Answer
Salam (Peace) Dear Reader,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
Every religion is different from another in many ways and also at the same time they are similar in many ways.
The question seems to suggest that Islam is the only religion different from other religions.
However, this is not the case. Judaism is different from Christianity in that a Jew doesnโt believe Jesus is the Messiah. Christianity is different from Judaism in that a Christian believes in the trinity while in Judaism it is considered to be polytheism. Christianity and Judaism are different from Hinduism in that idol worship is unacceptable in general.
In reality, Islam is more inclusive than Judaism and Christianity. Islam believes in the major prophets of Judaism and Christianity, namely Moses and Jesus. Islam teaches that Jesus is the Christ- the Messiah and will return. However, neither Judaism or Christianity believe in the prophet Muhammad- the last and final prophet.
The Quran invites other religions to come to a common term- to worship only one God. We read in the Quran what means:
{Say, โO People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you โ that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah .โ But if they turn away, then say, โBear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].โ} [Quran 3:64]
Islam upholds the belief of monotheism without compromise- only the Creator is worthy of worship. It does not allow for the deification of a human being like Jesus Christ who was born from a human being, Mary.
Islam teaches that all prophets and messengers of God must be accepted and as a result believes in the prophets Adam, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Moses, John, Jesus, and Muhammad to name some of them.
This powerful belief of only one God and the acceptance of all the prophets serve as the ideal platform for universal brotherhood and unity.
Even the name of the religion, Islam, is not centered around a race, person, or geography thereby allowing a greater common ground for mankind. Islam means to submit to the One Creator of the universe.
Contrast that with Judaism which is named after the Judaic race, Christianity after the
person Christ, Hinduism after the land of Hind, Buddhism after the person Buddha.
Elucidating the fact that all prophets submitted to the One Creator, God mentions in the Quran about Abraham:
{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.} [Quran 3:67]
In essence, the call of Islam to mankind is a formula for unification and not difference.
I hope this helps answer your question.
Salam and please keep in touch.
