Faith can be defined as a “strong belief or trust in someone or something” (“Faith” 1). More specifically, faith in the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) involves faith in God. The Abrahamic traditions seem to have different conceptions of faith on the surface, but when the main principles of these three religions are compared it becomes easy to understand how their conceptions of faith have more similarities than differences. By understanding these similar views on faith, one is able to respect these religions in a way that discourages the religious misunderstandings that arise from people who only understand their own beliefs and are close-minded in regards to the beliefs of others. Before exploring the nuances of faith …show more content…
when Jesus (a Jewish man) began to reveal what later became the New Testament (which added on to the Torah to create the Christian Bible). Christians believe Jesus is the son of God (born of the Virgin Mary) and consider him to be the most important prophet. In Christianity, Jesus is seen as the savior of humanity because he freed (faithful) humans from sin, allowing them to enter heaven upon their death. Christianity differs from Judaism in that the Gospel is followed instead of Jewish law. Christianity differs from Islam because it denies that Muhammad is a prophet (“Religion: Three Religions, One God” …show more content…
These six pillars are shown in the Hadith of Gabriel, when the angel Gabriel asked Muhammad what faith was. Muhammad stated that faith was “(1) To believe in God and (2) His Angels and (3) His books and (4) His Messengers and (5) the Last Day, and (6) to believe that no good or evil cometh but by his Providence” (“Hadith of Gabriel” 1). The Three Principles of Faith that contain these pillars are tawhid (the unity of God), nubuwwa (prophecy), and ma’ad (“the Return” or eschatology). Tawhid includes the belief in God, the belief in the angels, and the belief in qadar (fate or “measuring out”). Nubuwwa includes belief in the prophets and belief in the books. Ma’ad includes the belief in the Last Day. In order to be a true Muslim, followers of Islam must have faith in these three principles (Murata and Chittick