Why is it that between the religions : Islam, Christianity and Judaism, there are so many varying rituals? Putting holidays like Christmas on the side, which clearly have a man-made history, rituals like Sacrifice on Baqra Eid or Fasting for a whole month, etc that are not found in the other two religions, why do we have differing rituals in the first place?
It got me thinking because the way I rationalize that many branches of Islam are a false offshoots off a central true faith, is that there is division in the way things are done. Each sunni fiqh / shia branch CREATES more divisions for themselves as they keep branching off, because they demand to follow a different Imam or a different ideology / interpretation of some verse or the other from the Quran or some different hadith, and they invent in themselves their own practices of how they practice Islam. They erect their own buildings, their own worshipping centers, and they become increasingly exclusive, and this ends up creating more divisions. A sign of the Devil interfering in our religion.
So, a tip on a religion as being false is that it splinters and leads to further divisions.
But then if I apply this same logic to the 3 monotheistic religions, we find the same thing - we find splintering. Because we have different rituals.
As much as we should all be the same “Believers”, we do things that they don’t and vice versa. Jewish folks have various food restrictions on them that we do not, and this is even mentioned in the Quran.
So why does Allah create different rituals for the various groups, or is this a sign of certain religions being false?
Re: Differing rituals among monotheistic religions
In other words, if Allah wants us all to worship him and the wars and conflict to end, why wouldn't He present the faith to us in the same way each time through each prophet? Why present the faith differently through each one by asking us to engage in unique rituals? Unique dress? Unique qiblas? Why not unite us and tell us , practice worshipping God in this same uniform way?
Re: Differing rituals among monotheistic religions
In other words, if Allah wants us all to worship him and the wars and conflict to end, why wouldn't He present the faith to us in the same way each time through each prophet? Why present the faith differently through each one by asking us to engage in unique rituals? Unique dress? Unique qiblas? Why not unite us and tell us , practice worshipping God in this same uniform way?
The message stays the same but the practice changes because of the changing times. Some rituals have stayed the same though throughout. In the Qur'an it clearly states that fasting is prescribed for the Muslims just as it was prescribed for those who came before. This includes the Jews and Christians. Zakat was also prescribed for them before the Muslims. Of course they don't do it anymore. Some things were halal for the Jews and Christians like alcohol but it was made haram for the Muslims because the harm outweighed the benefits. As for differing Qiblas that too is explained in Qur'an. The Muslims used to pray towards Jerusalem but when the Jews began mocking them Allah commanded the Muslims to turn to Makkah. The honour was taken from the Jews in that way. As for prayer the prophets all used to pray in a similar manner. The five prayers the Muslims have though are a gift from Allah. It wasn't given to any other people who came before. The daily prayers are a blessing for us. Alhumdulillah Allah gave the Muslims so much honour and so many blessings.
Re: Differing rituals among monotheistic religions
I think the teachings of different prophets are not contradictory, they are just a transformational / transitional journey for the introduction of the final version of 'the' religion which was presented by the final Prophet (PBUH).
Al - Quran - 3:81
And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allah took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], "Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him." Allah ] said, "Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?" They said, "We have acknowledged it." He said, "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."
Urdu
جب اللہ تعالیٰ نے نبیوں سے عہد لیا کہ جو کچھ میں تمہیں کتاب وحکمت دوں پھر تمہارے پاس وه رسول آئے جو تمہارے پاس کی چیز کو سچ بتائے تو تمہارے لئے اس پر ایمان ﻻنا اور اس کی مدد کرنا ضروری ہے۔ فرمایا کہ تم اس کے اقراری ہو اور اس پر میرا ذمہ لے رہے ہو؟ سب نے کہا کہ ہمیں اقرار ہے، فرمایا تو اب گواه رہو اور خود میں بھی تمہارے ساتھ گواہوں میں ہوں
Re: Differing rituals among monotheistic religions
Peace Sister PCG
Other than the explanations already given above we can choose to focus on difference OR on similarity …
Old Jewish prayer
Coptic Christian Prayer
here a Jew is arguing against his own people for criticising Muslim practices and concludes with a similar message … that we should focus on similarities.
Re: Differing rituals among monotheistic religions
because then our quest to seek the truth may not be there, we may not judged by the 100% efficiency of our religious thinking or acts but we will be judged by the effort we put in to try. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Islam!
Re: Differing rituals among monotheistic religions
Jews and Christians also fast on specific dates.
As per Islamic philosophy, each new religion (or prophet) appeared due to to expiration or corruption of a previous prophetic religion. Meaning, divisions occurred due to loss or alteration of rituals. The old testament, for example, forbade the consumption of swine. This was omitted in the New, hence may be a corruption. Islam forbids making images of religious figures and so does orthodox Christianity, but Catholics can't live without staining the glass with images of Jesus and Mary. Old Hindu scriptures also prohibited creation of *'murti's' *but most modern day Hindus can't seem to live without making caricatures and idols of their various Gods.
Alterations over time and corruptions within the doctrine is what leads to differing in rituals.