Islam Is The Only True Religion: A Comparative Study With Christianity And Judaism
Islam is not a new religion, but the final and preserved form of the true religion that all prophets preached from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon them). While Judaism and Christianity were originally divinely revealed paths, they were distorted over time by human hands. Today, only Islam maintains its original message, guiding humanity to salvation.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As an expression of His infinite mercy, Allah the Exalted has wished for humanity to attain felicity in both worlds. For this purpose:
- He bestowed upon mankind intellect and heart, so they may comprehend truth.
- He sent down scriptures and books for our guidance.
- He gifted humanity with prophets, the most beautiful exemplars, to demonstrate how divine commandments are to be applied in life.
From the first human and prophet, Adam, to the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad Mustafa, peace be upon him, the content of the “true religion,” a product of revelation, has always remained the same, and its name is Islam[1]. Since its inception, Islam has been the only true religion sent to all of humanity.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, stated: “All the prophets are brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.” (Sahih Bukhari, Al-Anbiya’, 48; Sahih Muslim, Fadhail, 143-145)
Therefore, Islam is not merely the content of the Quran, as many people mistakenly believe. All divine religions, in their original, uncorrupted state before human intervention, were Islam.
As long as Jews and Christians did not distort their religions, they were the Muslims of their time. Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus were all prophets of Islam. The Temple of Solomon, built by Solomon, was not a Jewish temple, but an Islamic Mosque; its qiblah was direction – was the Kaaba.
Judaism and Christianity did not emerge as independent religions; they were true religions of God but later priests corrupted them. Among the divine religions that continue to exist today, the only religion that preserves its original essence is the one revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Indeed, the Quran states:
“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Ali-Imran, 3:19)
Therefore, when Islam is mentioned today, it refers to the divine commandments as conveyed in the Quran, the last revelation to humanity. Judaism and Christianity, deviating from the content of Islam due to this human interference, have become obsolete, a counterfeit coin to be removed from circulation.
Hence, Allah, in His final guidance to humanity, states in the Quran:
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam it will - never be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Ali-Imran, 3:85)
Therefore, humanity can attain eternal happiness and tranquillity only through the teachings of Islam.
As will be detailed later, today’s Judaism, one of the two Divinely inspired Religions outside of Islam, has become an ethnocentric religion over time. Due to this racialised belief, Judaism does not aim to establish a universal order or bring peace to all humanity.
Jews do not invite non-Jewish nations to their religion. The absence of missionary organisations like those of Christianity are due to this. Supremacist ideology, considers other nations inferior.
Judaism has almost become a case of “religion is race, and race is religion.” In the Torah, some oppression and injustices against non-Jews and certain sins committed against them are considered permissible. For example:
- Usury and money lending, which are forbidden among themselves, are considered permissible when dealing with foreigners[2].
- The Talmud orders the return of lost property to its owner. However, this command is not applied if the owner of the lost property is not Jewish[3].
- In crimes like murder and theft, if one party is Jewish and the other is a foreigner, the ruling is made in favour of the Jewish person[4].
- A non-Jew cannot testify in a matter concerning Jews[5] because, according to them, a non-Jew is not honest or trustworthy[6].
While the Talmud acknowledges that foreigners cannot be equal in Jewish law, some reformist Jewish religious scholars advocate for reciprocity in this matter.
- Furthermore, regarding adultery with a non-Jewish woman: a Jew is not punished for this, as Jews interpret adultery as an act with “the wife of a friend” rather than a non-Jew’s wife[7].
According to Talmudic scholars, all foreign women are considered prostitutes. Therefore, even if a non-Jewish woman is raped by a Jewish man, the woman must be punished. Thus, the real punishment should be given to the non-Jew.
The ruling on this matter is as follows:
“If a Jew engages in sexual relations with a non-Jewish woman, whether she is an adult or even a three-year-old child, she must be killed without exception. This is because the Jew has suffered because of that woman (the Jew is only whipped.)
If that Jew is a Kohen/Cohen[8], then he must receive double the lashes. Because what he has done is considered twice the sin. For a Kohen must never engage in sexual relations with a prostitute (foreigner).[9]”
- Regarding theft, although stealing is prohibited, it is not strictly forbidden for a Jew to steal from a non-Jew. Rabbis have debated the details of when a Jew can steal from a non-Jew, considering what actions should be taken to protect themselves from potential harm[10].
For over a century, they have continued to take advantage of this without facing serious consequences. Since Palestinians live in what they call the “Promised Land,” according to the distorted Torah, they must be eliminated as they are considered an enemy nation.
- While killing non-Jews during peacetime is considered forbidden, Orthodox rabbis interpret the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” within the covenant context. Thus, the prohibition does not apply to them regarding non-Jews who have no covenant with God. Therefore, they interpret this commandment as “You shall not kill your fellow Jew!” only.
This means that whilst killing a foreigner is considered a sin against God, the perpetrator cannot be punished by the court. Moreover, if the death of a foreigner is caused indirectly - for example, by taking away the ladder and causing them to fall from a height - they do not consider it a sin[11]. However, if there is a possibility that indirectly killing a foreigner could be used as evidence against the Jewish community, such killing is not allowed.
Similarly, although it is forbidden to engage in behaviours that could cause the death of foreigners during peacetime, saving the lives of foreigners in danger is also forbidden. For example, a foreigner who falls into the sea should never be saved. Because “The best non-Jew is a dead one” is the dominant understanding. For the same reason, a religiously practising Jewish doctor should not treat a non-Jew.
However, as mentioned earlier, if such behaviours could provoke anger against the Jewish community among humanity, out of the interests of the Jewish community, reluctant assistance to the foreigner can be provided[12].
Although it is forbidden to kill foreigners during peacetime, during wartime, even killing civilians becomes a religious duty.
In a booklet published by the Israeli Army Central Command in 1973, the chief rabbi wrote:
“When our military units encounter civilians during war, if it is not clear whether these civilians will harm our units, according to Jewish law (halacha), they can and should be killed...No Arab should be trusted under any circumstances... During a war, our units are given permission and even orders to kill even the civilians in their normal condition. (Albay Haham A. Avidan [Zemel])[13] “
Today, the brutal massacres and atrocities committed by the Israeli Occupation, especially in Gaza since October 7, 2023, clearly demonstrate how much of a threat and a danger such distorted beliefs pose.
During this genocide, Israeli Rabbi Yaron Reuven justified killing children by referring to the corrupted scriptures, stating:
“God commands us to kill children. Our holy book orders us not to leave anyone alive during wartime. There is no mercy. You cannot even show mercy to a child. If you do, you will be cruel to the sacrifice the child will make in the future. Because the ideology the child will grow up with is worse than his father’s ideology. In the 25th chapter of the Torah, it says; there is no right to life for men, women, and children. God commands the total annihilation of all the peoples He delivers to you.”[14]
During the same period, 50 Israeli rabbis sent letters to heads of state stating that there is no religious or moral barrier to bombing Palestinian hospitals. All these and many more inhumane atrocities are committed by based on distorted texts[15].
Moreover, these actions by the Israeli Occupation have taken place in front of the eyes of the world, broadcasted live. Indeed, in the case opened by South Africa at the International Court of Justice dated January 12, 2024, Israel’s genocide has been legally registered. In the related sessions, lawyers proved all these massacres with evidence, and as a result, the court ruled against Israel[16].
Indeed, in many places in the Christian Old Testament, known as the Old Covenant by Christians, several instructions for hatred, madness, and cruelty can be found:
“However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes... You must destroy them totally.” (Deuteronomy 20:16-17)
“And you shall consume all the peoples whom the Lord your God will deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them.” (Deuteronomy 7:16)
“Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” (I Samuel 15:2-3)
Since Judaism holds the belief that the Israelites are the chosen people and their land has been usurped by enemy nations, and that other nations are the servants of the Jews, the orders of this distorted religion bring centuries of hatred and resentment, unimaginable massacres, and tortures.
After witnessing how these kinds of deviations are practiced today, especially in Gaza and the West Bank, no one can expect respect for these distorted texts under the guise of “interfaith dialogue” or “tolerance.” Muslims are obliged to believe in and respect only the original content of the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel in the sight of God. Not to the distorted texts shaped by a group of people according to their deviant ideology and interests.
Even among Jews, there are those who reject these cruel judgments, believing that the Torah cannot be interpreted in the way Zionist Israel understands it, who do not find the plunder, terror, and atrocity crimes committed by Israel mercilessly according to their holy scriptures correct, and even some groups oppose the existence of Israel[17]. However, how intolerant, and merciless radical Jews, whose eyes are covered with blood, hatred, and hostility, are against these kinds of moderate Jews has been the subject of many news stories.
So, in today’s world, the Jewish people do not have a unified mindset and worldview within themselves. There are many groups among them with various different opinions. However, today, a handful of cruel and tyrannical groups are becoming more dominant, and despite the warnings and objections from countries that have not lost their conscience, the Israeli Occupation of Palestine continues to brazenly violate international law as a state policy, trampling on human rights and freedoms. Thus, it is preparing its own end, both in the eyes of the Divine and humanity. For, as the famous saying goes, “Those who flourish through oppression will ultimately come to ruin!”
The other divinely inspired religion, Christianity -which we will discuss further later on - veered away from the path of Islam due to various human interventions. The Church has engaged in a grave pruning activity concerning the life of Prophet Jesus and the truths he preached. Their first actions in this regard have been to separate and remove the belief in the “oneness of God.” This constitutes the essence, spirit and foundation of the true religion as presented by the Prophet Jesus.
Source: Osman Nûri TOPBAŞ, ISLAM IS THE ONLY TRUE RELIGION: A Comparative Study With Christianity and Judaism,
Footnotes:
[1]. The foundational beliefs (aqaid) of religion, from Prophet Adam to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), have always remained consistent. However, Allah the Exalted, in accordance with the life and societal conditions of different nations, has ordained certain variations in Shariah (legal) rulings. For example, spoils of war (ghanimah), which were not permitted for previous prophets and their nations, were made permissible for Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his nation.
[2]. “Whether it is interest on money, interest on provisions, or interest on anything lent out, you shall not charge interest to your brother, but you may charge interest to a foreigner...” (Deuteronomy, Chapter 23, Verse 19-20).
[3]. Talmud Bavli, (Hebrew-English), Ed. Yehezkel (Isidor) Epstein, London: 1984-1990, Baba Kamma, 113b.
[4]. Salime Leyla Gürkan, Yahudilik, İsam, 2012, p.264; Code of Maimonides, “Torts: Murder”: 5:3-4, Alıntı Gürkan, p.264.
[5]. Talmud Bavli, Baba Kamma, 15a.
[6]. Talmud Bavli, Bekoroth, 13b.
[7]. Talmudic Encyclopedia, (married woman); Israel Shakak, 155.
[8]. The Kohen/Kohanim and Levites constitute the class of religious figures in Judaism and served in the Temple. The Levites are descendants of Levi, the son of Prophet Jacob, and were chosen by God for religious service. The Kohanim, on the other hand, are descendants of Aaron, from the lineage of Levi. While the Kohanim were responsible for performing the rituals, the Levites were responsible for tasks such as cleanliness, organization, and reciting divine songs.” (Prof. Şinasi Gündüz, World Religions, p. 82, Milel ve Nihal Publishing, Istanbul, 2019).
[9]. Ibnu Maymun (Maimonides), “Prohibitions on Sexual Intercourse” 12, 1-3, 10; Talmudic Encyclopedia, “Goy”.
[10]. Israel Shakak,140.
[11]. Ibnu Maymun (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah, “Laws on Murderers” 2, 1 1; Talmudic Encyclopedia, “Goy”; Israel Shakak, Yahudî Tarihi, Yahudî Dîni, 136.
[12]. Israel Shakak, 143.
[13]. Israel Shakak, 138.
[14]. https://www.haber7.com/dunya/haber/3361780-israilli-hahamdan-skandal-sozler-tanri-bize-cocuklari-oldurmemizi-emrediyor
[15]. https://www.haber7.com/dunya/haber/3364185-50-hahamdan-netanyahuya-hastane-bombalama-icazeti
[16]. For the video, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivFfbUu9SnE
[17]. While Israel bombed Gaza, some Jewish Americans stormed the train station in New York calling for a ceasefire, carrying placards with messages such as “Freedom for Palestine, immediate ceasefire, you cannot use our name to commit genocide!” See: https://www.haber7.com/dunya/haber/3363125-abdli-yahudiler-gazze-icin-tren-garini-basti. Furthermore, the International Organization of Jews Against Zionism stated, “It is clearly forbidden for us to kill and steal. Israel, however, is establishing its state by stealing from Arabs. Therefore, we are also mourning with the Palestinians.” See: https://www.haber7.com/dunya/haber/3363735-uluslararasi-siyonizm-karsiti-yahudiler-orgutu-filistin-icin-tanriya-dua-ediyoruz. https://www.haber7.com/siyaset/haber/3383873-yahudi-haham-yisroel-dovidden-netanyahuya-sert-sozler-o-bir-kafirdir.