The religion emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal [[God in the Bahá'í Faith|transcendent God]],<ref name="britannica_H">{{Harvnb |Britannica |1992}}</ref><ref name="PSmith106">{{Harvnb |Smith |2008 |p=106}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb |Effendi |1944 |p=139}}</ref> the station of the founders of the major religions as [[Manifestations of God]] come with [[revelation]]<ref name="PSmith106"/><ref name="manifestation">{{Cite journal |first=Juan |last=Cole |title=The Concept of Manifestation in the Bahá'í Writings |year=1982 |journal=Bahá'í Studies |volume=monograph 9 |pages=1–38 |url=https://bahai-library.com/cole_concept_manifestation}}</ref><ref name="PSmith111">{{Harvnb |Smith |2008 |pp=111–112}}</ref> as a series of interventions by God in human history that [[Progressive revelation (Bahá'í)|has been progressive]], and each preparing the way for the next.<ref name="Lawson"/> There is no definitive list of Manifestations of God, but [[Bahá'u'lláh]] and [[`Abdu'l-Bahá]] referred to several personages as Manifestations; they include individuals generally not recognized by other Abrahamic religions - [[Krishna]], [[Zoroaster]], and [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]<ref name="PSmith">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Smith |first=Peter |encyclopedia=A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |title=Manifestations of God |year=2000 |publisher=Oneworld Publications |location=Oxford |pages=231 |isbn=1-85168-184-1}}</ref> - and general statements go further to other cultures.<ref name="Buck">{{Cite journal |last=Buck |first=Christopher |title=Native Messengers of God in Canada? A test case for Baha'i universalism |journal=The Bahá'í Studies Review |pages=97–132 |publisher=Association for Bahá'í Studies English-Speaking Europe |location=London |year=1996 |url=https://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Native_1996.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=16 September 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719111713/https://www.msu.edu/~buckc/Buck_PDFs/Buck_Native_1996.pdf |archivedate=19 July 2013 |deadurl=yes}}</ref>

===Abrahamic ethno-religious groups===
Some small religions, such as [[Samaritanism]],<ref>{{cite web |  title = Introduction to Judaism Classroom Materials| publisher =  Jewish Museum of Maryland | year = 2007| url =https://www.jhsm.org/sites/default/files/IntroductiontoJudaismcurriculum2007_000.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=19 September 2009}}</ref> [[Druzes]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurospanbookstore.com/display.asp?K=9780815630975&ds=Islam&sf1=bic2_subj_code&st1=HRH*&sort=sort_date/d&m=79&dc=232  | archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20120314232656/https://www.eurospanbookstore.com/display.asp?K=9780815630975&ds=Islam&sf1=bic2_subj_code&st1=HRH*&sort=sort_date/d&m=79&dc=232 | archivedate =14 March 2012 |title=Synopsis of book, "The Druze and Their Faith in Tawhid"}}</ref> [[Mandeans]],<ref name="The Mandeans of Iraq and Iran"/> [[Rastafari movement]],<ref name="christianity-guide" /> and the [[Bábism|Bábí Faith]], are Abrahamic. These religions are regional, with Samaritans largely in Israel and the West Bank,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=546&letter=J&search=samaritan |title=Joshua, The Samaritan Book Of: |publisher=JewishEncyclopedia.com |accessdate=25 February 2010}}</ref> Druze largely in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan,<ref name="book">{{Cite book|last=Danna|first=Nissim|title=The Druze in the Middle East: Their Faith, Leadership, Identity and Status|publisher=Sus***** Academic Press|location=Brighton|date=December 2003|page=99|isbn=978-1-903900-36-9|url=https://books.google.com/?id=2nCWIsyZJxUC&lpg=PA99&pg=PA99#v=onepage&q}}</ref> Mandeans largely in Iraq,<ref name="DEUTSCH">[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/06/opinion/06deutsch.html "Save the Gnostics"] by Nathaniel Deutsch, 6 October 2007, ''New York Times.''</ref> and Rastafari largely in Jamaica.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=iesWzLHb_GUC&lpg=PA1&pg=PA69#v=onepage&q |title=Chanting down Babylon: the Rastafari reader  |publisher= |date= April 2007|accessdate=1 February 2010|isbn=978-1-59158-409-4|author1=Hubbard, Benjamin Jerome|author2=Hatfield, John T|author3=Santucci, James A | page = 69}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Wikipedia books|1=Abrahamic religions |3=Judaism |5=Christianity |7=Islam}}
* [[Abraham's family tree]]
* [[Abrahamites]]
* [[Ancient Semitic religion]]
* [[Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement]]
* [[Chrislam]]
* [[Christianity and Islam]]
* [[Christianity and Judaism]]
* [[Islam and Judaism]]
* [[People of the Book]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

==References==
<!-- === Citations === -->
{{Reflist|2}}
<!-- === Bibliography === -->

==Further reading==
{{Further reading cleanup |date=September 2015}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bakhos |first=Carol |year=2014 |title=The Family of Abraham: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Interpretations |location=Cambridge, MA |publisher=[[Harvard University Press]] |isbn=978-0-674-05083-9 |ref=harv }}
* {{Cite book |last=Derrida |first=Jacques |authorlink=Jacques Derrida |editor-first=Gil |editor-last=Anidjar |title=Acts of Religion |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |location=New York & London |url=https://books.google.com/?id=c_kgAmFbvP0C |isbn=978-0-415-92401-6 |ref=harv}}
* {{Cite book |last=Assmann |first=Jan |title=Moses the Egyptian: the memory of Egypt in western monotheism |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-674-58739-7 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=nJv0oyQ-9_AC}}
* {{Cite book |last=Barnett |first=Paul |publisher=InterVarsity Press |title=Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times |year=2002 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=NlFYY_iVt9cC |isbn=978-0-8308-2699-5}}
* {{Cite book |last=Blasi |first=Anthony J. |last2=Turcotte |first2=Paul-André |last3=Duhaime |first3=Jean |isbn=978-0-7591-0015-2 |title=Handbook of early Christianity: social science approaches |publisher=Rowman Altamira |year=2002 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=vgG8TVZVpYAC}}
* {{Cite book |last=de Perceval |first=Armand-Pierre Caussin |title=Calcutta review – Essai sur l'histoire des Arabes avant l'islamisme, pendant l'époque de Mahomet, et jusqu'à la réduction de toutes les tribus sous la loi musulmane |publisher=Didot |location=Paris |year=1847 |language=French |oclc=431247004 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=bQg2AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Dodds |first=Adam |date=July 2009 |title=The Abrahamic Faiths? Continuity and Discontinuity in Christian and Islamic Doctrine |journal=[[Evangelical Quarterly]] |volume=81 |issue=3 |pages=230–253}}
* {{Cite book |last=Firestone |first=Reuven |author2=American Jewish Committee, Harriet |author3=Robert Heilbrunn Institute For International Interreligious Understanding |title=*****ren of Abraham: an introduction to Judaism for Muslims |year=2001 |publisher=KTAV |url=https://books.google.com/?id=IuKNIR5qlS0C |isbn=978-0-88125-720-5 |location=Hoboken, NJ}}
* Freedman H. (trans.), and Simon, Maurice (ed.), [[Genesis Rabba]]h, Land of Israel, 5th century. Reprinted in, e.g., ''Midrash Rabbah: Genesis'', Volume II, London: The Soncino Press, 1983. ISBN 0-900689-38-2.
* Guggenheimer, Heinrich W., ''Seder Olam: The rabbinic view of Biblical chronology'', (trans., & ed.), Jason Aronson, Northvale NJ, 1998
* {{Cite book |last=Kritzeck |first=James |authorlink=James Kritzeck |title=Sons of Abraham: Jews, Christians, and Moslems |publisher=Helicon |year=1965 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=h7MOAAAAIAAJ}}
* {{Cite book |last=Greenstreet |first=Wendy |location=Oxford; Seattle, WA |title=Integrating spirituality in health and social care |publisher=Radcliffe |year=2006 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=TTdcT9-fqLQC&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q=|isbn=978-1-85775-646-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=Johansson |first=Warren |author-link=Warren Johansson |year=1990 |contribution=Abrahamic Religions |contribution-url=https://www.williamapercy.com/wiki/images/Abrahamic.pdf |format=PDF |editor-last=Dynes |editor-first=Wayne R. |editor-link=|title=Encyclopedia of Homo*****uality |location=New York |publisher=Garland |isbn=978-0-8240-6544-7}}
* {{Cite encyclopedia |last=Longton |first=Joseph |editor-last=Longton |editor-first=Joseph |title=Fils d'Abraham |encyclopedia=Fils d'Abraham |publisher=S.A. Brepols I. G. P. and CIB Maredsous |date=1987–2009 |isbn=2-503-82344-0 |url=https://www.cibmaredsous.be/cibf4.htm }}
* Massignon, Louis, "Les trois prières d'Abraham, père di tuos les croyants", ''Dieu Vivant'', 13, (1949) 20–23.
* {{Cite book |title=Life After Death: A study of the afterlife in world religions |last=Masumian |first=Farnaz |publisher=[[Oneworld Publications]] |location=Oxford |year=1995 |isbn=1-85168-074-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Reid |first=Barbara E. |title=Choosing the Better Part?: Women in the Gospel of Luke |publisher=Liturgical Press |year=1996}}
* Scherman, Nosson, (ed.), Tanakh, Vol.I, The Torah, (Stone edition), Mesorah Publications, Ltd., New York, 2001
* {{Cite book |first=Jonathan Z. |last=Smith |authorlink=Jonathan Z. Smith |year=1998 |chapter=Religion, Religions, Religious |editor-first=Mark C. |editor-last=Taylor |editor-link=Mark C. Taylor |title=Critical Terms for Religious Studies |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-79156-2 |pages=269–284 |ref=harv}}
* {{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Peter |year=2008 |title=An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-86251-6 |ref=harv}}

==External links==
<!-- removed questionable blog that copied article from beliefnet and ABCNews -->
<!-- removed Jews who don't believe in Jesus article - too far off topic -->
* [https://abrahamicfamilyreunion.org/ Reconciling the Abrahamic Faiths] Accessed 21 October 2012
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090715232603/https://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2005/09/Whats-Next.aspx What's Next? Heaven, hell, and salvation in major world religions] A side-by-side comparison. [archive] Accessed 16 September 2014
* [https://lasjan.page.tl/EARLY-LAW.htm Three Faiths, One God ] Accessed 21 October 2012

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