Short answers to the questions readers ask most often. Each answer links to a fuller treatment elsewhere on the site.
What are the Abrahamic religions?
The term refers to religious traditions that trace a spiritual or historical connection to Abraham. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the three major traditions usually included. See Religions.
Why are they called Abrahamic?
Each tradition looks back to Abraham as a founding figure: the father of the Jewish people, the model of faith for Christians, and a prophet and pure monotheist for Muslims. See Who Was Abraham?
Do all three worship the same God?
All three affirm one God, creator of the world, but they describe God differently, and believers and theologians disagree about how far their understandings coincide. See How the Abrahamic Religions Understand Monotheism.
What does the word “Allah” mean?
Allāh (الله, God) is the Arabic word for God. Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use it as well as Muslims.
What is the difference between the Torah and the Tanakh?
The Torah is the first part of the Hebrew Bible, the five books of Moses. The Tanakh is the whole Hebrew Bible: Torah, Prophets and Writings. See Sacred Texts.
Do Muslims believe in Jesus?
Yes. Muslims honour Jesus, called ʿĪsā in Arabic, as the Messiah and one of the greatest prophets, born of the Virgin Mary. They do not regard him as divine or as crucified. See Figures.
How do Christians understand the Trinity?
Christians believe in one God who exists eternally as three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The doctrine was defined at church councils in the fourth century.
Why is Jerusalem important to all three?
Jerusalem was the site of the Jewish Temple, the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and, Christians believe, his resurrection, and the site of the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqṣā Mosque, associated with the Prophet’s Night Journey. See Jerusalem in Three Traditions.
How can I suggest a correction?
Use the Contact page. Our Editorial Policy explains how we handle corrections.