What does the Qur'an teach about Judaism and Christianity?

Answer 1

Quran contains preachings to the Christians and Jews that involves reminding them of some aspects of their Scriptures or their traditions, the basic deviations from the original God revelations to prophets Moses and Jesus, namely the divinity of Jesus and the Judaic exclusiveness (claiming arbitrarily a special position with God exclusively for themselves).

However, many Christians believe in the Prophecy of Mohamed and believe in God revelation of Quran but remaining on their own faith. Quran says in this regards (Meaning English translation):

" There are, certainly, among the People of the Book (Jewish and Christians) those who believe in Allah (God), in the revelation to you (Quran), and in the revelation to them (Torah and Bible), bowing in humility to Allah (God): they do not sell the verses of God for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord"(Quran, chapter 3, verse 199)

and says:

"... when they (Christians) listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger Mohamed, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized. They say: Our Lord we believe so write us down among the witness.....So because of what they said, Allah rewarded them Gardens in Paradise... such is the reward of good-doers"(Quran, Chapter 5, verses83-85)

God Also explains in Quran that he caused the different nations with different beliefs only for them to compete in doing good deeds to bring them closer to God, but not to stay in conflict. Quran says:

"... If Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation (one belief), but that may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds; then God will inform you about that in which you used to differ"(Quran, chapter 5, verse 48)

In the Quran, Holy book of Islam, God Commanded Muslims to show kindness to people of other religions so far they don't show enmity to Muslims. God has said:

" God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers."(Quran, chapter 60/ verse 8)

In addition to the above, the following are quoted from the link (shown below):

In the Qur'an, Christians are often referred to as among the "People of the Book," i.e. people who have received and believed in previous revelation from God's prophets. There are verses that highlight the commonalities between Christians and Muslims, and other verses that warn Christians against sliding towards polytheism in their worship of Jesus Christ.

Commonalities:"Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians -- whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor shall they grieve" (2:62, 5:69, and many other verses)."...and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say, 'We are Christians,' because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant" (5:82)."O you who believe! Be helpers of God -- as Jesus the son of Mary said to the Disciples, 'Who will be my helpers in (the work of) God?' Said the disciples, 'We are God's helpers!' Then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved. But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed" (61:14).

Warnings:"If only they [i.e. Christians] had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course, but many of them follow a course that is evil" (5:66)."Oh People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion, nor say of God anything but the truth. Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, was (no more than) a messenger of God, and His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him. So believe in God and His messengers. Say not, 'Trinity.' Desist! It will be better for you, for God is One God, Glory be to Him! (Far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs" (4:171).

Christians and Jews are called in Islam 'People of the Book' or 'People of the Scripture'. About them, the Muslim holy book that reflects real God words revelation to prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says:

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّـهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّـهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا

اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَا أُنزِلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ وَالْإِنجِيلُ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾ هَا أَنتُمْ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ حَاجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾ مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٦٧﴾ إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـٰذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۗ وَاللَّـهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٦٨﴾

Meaning English translation:

{ Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]." (64) O People of the Scripture, why do you argue about Abraham while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? Then will you not reason? (65) Here you are - those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? And Allah knows, while you know not. (66) Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists. (67) Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this prophet, and those who believe [in his message]. And Allah is the ally of the believers. (68)} [Quran. chapter 3, verses 64-68]

Also Quran says that not all People of Scripture (Jews and Christians) are the same. Some are right and pious people and some are not. Quran says:

۞ لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ ﴿١١٣﴾ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١١٤﴾ وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَن يُكْفَرُوهُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١١٥﴾

Meaning English translation:

{ They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer]. (113) They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous. (114) And whatever good they do - never will it be removed from them. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous. (115)} [Quran. chapter 3, verses 113-115]

refer to question below

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Answer 2

General Discussion

Christians and Jews are called in Islam 'People of the Book' or 'People of the Scripture'.

Non-Muslim People of the Book living in an Islamic nation under Sharia law were given a number of rights, such as the right to freely practice their faith in private and to receive state protection. In turn, they had a legal responsibility, the payment of a special tax called jizya ("tribute") in place of zakat. The social structure of the Ottoman Empire would serve as an example of how non-Muslims were treated.

The Dhimmi, or Jew or Christian under Muslim occupation, was required by the Pact of Omar to pay a number of taxes that were connected with his Dhimmi status. The most famous was the jizya, which was a tax that Dhimmi had to pay for Muslims for the right to not be killed where they stood for not acknowledging Mohammed's Prophecy; it was a form of humiliation. Additional taxes included the kharaj, which was a tax on non-Muslim land-holdings in the Muslim World. The kharaj was so untenable that most Dhimmi were forced to live in the cities where the tax would not be applicable. On paper, a Christian or Jew could testify against a Muslim, but in reality, such testimony was not acceptable and the attempt to defame a Muslim would receive retribution. Christians and Jews were not allowed to build new houses of worship, restore old houses of worship, proselytize in any way (this included religious debate or dialogue), or allow wine or pigs to be shown in public.

Qur'anic Verses

About them, the Muslim holy book that reflects real God words revelation to prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says:

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّـهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّـهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا

اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَا أُنزِلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ وَالْإِنجِيلُ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾ هَا أَنتُمْ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ حَاجَجْتُمْ فِيمَا لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تُحَاجُّونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ وَاللَّـهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾ مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٦٧﴾ إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـٰذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۗ وَاللَّـهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٦٨﴾

Meaning English translation:

{ Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]." (64) O People of the Scripture, why do you argue about Abraham while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? Then will you not reason? (65) Here you are - those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? And Allah knows, while you know not. (66) Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists. (67) Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this prophet, and those who believe [in his message]. And Allah is the ally of the believers. (68)} [Quran. chapter 3, verses 64-68]

Also Quran says that not all People of Scripture (Jews and Christians) are the same. Some are right and pious people and some are not. Quran says:

۞ لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً ۗ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ ﴿١١٣﴾ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١١٤﴾ وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَن يُكْفَرُوهُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١١٥﴾

Meaning English translation:

{ They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer]. (113) They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous. (114) And whatever good they do - never will it be removed from them. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous. (115)} [Quran. chapter 3, verses 113-115]

refer to question below

Answer 3

The term that Qur'an uses for Jews and Christians together is Ahl al-Kitaab (أهل الكتاب) which means "People of the Book". (Q: 2:105) This refers to the idea the Jews and Christians received the previous holy books of the Taurat and Zabur (for Jews) and the Injil (for Christians). Qur'anic references are indicated by parentheticals.

The Qur'an argues that the natural faith of humanity is Islam and, therefore, the proper conduct of true-believing Jews and Christians would be to accept the Islamic view of what Judaism and Christianity are, if not wholly convert. For Jews, this would require recognition of Jesus as the Messiah (Q: 4:156-157) and for Christians, this would require rejection of Jesus' divinity (Q: 4:171). Both would be seen by Jews and Christians as impositions that would completely erode the uniqueness and purpose of their faith. For failure to accept Islam, Jews and Christians are slandered as those "who evoke God's anger" (Maghdub 3aleyhem - مغضوب عليهم) and as "the Astray" (ad-Daalin - الضالين), respectively (Q: 1:7). Naturally, these terms are seen as derisive and inflammatory by most Jews and Christians.

There are numerous other mentions of Jews and Christians in a less than flattering light, although more hatred is reserved for Jews than for Christians. Both Jews and Christians are accused of associating partners with God, i.e. being polytheists (Q: 9:30). Jews are accused of: being cursed as apes (Q: 2:63-66 and 4:47), being incredibly greedy (Q: 2:96), being almost all deceitful (Q: 5:13 and 62:6-8), being murderers of prophets and disdaining Divine Mandates (Q: 5:70-71). While Christians are not ascribed negative attributes, they are reminded that they will go to Hellfire (Q: 5:72) and that they are suffering because they believe in a Trinity (Q: 5:73).

However, the Qur'an holds that Muslims should not force the Jews or Christians to convert, as the true-believing Jews and Christians will naturally do so (Q: 2:256). For those Jews and Christians who choose to practice their own faith according to their principles (not the Islamic view) in lands outside of Islamic sovereignty, the Qur'anic position is to respect other religions equally, as promoted in the Meccan verses (Q: 109:1-6). For those Jews and Christiants who choose to continue practicing their religion under Islamic rule, they must accept Islamic sovereignty and a second-class status (Ahl ad-Dhimma) that is indicated by the paying of the jizya tax (Q: 9:29). Thankfully, most Muslim-majority countries today no longer employ this religious apartheid, but the question is to Qur'anic protrayal, not current Islamic jurisprudence which has generally abrogated the concept of Ahl ad-Dimma.

Answer 4

Neither Judaism nor Christianity interpret the Qur'an at all. It is irrelevant to them. This is the same way that Muslims have no interpretation of the Triptaka or the Mahabharata; those docuements are irrelevant to them. When Jews or Christians who have read the Qur'an answer honestly about how they feel about the book, it is usually not with the warmness that Muslims feel towards the book.

Answer 5

Quran, Muslims holy book, calls followers of Christianity and Judaism as 'people of the book'. Muslims believe in the holy books of Christianity and Judaism (Bible and Torah) and believe in the prophets of the two religions (Moses and Jesus).

Answer 6

That those religions were also from God but that some of their original teachings have been "corrupted" by men.