1. The reason for the differences between the rulings of the Torah and of the Qur’aan

1.
A central belief of both Islam and Judaism is the belief in one God
and the prohibition of the worship of idols.
The main difference between these two purely monotheistic religions is
the book of each religion, the Koran and the Torah.How do the
teachings of the Koran differ from the teachings of the Torah.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
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Secondly:
If you are speaking about the Judaism that was prescribed by God and
the Torah that God revealed, then Islam and Judaism are agreed – as
you said – on theworship of God alone, with no partner or associate,
and on the prohibition of worshipping anything or anyone else, no
matter what it is. Similarly, they are agreed on matters of belief
inthe Prophets and Messengers, theLast Day, the Reckoning,
Paradise,Hell… and so on.
But when it comes to rulings such as what is permissible and what is
prohibited, and the details of acts of worship, this is where Islam
differs from Judaism and the Qur'an differs from the Torah. God, may
He be exalted, says in the Holy Qur'an (interpretation of the
meaning): "To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear
way"[al-Maa'idah 5:48]. So each nation has its own laws concerning
what is permitted and what is forbidden, as it has its own acts of
worship by whichit worships Allah.
Our Prophet (blessings and peaceof Allah be upon him) gave the
likeness of the agreement of all the Prophets on the basic matter of
religion, which is affirmation of the Oneness of God (Tawheed),
beliefs and worship of God alone, with no partner or associate, and
the differences between their laws, when he said: "The Prophets are
half-brothers; their mothers differ but their religion is one."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim.
Half-brothers refers to brothers from the same father, with different mothers.
So the basis of the religion of theProphets is one, namely affirmation
of the Oneness of God (Tawheed), and worshippingGod with no partner or
associate,but the details of laws and rulings is what is different.
And this is what is in accordance with wisdom.
Adam (peace be upon him) had a law that was suited to him and his
children, and was suited to the time in which he lived. In his law –
for example – a brother could marry his sister, because it was not
possible to perpetuate the family and produce offspringat that time in
any other way.
Then as time passed, the laws changed to suit the new nations and new
times. Hence in the lawsof the Jews it is forbidden for a brother to
marry his sister, even though that was permitted in thelaw of Adam.
For Jacob (peace be upon him), allkinds of food were permissible and
he was the one who forbadesome things to himself, and those
prohibitions became entrenched and became a law forhim and his
children. Concerning that God, may He be exalted, saysin the Holy
Qur'aan (interpretation of the meaning): "All food was lawful to the
Children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for himself
before the Taurat (Torah) was revealed" [Aal 'Imraan 3:93].
Then came the law of Jesus (peace be upon him), which was more lenient
than the law of Moses. God permitted to the Christians (the followers
of the Messiah, peace be upon him) some things that had been forbidden
in the law of Moses. Concerning this God, may He be exalted, tells us
that Jesus (peace be upon him) said (interpretationof the meaning):
"and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you" [Aal
'Imraan 3:50].
Then came the law of the Qur'aan, the law of Muhammad (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) which also differed from previous laws in
some rulings, as had happened before that in the case of Judaism and
Christianity.
Because the law of the Qur'aan isthe final law that will abide until
the Day of Resurrection, it is the most complete of laws, the best and
the most lenient, and in it is flexibility that is suited to all times
and places until the Hour begins.
This is the reason for the differences between the rulings of the
Torah and the rulings of the Qur'aan, as the Torah was specifically
for the Children of Israel alone, and its rulings were not meant to be
permanent and ongoing until the Day of Resurrection. Although most of
the rulings of the Torah remained in effect after that in
Christianity, and only differed in making permissible some things that
had been forbidden, the rulings of the Torah, and the Gospel after it,
were limited in terms of time and all of that cameto an end at the
appointed time,...