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This article is about the historical interaction between Islam and Judaism. For the history of the Jewish communities in Muslim lands, see History Of The Jews Under Muslim Rule . The historical interaction of Islam and Judaism started in the culture and philosophy on practitioners of Judaism within the Islamic World , there has been considerable and continued physical, theological, and political overlap between the two faiths in the subsequent 1,400 years. RELIGIOUS FIGURES , burial place of Abraham .]] with the Ten Commandments '', by Rembrandt .]] Ancient '' and '' Shalom ''. Around the 16th Century BC , Judaism developed as the first major Monotheistic religion. According to Jewish tradition, the History Of Judaism begins with the Covenant between God and Abraham , who is considered the first Hebrew. The Hebrew Bible occasionally refers to ''Arvi'' peoples (or variants thereof), translated as "Arab" or "Arabian". The Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula are considered descendants of Ismael , the first son of Abraham. Islam originated in Arabia with Muhammad 's first recitations of the Qur'an in the 7th Century CE and supports many traits from Judaism (as well as Christianity ), such as common Prophet s who are revered in both faiths such as Moses and Abraham . Abraham See Also: Abraham Judaism, Christianity and Islam are known as " Abrahamic Religions ".Sources for the following are:
Moses See Also: Moses Islam affirms that Moses ('' Musa '') was given a revelation, the '' Torah '', which Muslims call '' Tawrat '' in Arabic, and believed to be the word of God ('' Allah ''). However, they also believe that this original revelation was Modified over time by Jewish (and Christian) scribes and preachers. According to Islamic belief, the present Jewish scriptures were no longer the original divine revelations given to Moses. Muslims believe the '' Qur'an '' is the final revelation from God and a completion of the previous revelations. Muhammad from See Also: Muhammad and the Jews In the course of Muhammad's proselytizing in Mecca , he viewed Christians and Jews (both of whom he referred to as " People Of The Book ") as natural allies, sharing the core principles of his teachings, and anticipated their acceptance and support. Muslims, like Jews, were at that time praying towards Jerusalem.Esposito, John. 1998. Islam: the Straight Path, extended edition. Oxford university press, p.17 Muhammad was very excited to move to Medina, where the Jewish community there had long worshiped the one God. ''Encyclopedia of Religion'', Second Edition, Lindsay Jones, Muhammad article, ISBN 0-02-865742-X Many Medinans converted to the faith of the Meccan immigrants, but the Jewish tribes did not. Much to Muhammad's disappointment, they rejected his status as a prophet. Their opposition "may well have been for political as well as religious reasons". Gerhard Endress, ''Islam'', Columbia University Press, p.29 According to Watt, "Jews would normally be unwilling to admit that a Non-Jew could be a prophet." Mark Cohen adds that Muhammad was appearing "centuries after the cessation of biblical prophecy" and "couched his message in a verbiage foreign to Judaism both in its format and rhetoric." Mark R. Cohen, ''Under Crescent and Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages'', p. 23, Princeton University Press HISTORICAL INTERACTION See Also: History of the Jews under Muslim rule reading the Passover story in Al-Andalus , from the 14th century '' Haggadah '' of Barcelona .]] '' Qur'an '' manuscript from Al-Andalus .]] Jew s have often lived in predominantly Islam ic nations. Since many national borders have changed over the fourteen centuries of Islamic History , a single community, such as the Jewish community in Cairo , may have been contained in a number of different nations over different periods. As the Islamic state expanded out of the Arabian Peninsula , large numbers of Jews came under Muslim rule. There was general improvement in the conditions of Jews as Islamic Law commands that Jews should be judged by Jewish Laws , and that synagogues are to be protected; others point to the second-class status of Jews and Christians in Muslim controlled countries. Middle Ages In the Iberian Peninsula , under Muslim rule, Jews were able to make great advances in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, chemistry and philology.Cowling (2005), p. 265 This era is sometimes referred to as the Golden Age Of Jewish Culture In The Iberian Peninsula .Poliakov (1974), pg.91-6 During early Islam, Leon Poliakov writes, Jews enjoyed great privileges, and their communities prospered. There was no legislation or social barriers preventing them from conducting commercial activities. Many Jews migrated to areas newly conquered by Muslims and established communities there. The Vizier of Baghdad entrusted his capital with Jewish bankers. The Jews were put in charge of certain parts of maritime and slave trade. Siraf , the principal port of the caliphate in the 10th Century CE , had a Jewish governor.Poliakov (1974), pg.68-71 Throughout history, there have been numerous instances of pogroms against Jews. The Treatment of Jews in Arab/Islamic Countries Examples include the ''. 1906 ed. In North Africa , there were cases of violence against Jews in the Middle Ages 1, and in other Arab lands including Egypt 2, Syria 3 and Yemen 4. The , fled south and east to the more tolerant Moslem lands, while others went northward to settle in the growing Christian kingdoms. Sephardim Kraemer, Joel L., ''Moses Maimonides: An Intellectual Portrait'' in ''The Cambridge Companion to Maimonides'' pp. 16-17 (2005) In 1400, the Jews of slaughtered thousands of Jews, leaving only 11 alive, after a Jewish deputy vizier treated a Muslim woman in "an offensive manner." The killings touched off a wave of similar massacres throughout Morocco .Gerber (1986), p. 84 The Persecution of Jews prior to 1948 The Ottoman Empire had served as a Refuge for Spanish Jews who had been expelled from the Kingdom Of Spain and its territories and possessions, especially after the fall of Muslim Spain in 1492 and Edict Of Expulsion . This was also the case for the Maghreb in North Africa, where a Jewish quarter ('' Mellah ''), was installed in most large Arabian cities. Later the Jewish Converts were driven out of Spain fleeing the Roman Catholic Inquisition . There was a massacre of Jews in Baghdad in 1828. In 1839, in the eastern Persian city of Meshed , a mob burst into the Jewish Quarter, burned the synagogue, and destroyed the Torah Scrolls . It was only by forcible conversion that a massacre was averted. Gilbert, Martin . ''Dearest Auntie Fori. The Story of the Jewish People''. HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 179-182. There was another massacre in Barfurush in 1867. In 1840, the Jews Of Damascus were falsely accused of having murdered a Christian monk and his Muslim servant and of having Used Their Blood to bake Passover Bread . A Jewish barber was tortured until he "confessed"; two other Jews who were arrested died under torture, while a third converted to Islam to save his life. Throughout the 1860s, the Jews Of Libya were subjected to what Gilbert calls punitive taxation. In 1864, around 500 Jews were killed in Marrakech and Fez in Morocco . In 1869, 18 Jews were killed in Tunis , and an Arab mob looted Jewish homes and stores, and burned synagogues, on Jerba Island . In 1875, 20 Jews were killed by a mob in Demnat , Morocco; elsewhere in Morocco, Jews were attacked and killed in the streets in broad daylight. In 1897, synagogues were ransacked and Jews were murdered in Tripolitania . In 1839, the Allahdad Incident , the Jews of Mashhad , Iran , now known as the Mashhadi Jews, were Coerced Into Converting to Islam .5 Present Day , February 16 2000, cited from Bahá'í Library Online. The '' Encyclopaedia Judaica '' estimated the number of Jews in Iran at 25,000 in 1996. In present times, the , June 25, 2004. (retrieved May 3, 2006) "and we know that things learned at this stage of life become ingrained, almost to the point of being in one's DNA ." COMMON ASPECTS '' opened for liturgical use in a Synagogue service]] ''.]] There are many common aspects between or from postbiblical Jewish traditions. These practices are known collectively as the Isra'iliyat . Islam and Judaism , Rabbi Justin Jaron Lewis Holy scripture Islam and Judaism share the idea of a revealed Scripture. Even though they differ over the precise text and its interpretations, the Hebrew '' Torah '' and the Muslim '' Qur'an '' share a lot of narrative as well as injunctions. From this, they share many other fundamental religious concepts such as the belief in a day of Divine Judgment as well as believing in the Afterlife , Heaven and Hell . Muslims commonly refer to Jews (and Christians) as fellow ". The '' Qur'an '' distinguishes between " People Of The Book " (Jews and Christians), who should be tolerated even if they hold to their faiths, and idolators ( Polytheists ) who are not given that same degree of tolerance (See Al-Baqara, 256 ). Some restrictions for Muslims are relaxed, such as Muslim males being allowed to marry a woman from the "People of the Book" (Qur'an, 5:5 ), or Muslims being allowed to eat Kosher meat Machine-slaughtered Meat , Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari, ''eat-halal.com'', retrieved March 23, 2006. Religious law Judaism and Islam are unique in having systems of religious law based on oral tradition that can override the written laws and that does not distinguish between holy and secular spheres Islam and Judiasm - Influences Contrasts and Parallels , ''www.houseofdavid.ca''. In Islam the laws are called Sharia , In Judaism they are known as Halakha . Both Judaism and Islam consider the study of Religious Law to be a form of worship and an end in itself. Rules of conduct The most obvious common practice is the statement of the absolute unity of God, which Muslims observe in their five times daily prayers ( Salah ), and Jews state at least twice ( Shema Yisrael ). The two Faiths also share the central practices of Fasting and Almsgiving , as well as Dietary Laws and other aspects of ritual purity. Judaism and Islam have strict dietary laws, with lawful food being called ''). Both Judaism and Islam have a generally negative stance on homosexuality and on human sexuality outside of marriage. Both prescribe Circumcision for males as a symbol of dedication to the religion. Other similarities Islam and Judaism both consider the Christian doctrine of the knew the language of the birds and had control over demons (djinn) and several other similarities. PROPHETS Both agree on many people as being Prophet s with a few exceptions. Both unlike Christianity teach Eber, Job, and Joseph were prophets.http://www.chabad.org/library/article.htm/aid/8174/showrashi/true/jewish/Chapter-10.htmlhttp://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=441&letter=J&search=joseph#1 {Link without Title} http://anwary-islam.com/prophet-story/hud.htmhttp://anwary-islam.com/prophet-story/yusuf1.htmhttp://www.islamtutor.com/islam/prophets-of-islam-list.php Prophets of both Judaism and Islam include Eber, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, Ezekiel, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, and Jonah. According to Islamic tradition Jeremiah, Samuel, Isaiah, and Daniel were also prophets, Judaism accepts Jeremiah, Samuel and Isaiah as prophets but not Daniel. Jews unlike muslims believe in prophetesses such as, Miriam, who was the sister of Moses, Deborah, Huldah, Sarah, Bithiah , Hannah, Esther, and Abigail INTERPLAY BETWEEN JEWISH AND ISLAMIC THOUGHT written in Hebrew letters by Maimonides (12th century CE).]] (12th century CE), one of the great Jewish scholars of Al-Andalus .]] See Also: Judeo-Islamic philosophies (800 - 1400) See Also: Jewish philosophy Early Muslim philosophy There was a great deal of intellectual Cultural Diffusion between Muslim and Jewish Rationalist philosophers of the medieval era, especially in Muslim Spain . Saadia Gaon One of the most important early Jewish philosophers influenced by Islamic philosophy is Rav Saadia Gaon (892–942). His most important work is '' Emunoth Ve-Deoth '' (''Book of Beliefs and Opinions''). In this work Saadia treats of the questions that interested the '' Mutakallimun '' so deeply — such as the creation of matter, the unity of God , the divine attributes, the Soul , etc. — and he criticizes the philosophers severely. The 12th Century saw the apotheosis of pure philosophy. This supreme exaltation of philosophy was due, in great measure, to Ghazali (1058–1111) among the Arabs, and to Judah Ha-Levi (1140) among the Jews. Like Ghazali, Judah ha-Levi took upon himself to free religion from the shackles of Speculative Philosophy , and to this end wrote the '' Kuzari '', in which he sought to discredit all schools of philosophy alike. Maimonides See Also: Maimonides Maimonides endeavored to harmonize the philosophy of Aristotle with Judaism; and to this end he composed his immortal work, ''Dalalat al-Ḥairin'' ('' Guide For The Perplexed '') — known better under its Hebrew title ''Moreh Nevuchim'' — which served for many centuries as the subject of discussion and comment by Jewish thinkers. In this work, Maimonides considers Creation , the unity of God, the attributes of God, the soul, etc., and treats them in accordance with the theories of Aristotle to the extent in which these latter do not conflict with religion. For example, while accepting the teachings of Aristotle upon matter and form, he pronounces against the eternity of matter. Nor does he accept Aristotle's theory that God can have a knowledge of universals only, and not of particulars. If He had no knowledge of particulars, He would be subject to constant change. Maimonides argues: "God perceives future events before they happen, and this perception never fails Him. Therefore there are no new ideas to present themselves to Him. He knows that such and such an individual does not yet exist, but that he will be born at such a time, exist for such a period, and then return into non-existence. When then this individual comes into being, God does not learn any new fact; nothing has happened that He knew not of, for He knew this individual, such as he is now, before his birth" (''Moreh'', i.20). While seeking thus to avoid the troublesome consequences certain Aristotelian theories would entail upon religion, Maimonides could not altogether escape those involved in Aristotle's idea of the unity of souls; and herein he laid himself open to the attacks of the orthodox. Ibn Roshd ( Averroes ), the contemporary and tutor of Maimonides, closes the philosophical era of the Arabs. The boldness of this great commentator of Aristotle aroused the full fury of the orthodox, who, in their zeal, attacked all philosophers indiscriminately, and had all philosophical writings committed to the flames. Driven from the Arabian schools, Arabic philosophy found a refuge with the Jews, to whom belongs the honor of having transmitted it to the Christian world. A series of eminent men — such as the Tibbon s, Narboni , and Gersonides — joined in translating the Arabic philosophical works into Hebrew and commenting upon them. The works of Ibn Roshd especially became the subject of their study, due in great measure to Maimonides, who, in a letter addressed to his pupil Joseph Ibn Aknin , spoke in the highest terms of Ibn Roshd's commentary. In a responsa, Maimonides discusses the relationship between Judaism and Islam :
Influence on exegesis Saadia Gaon's commentary on the Bible bears the stamp of the Mutazilites ; and its author, while not admitting any positive attributes of God, except these of essence, endeavors to interpret Biblical passages in such a way as to rid them of Anthropomorphism . The Jewish commentator, Abraham Ibn Ezra , explains the Biblical Account Of Creation and other Scriptural passages in a philosophical sense. Nahmanides (Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman), too, and other commentators, show the influence of the philosophical ideas current in their respective epochs. This salutary inspiration, which lasted for five consecutive centuries, yielded to that other influence alone that came from the neglected depths of Jewish and of Neoplatonic Mysticism , and which took the name of '' Kabbalah ''. Islamic commentary on the Qur'an, or Tafsir , also draws heavily on Jewish sources. This is called '' Isra'iliyat ''. SEE ALSO
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