Islam and other faiths
Islamic Studies · Key Stage 2 · The School
What is shared
Islam, Judaism and Christianity share a great deal. All three believe in one God. All three honour prophets, including Ibrahim, Musa and Isa. All three have scriptures. All three have prayer, charity and fasting. All three teach that we are accountable. Muslims call Jews and Christians AHL AL-KITAB, the people of the book. The Quran addresses them directly.
Where they differ
They also differ genuinely. Saying so is part of respecting all three. Muslims believe the Quran is God's final revelation. They believe Muhammad ﷺ is the last prophet. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God. Islam does not accept that. Jews await a messiah who is still to come. These are real disagreements. They are not misunderstandings.
How to describe a belief you do not hold
Describe a belief as its own believers would recognise it. Then say what your own tradition holds. Christians believe X; Muslims believe Y. That is accurate and it is fair. Christians wrongly think X is neither. It also teaches you less. You cannot understand a disagreement you have described badly.
SHARED with Judaism and Christianity: one God, prophets including Ibrahim and Musa, revealed books, and accountability. DIFFERENT: Muslims honour Isa as a prophet and a messenger. They do not accept that he was divine, or that he was crucified. HOW TO SAY IT: Muslims believe Isa was a prophet; Christians believe he was the Son of God. Two positions, both stated accurately. Neither one mocked. Neither one blurred into the other.