Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I was recently in Israel on business and had an opportunity to visit the Masjid-ul-Aska etc. I also had an opportunity to talk to many good jewish people and to my suprise Islam and Judaism are almost like a twin religions. Can you please elaborate some major differences between the two religion? Also, before we Muslims prayed towards Jerusalaam and now we pray towards Kabaa in Mecca. Why did we change the direction? 

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Answer:

Diff between jews and muslims and qibla change

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verses 2-4:

2 Allah! There is no god but He, The Ever Living, The Self-Subsisting Eternal.

3 It is He Who sent down to thee (O Mohamed (saws)) in Truth the Book (Al-Quran) confirming what went before it (the Torah, Gospel, etc.); and He (it is Who) sent down the Torah (Of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this as a guide to mankind, and He (it is Who) sent down the ‘Al-Furqaan’ (Quran)

4 Then those who reject faith in the Signs of Allah will suffer the severest penalty, and Allah is Exalted in Might Lord of Retribution.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verse 37:

37 This Quran is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it (The Quran) is a confirmation of (the Divine Revelations) that went before it and a fuller explanation of the Book wherein there is no doubt from the Lord of the Worlds.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 37 Surah Saaffat verse 37:

37 Nay! He (Prophet Mohamed (saws)) has come with the (very) Truth and he confirms (the Message of) the Messengers (before Him).

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 46 Surah Ahqaaf verse 12:

12 And before this was the Book of Moses as a guide and a mercy; and this Book (the Al-Quran) confirms (it) in the Arabic tongue; to admonish the unjust and as glad tidings to those who do right.

Dear and beloved brother, it should come as no surprise to a believer that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all sister-twin-or-cousin religions; for the ‘deen’ or religion approved by Allah Subhanah has always indeed been only one: ie. Al-Islam or the absolute and unconditional surrender of one’s will to the Will of the Lord Creator……that was the exact identical Message which was propagated by every single Prophet who was ever sent on this planet earth.

Your Question: Can you please elaborate some major differences between the two religion?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verses 19-20:

19 The ‘deen’ before Allah is Al-Islam (submission to His Will): nor did the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) dissent therefrom except through envy of each other after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah Allah is swift in calling to account.

20 So if they (the People of the Book) dispute with thee (O Prophet (saws)), say: "I have submitted my whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do they are in Right Guidance, but if they turn back, thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's Sight are (all) His servants.

The People of the Book (the Jews and the Christians) in their essence of belief believe in the concept of ‘monotheism’ or the Absolute Oneness of the Lord Creator, believe in the Angels of Allah, believe in the concept of the Hereafter (Paradise and Hell), believe in the Divine Decree of the Lord Creator….

But because of their own individual agenda of superiority, and thus envy and arrogance….the Jews denied and refused to believe in the appointment of Prophet Isa ibn Maryam (a.s.) and the Message (Gospel) he (a.s.) was sent with; and similarly the Christians denied and refused to believe in the appointment of the Last and Final Messenger, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws) and the Message (Al-Quran) which he (saws) was sent with!

Thus in essence, the biggest difference arose when the Jews altered the Original Revelations of the Torah which was revealed to Prophet Moses (a.s)……and not only did they refuse to accept the appointment of the latter Prophets of Allah (Prophet Isa (a.s.) and finally Prophet Mohamed (saws), but in their arrogance they left absolutely no stone unturned in denying and plotting against the True Revelations which the Lord revealed upon His latter Prophets!

Your Question: Also, before we Muslims prayed towards Jerusalaam and now we pray towards Kabaa in Mecca. Why did we change the direction? 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verse 96:

96 The First House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka (Makkah), full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings:

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 142-150:

142 The fools among the people will say: "What hath turned them from the ‘Qiblah’ to which they were used?" Say: “To Allah belong both East and West; He guideth whom He will to a Way that is straight.”

143 Thus have We made of you an Ummah justly balanced that ye might be witnesses over the nations and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; and We appointed the ‘Qiblah’ to which thou wast used only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (from the faith). Indeed it was (a change) momentous except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah make your faith of no effect. For Allah is to all people most surely full of kindness Most Merciful.

144 We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens; now shall We turn thee to a ‘Qiblah’ that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque (of Makkah); wherever ye are turn your faces in that direction. The People of the Book know well that that is the Truth from their Lord, nor is Allah unmindful of what they do.

145 Even if thou wert to bring to the People of the Book all the Signs (together) they would not follow thy ‘Qiblah’; nor art thou going to follow their ‘Qiblah’; nor indeed will they follow each other's ‘Qiblah’. If thou after the knowledge hath reached thee wert to follow their (vain) desires then wert thou indeed (clearly) in the wrong.

146 The People of the Book know this as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the Truth which they themselves know.

147 The Truth is from thy Lord so be not at all in doubt.

148 To each is a goal to which Allah turns him; then strive together (as in a race) toward all that is good. Wheresoever ye are Allah will bring you together. For Allah hath power over all things.

149 From whencesoever thou startest forth, turn thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque (of Makkah); that is indeed the Truth from thy Lord. And Allah is not unmindful of what ye do.

150 So from whencesoever thou startest forth, turn thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque (of Makkah); among wheresoever ye are turn your face thither that there be no ground of dispute against you among the people except those of them that are bent on wickedness; so fear them not but fear Me; and that I may complete My favors on you and ye may (consent to) be guided.

The First House dedicated to the Sole Worship of the Lord Creator was the Sacred House of the Lord at Makkah; and when the People of the Book were appointed the responsibility to further the Mission of the Lord, they were guided to make ‘Jerusalem’ their ‘Qiblah’. When the People of the Book failed in their mission to propagate the True Deen of the Lord Most High; The Lord Most Majestic Most Supreme Declared it the duty and the responsibility of the Muslim Ummah to propagate His approved deen of ‘Al-Islam’ to all of mankind…..and it is to symbolize and epitomize this change in leadership and responsibility that the Lord Most High Decreed to the believing Ummah that henceforth and until the end of time, to make the Sacred House at Makkah the new ‘Qiblah’.

Thus the change of ‘qiblah’ from Jerusalem to Makkah was neither a decision of the Prophet (saws) nor of the believers, but a Direct Command of the Lord Most High unto the Prophet Mohamed (saws) and the believers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan