true prophets and true scriptures, Islam and the uncorrupted, genuine
forms of Christianity and Judaism, share many common beliefs. Although
the Torah and the Injil were gradually corrupted over the course of
time, the essence and moral values of the true faith arestill to a
large extent preserved in these books sent down from the Presence of
Allah. These uncorrupted parts can clearly be seen when looked at
using the Qur'anand the hadith as a guide. These three revealed faiths
all believe in the absolute existence of Allah, that He is eternal,
that He created the universe from nothing andthat He rules all matter
with His almighty power. Muslims, Christians and Jews also oppose the
same intellectual errors. They share the same intellectual struggle
against atheism, irreligion,racism, fascism and moral degeneration.
All three faiths strive to preach the existence of Allah in the same
way. Members of all three faiths aim for a world full of justice in
which everyone will knowAllah, sincerely believe in and submit to Him,
and live in peace and compassion. Members of all three faiths act out
of a fear and love of Allah, follow in the path of His messengers and
abide by His revelation.
In essence, the members of these three faiths believe in and worship
thesame, one Allah. Our Almighty Lord has revealed His power and
might, His creative artistry,His sublimity, that He is the Lord of the
worlds, that He is All-Powerful andthe sole Creator of all things in
all three faiths. He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth andall
things belong to Him, He knows all, is Almighty and is the Possessor
of all. His might, sublime power and majesty pervade all things and
all places. He is unfettered by any flaw or deficiency, though He is
needed by all beings.
Our Almighty Lord revealed His faith with thereligion of the Prophet
Abraham (peace be upon him):
We revealed to you: "Follow the religion of Abraham, a man of pure
natural belief. He was not one of the idolaters."(Surat an-Nahl, 123)
The word "haneef" means "someone who believes inand serves only
Allah." This is the attribute of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) that is
emphasized in the Qur'an as being "haneef," for he believed in and
submitted to Allah as the one and only. This devout servant of Allah
distanced himself from his tribe's superstitious beliefs and turned
solely to Him. He also called on his tribe to abandon their pagan
beliefs and idolatry, and tobelieve in Allah.
The true religion revealed by Allah to the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) was
kept alive by other prophets from his line and by true believers. This
is revealed in the Qur'an as follows:
Who would deliberately renounce the religion of Abraham except someone
who reveals himself to be a fool? We chose him in the world and in the
Hereafter he will be one of the righteous. When his Lordsaid to him,
"Become a Muslim!" he said, "I am aMuslim who has submitted to the
Lord of all the worlds." Abrahamdirected his sons to this, as did
Jacob: "My sons! Allah has chosen this religion for you, so do not die
except as Muslims." Or were you present when death came to Jacob and
he said to his sons, "What will you worship when I have gone?" They
said, " We will worship your God, the God of your forefathers,
Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac – one God. We are Muslims submitted to Him.
" (Surat al-Baqara, 130-133)
The Prophet Abraham's (pbuh) "haneef" religion is common to Muslims,
Jews and Christians. He was a sincere prophet who believed in one God
alone,Allah, who praised Him, and who served Him genuinely and with
all his heart. Our Lord praises those who follow the purefaith of the
Prophet Abraham (pbuh) in the Qur'an:
Who could have a betterreligion than someone who submits himself
completely to Allah and is a good-doer, and follows the religion of
Abraham, a man of pure natural belief? Allah tookAbraham as an
intimate friend. (Surat an-Nisa', 125)
The pure faith of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh), whom Allah praised and
sent as a guide for mankind, and the belief in the one Allah that
forms the basis of that faith are common values shared by true faiths
that were sent down later—Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Therefore,
the members ofall three faiths have a responsibility to worship Allah,
the one Lord of all, He Whose All-Powerful might pervades all things
and all places, the Creator of all things.
This common value requires the members of all three revealed faiths to
come together in a single monotheistic belief and to act together for
a commonpurpose.
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