Relations between Muslims and Jewish people date back to the birth of Islam in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula. From the earliest days of Islamic history, Muslims and Jews have shared religious traditions, prophets, scriptures, and ethical principles, while also experiencing periods of political conflict and social tension.
Understanding this relationship requires examining theology, history, and modern geopolitics rather than relying on simplified narratives.
Shared Abrahamic Roots in Islam and Judaism
Islam and Judaism are both classified as Abrahamic religions, tracing their spiritual lineage to Prophet Abraham. In Islamic tradition, Abraham is known as Ibrahim and is regarded as a central figure of monotheism, just as he is in Judaism. Muslims believe that Abraham’s son Ishmael is the ancestor of Arabs, while Isaac is considered the ancestor of the Israelites, linking both communities through shared ancestry.
This common heritage is why Islam recognizes Jewish prophets as part of its own religious framework. Many biblical figures, including Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, and especially Moses, are honored in the Quran as messengers of God.
Moses in Islam and Jewish Tradition
Moses is the most frequently mentioned individual in the Quran, appearing more times than any other prophet. Muslims regard him as a major messenger who received divine revelation and led the Israelites out of Egypt. His story is retold across multiple chapters of the Quran and closely parallels the biblical narrative, including the Exodus, the revelation of divine law, and the wandering in the desert.
Also read: Iran vs Israel: What’s the future of 25,000 Iranian Jews?
This shared reverence for Moses reflects how Islamic theology integrates Jewish prophetic history rather than rejecting it, reinforcing theological continuity between the two faiths.
The Torah and People of the Book in Islam
Islam recognizes the Torah as a divinely revealed scripture originally sent to the Israelites. Jews, Christians, and Sabians are collectively referred to in the Quran as “People of the Book”, meaning communities that received earlier revelations from God.
Islamic law historically granted Jewish communities protected status under Muslim rule, allowing them to practice their religion, manage their internal affairs, and preserve their traditions, although they were subject to specific legal and social restrictions. This system, while unequal by modern standards, provided institutional recognition of Judaism within Islamic governance.
Early Muslim–Jewish Relations in Medina
When Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina, the city was home to several Jewish tribes. He established a social contract known as the Constitution of Medina, which recognized Jews as part of the political community with religious autonomy in exchange for loyalty to the state.
While early relations included cooperation and mutual recognition, political rivalries and military conflicts later developed between Muslim forces and some Jewish tribes, resulting in expulsions and warfare. These events were shaped primarily by political alliances and tribal disputes rather than theological hostility alone.
Jewish Life Under Muslim Rule in the Middle Ages
For much of medieval history, Jewish communities lived across Muslim-majority regions, including Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. In places like Muslim-ruled Iberia, Jews made significant contributions to science, medicine, philosophy, mathematics, and literature.
This period is often described as a cultural golden age for Jews in Muslim lands, particularly compared to the harsher persecution faced by Jewish communities in medieval Christian Europe. Jewish scholars such as Maimonides lived and worked under Islamic rule and were deeply influenced by Islamic philosophy and legal thought.
However, this coexistence was not without hardship. Periods of tolerance were interrupted by episodes of discrimination, forced conversions, economic restrictions, and violence, depending on political conditions and ruling dynasties.
Religious Law and Shared Practices Between Islam and Judaism
Islamic Sharia and Jewish Halakha share many structural similarities, including dietary laws, ritual purity, circumcision, fasting, charitable obligations, and strict monotheism. Both faiths prohibit pork, require ritual slaughter of animals, regulate sexual conduct, and emphasize communal responsibility.
These parallels reflect the shared cultural environment of the ancient Middle East and the close historical interaction between Jewish and early Muslim communities.
Intellectual Exchange in Islamic and Jewish Philosophy
During the medieval period, Jewish thinkers engaged extensively with Islamic philosophy, particularly Aristotelian thought transmitted through Muslim scholars. Jewish philosophers such as Saadia Gaon and Maimonides wrote in Arabic and addressed many of the same theological questions debated by Muslim theologians, including divine attributes, prophecy, and free will.
This intellectual exchange created a shared philosophical tradition sometimes referred to as Judeo-Islamic thought, highlighting how deeply interconnected both civilizations were in scholarship and theology.
Modern Political Conflict and Rising Tensions
Contemporary tensions between Muslim and Jewish communities are largely shaped by the Arab–Israeli conflict, which began with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and subsequent wars between Israel and neighboring Arab states.
The displacement of Palestinian Arabs and the mass migration of Jews from Arab countries reshaped demographic realities and intensified political hostility across the Middle East. Over time, political conflict became intertwined with religious identity, contributing to rising antisemitism in some Muslim societies and Islamophobia in Western countries.
These modern tensions differ significantly from earlier periods of coexistence and are driven primarily by territorial disputes, nationalism, and unresolved political grievances rather than by core religious doctrine.
Interfaith Dialogue and Modern Cooperation
Despite political conflicts, interfaith initiatives between Muslims and Jews continue across many countries. Religious leaders, academic institutions, and civil society groups regularly engage in dialogue focused on shared ethics, social justice, and peaceful coexistence.
In cities with diverse populations, mosques and synagogues often collaborate on humanitarian projects and educational programs aimed at reducing stereotypes and promoting mutual understanding. These efforts reflect a long tradition of religious dialogue rooted in shared monotheistic values.
Understanding Muslim–Jewish Relations Beyond Stereotypes
The relationship between Muslims and Jews cannot be accurately described as one of permanent hostility. It has evolved over centuries through periods of cooperation, coexistence, competition, and conflict. Religious teachings in both Islam and Judaism emphasize justice, compassion, and accountability before God.
While political conflicts have fueled distrust in modern times, history shows that Muslim–Jewish relations are shaped more by social and political conditions than by inevitable religious opposition. A balanced understanding requires separating theology from geopolitics and recognizing the long record of cultural and religious interaction between the two communities.
