Which Religion is Most Like Islam? A Deep Dive into Abrahamic Faiths

A Definitive Answer and a Deeper Exploration

When asking which religion is most like Islam, many people might immediately think of Christianity, given the shared prominence of Jesus and the vast geographical and historical overlap between the two faiths. However, a more in-depth analysis of theology, law, and practice reveals a different and perhaps surprising answer. While no two religions are identical, it is arguably Judaism that shares the most fundamental structural and theological similarities with Islam. Both are fiercely monotheistic and place a profound emphasis on divine law that governs all aspects of life, a concept known as orthopraxy (correct practice) over orthodoxy (correct belief).

This article will delve into a detailed comparison, primarily focusing on the Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—to unpack why Judaism stands out as Islam’s closest theological and legalistic relative. We will explore the core tenets, from the nature of God and the role of prophets to the intricate systems of religious law and daily rituals that define these world religions.

The Abrahamic Connection: A Shared Heritage

Before we can compare, we must first understand the common ground. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are collectively known as the Abrahamic religions. This is because they all trace their spiritual lineage back to the patriarch Abraham, or Ibrahim, as he is known in Arabic. This shared ancestry establishes a foundational framework of beliefs that, while interpreted differently, unites them.

• Monotheism: At their core, all three faiths profess belief in one, singular, transcendent God who created the universe.
• Revelation and Prophets: They all believe that this God communicates His will to humanity through a series of prophets and messengers. Figures like Moses (Musa), David (Dawud), and of course, Abraham (Ibrahim) are revered figures in all three traditions.
• Sacred Scripture: Each religion has a holy book (or books) that they believe to be divinely inspired or the literal word of God.
• Moral Accountability and Afterlife: A belief in a final judgment, where individuals are held accountable for their actions on earth, and a subsequent afterlife of reward or punishment is a central tenet.

This shared heritage is the reason the comparison is so fascinating. They are not entirely alien to one another but are distinct branches growing from the same ancient root. The differences lie in *how* these core concepts are understood and practiced.

Islam and Judaism: Brothers in Monotheism and Law

The argument for Judaism being the most similar religion to Islam rests on two colossal pillars: their uncompromising concept of God’s oneness and their development of a comprehensive legal system that guides believers’ daily lives. For both faiths, religion isn’t just something you believe; it’s something you *do*, every single day.

An Unshakeable, Unitary God: Tawhid and Shema

The absolute, indivisible oneness of God is the single most important belief in Islam. This concept is known as Tawhid. The first part of the Islamic declaration of faith, the Shahada, states, “There is no god but God.” The Quran is emphatic on this point, stating in Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:1-4): “Say, ‘He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.'” This rejection of any partners, children, or intermediaries for God is absolute.

This finds its most powerful parallel in Judaism. The central prayer and declaration of faith in Judaism is the Shema Yisrael, taken from Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Like Tawhid, this is a declaration of radical monotheism. Both faiths view God as a single, unitary being, indivisible and without form. This is why both traditions have historically forbidden iconography or the creation of images of God, fearing it would lead to idolatry (Shirk in Islam).

This stands in stark contrast to mainstream Christianity’s doctrine of the Trinity, which posits one God in three co-equal, co-eternal divine persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. From both a strict Jewish and Islamic perspective, the concept of the Trinity is seen as a compromise on pure monotheism, introducing a complexity that diverges from the absolute singularity they both champion.

A Life Guided by Divine Law: Sharia and Halakha

Perhaps the most compelling similarity between Islam and Judaism is that they are both religions of law, or “orthopraxic” faiths. Belief is crucial, but it is expressed through a detailed framework of actions, rituals, and prohibitions that sanctify everyday life. This legal tradition is a lived, breathed reality for observant followers.

In Islam, this system is called Sharia. Derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad), Sharia is a comprehensive legal framework. It’s not just about “law” in the Western sense of crime and punishment; it encompasses a vast spectrum of human activity:

• Ritual Law: How to perform the five daily prayers (Salat), the rules of fasting during Ramadan (Sawm), and how to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).
• Dietary Law: The rules of Halal (permissible) and Haram (forbidden) food, including the prohibition of pork and alcohol and the requirement for a specific method of animal slaughter.
• Civil Law: Guidelines for marriage, divorce, inheritance, and business contracts.
• Personal Purity: Rules concerning ritual washing before prayer (Wudu).

In Judaism, the parallel system is known as Halakha. Derived from the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and expanded upon in the vast body of rabbinic literature known as the Talmud, Halakha is similarly all-encompassing. It governs the same areas of life as Sharia:

• Ritual Law: The structure of the three daily prayers (Tefillah), the rules of observing the Sabbath (Shabbat), and the celebration of festivals.
• Dietary Law: The rules of Kashrut (kosher), which also forbid pork and require a specific method of ritual slaughter (Shechita) that is remarkably similar to the Islamic method (Zabiha).
• Civil Law: A complex system of jurisprudence covering all aspects of personal and commercial life.
• Personal Purity: Detailed laws of family purity and ritual immersion (Mikveh).

The parallels are striking. An observant Muslim navigating Halal food and daily prayer times would likely find the world of an observant Jew navigating Kosher food and daily prayers conceptually very familiar, even if the specifics differ. This shared legalistic worldview is profoundly different from the mainstream Christian focus on faith and grace as the primary means of salvation, often viewing the “Old Law” of the Old Testament as having been fulfilled or superseded by the “New Covenant” in Christ.

Islam and Christianity: Shared Prophets, Divergent Theology

While Judaism may be the closest in structure, the relationship between Islam and Christianity is also deeply intertwined, particularly through the person of Jesus. However, it is this very figure that also marks their most significant theological departure.

Jesus (‘Isa): The Great Connector and the Great Divider

No figure highlights the complex relationship between Islam and Christianity more than Jesus. In Islam, Jesus, known as ‘Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary), is one of the most revered and beloved prophets. The Quran affirms many of the miracles attributed to him in the New Testament:

• His virgin birth from Mary (Maryam), who has an entire chapter of the Quran named after her.
• His ability to perform miracles by God’s permission, such as healing the sick and raising the dead.
• His role as the “Messiah” (al-Masih).
• His prophesied return at the end of times.

This deep reverence often surprises Christians unfamiliar with Islam. However, this is where the commonality ends and the profound theological chasm begins. Islam categorically rejects the central tenets of Christian Christology:

• Divinity: Islam teaches that Jesus was a human being, a mortal man, and a prophet of God—not God Himself or the “Son of God.” The concept of God having a son is seen as a direct contradiction of Tawhid.
• The Trinity: As discussed, Islam rejects the Trinity, viewing Jesus as a created being, not a co-eternal person of the Godhead.
• The Crucifixion and Atonement: The Quran states that Jesus was not crucified or killed, but that it was made to appear so, and that God raised him to heaven. This directly refutes the Christian belief in the crucifixion as a sacrificial atonement for the sins of humanity. In Islam, every soul is responsible for its own sins.

Therefore, while Christianity and Islam share Jesus as a central figure, what they believe *about* him is fundamentally different, creating a wider theological gap than that between Islam and Judaism’s view of God.

Law vs. Grace

As mentioned earlier, the emphasis in mainstream Christianity, particularly influenced by the teachings of St. Paul, shifted from adherence to Mosaic Law to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and God’s grace. While Christianity certainly has a strong moral and ethical code, it does not possess a comprehensive, divinely-mandated legal system comparable to Sharia or Halakha that governs every detail of life. For Muslims and Jews, adherence to divine law is the primary expression of one’s faith and submission to God. For many Christians, that primary expression is found in faith, love, and grace.

A Comparative Table: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity at a Glance

To crystallize these comparisons, here is a table highlighting the key similarities and differences across the three major Abrahamic faiths.

What About Other Religions?

While the focus is on the Abrahamic faiths, it’s worth briefly mentioning two other religions that sometimes enter the conversation.

• The Baháʼí Faith: This religion grew out of a 19th-century Shia Islamic context in Persia. It shares a belief in one God and accepts Muhammad as a Manifestation of God. However, it diverges completely by introducing its own founder, Baháʼu’lláh, as the most recent prophet for this age, and by promoting a framework of progressive revelation that supersedes the finality of the Quran. While it has Abrahamic roots, its core theology on prophecy and scripture is distinct from Islam.
• Sikhism: Emerging in the Punjab region of India, Sikhism is also a strictly monotheistic faith (believing in Ik Onkar, “One God”) that rejects idolatry. This monotheism is a strong point of similarity. However, its theological and philosophical underpinnings, such as the concepts of reincarnation (karma) and its origins in the Sant tradition of the Indian subcontinent, place it in a different religious family from the linear, prophetic tradition of Islam.

Conclusion: A Shared Foundation with Different Paths

So, which religion is most like Islam? After examining the core beliefs and practices, the evidence strongly points to Judaism. This conclusion is not based on shared prophets alone, but on the very architecture of the two faiths.

The shared commitment to an unadulterated, radical monotheism, where God is a single, indivisible entity, forms the bedrock. Layered on top of this is the profound and central role of a comprehensive divine law—Sharia in Islam and Halakha in Judaism—that guides every facet of a believer’s existence, from morning prayer to evening meals. This orthopraxic focus on action, ritual, and law as the primary mode of worship and submission to God creates a structural and spiritual resonance between Islam and Judaism that is not found to the same degree in any other religion.

While Islam shares a deep reverence for Jesus with Christianity, the fundamental disagreement on his nature—human prophet versus divine son—and on the very nature of God—unitary versus Trinitarian—creates a theological gap that is wider and more foundational. Ultimately, understanding these similarities and differences doesn’t just answer a question of religious trivia; it fosters a deeper appreciation for the intricate, interwoven history of human faith and the diverse paths people have taken in their quest to understand the divine.