DoRevision
Log in Sign up free

World Religions: Islam and Judaism

What Muslims and Jews believe and how they practise their faith: the one God, the Prophet Muhammad and the Five Pillars in Islam, and the covenant, the Torah and Shabbat in Judaism, with each belief presented as held by its followers.

⏱️ 20 min 🎯 15 activities
Best used for
Intervention Mock preparation Cover lesson

Use it, the way the marks are given

Free interactive practice at using the material, which is what the marks are for.

Start revising free

What you'll cover

Two faiths, Islam and Judaism

This module looks at two of the great world faiths, Islam and Judaism, giving each equal space and equal respect. Throughout, beliefs are described as they are held by their followers, not stated as proven fact: - What each faith believes about God and about how to live.\n- The main practices that shape daily life and the year.\n- The sources of authority that each faith turns to.\n- Studying fairly, describing beliefs without ranking one above another. Christianity and the ethics and philosophy units are covered in other modules. Here the focus is Islam and Judaism.

Words for Islam and Judaism

Five terms you need before you use them. Learn what each one means.

Match each faith term to its meaning

  • Shahadah
  • Ramadan
  • Pesach
  • synagogue
  • Hajj
  • the Muslim declaration of faith in one God and in the Prophet Muhammad
  • the month in which many Muslims fast during daylight hours
  • the Jewish festival remembering freedom from slavery in Egypt
  • the building where Jewish people gather to worship and study
  • the pilgrimage to Makkah that Muslims aim to make once

Islam and Judaism side by side

The two faiths share a belief in one God yet express it in their own ways. Seeing them together shows both the common ground and the differences, with respect for each.

Which is a source of authority in Islam?

For Muslims, which of these is regarded as the most important source of authority?

  • The Quran, believed to be the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
  • The Torah scroll read in the synagogue
  • The writings of the Greek philosophers
  • The private traditions of a single family

Tap the two of the Five Pillars

Tap the TWO practices that are part of the Five Pillars of Islam.

  • Salah, the daily prayers
  • Zakah, giving to those in need
  • Keeping Shabbat each week
  • Reading from the Torah scroll

Sources of authority

Each faith looks to particular sources when deciding what it believes and how to live, and these sources are treated with great reverence. In Islam, the Quran is believed to be the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, and the example of the Prophet gives further guidance. In Judaism, the Torah stands at the heart of the wider Jewish scriptures, and the teachings of the rabbis help the community apply it. In both faiths, believers return to these sources again and again to understand what their faith asks of them.

Pick the true statements about these faiths

Select the TWO statements that are true.

  • Muslims believe in one God, whom they call Allah
  • In Judaism the Torah is treated as a sacred scripture
  • Islam teaches belief in many gods
  • Judaism has no weekly day of rest

Order how to study a faith fairly

Put the steps of studying a world faith fairly in a sensible order.

  • Read what the faith teaches about God
  • Learn the main sources of authority
  • Study the main practices and festivals
  • Note the range of views within the faith
  • Explain the beliefs respectfully in your own words

Two festivals, two faiths

Follow two festivals, one from each faith, to see how belief shapes the year for those who hold it. Ramadan in Islam: for one month, many Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. It is a time of prayer, self-discipline and giving to those in need, and it ends with a joyful celebration. Pesach in Judaism: Jewish families gather for a special meal and retell the story of freedom from slavery in Egypt, remembering it as if they themselves had been set free. What they share: both festivals bring families and communities together, mark time by the rhythm of the faith, and pass the tradition on to the young. Described this way, as observances kept by believers, the festivals can be understood and respected by anyone, whatever their own beliefs.

Complete the beliefs facts

The Muslim belief in the oneness of the one God is called _____. The holy book believed by Muslims to be the word of God is the _____. The most sacred scripture in Judaism is the _____. The agreement believed to be between God and the Jewish people is the _____.

Tawhid Hajj Quran synagogue Torah Shabbat covenant Ramadan

Build a point about the two faiths

Choose the words that complete this statement about Islam and Judaism.

The Islam and Judaism run

Five questions on Islam and Judaism. Three lives.

Study the faiths fairly

Read each situation and choose the fairest approach for religious studies, then think about why.

  • A student writes that one of these religions is more true than the other. What is the fairer approach in religious studies?
  • A student is unsure whether a belief is a fact or something held by believers. How should they phrase it?
  • A student notices that not all followers of a faith practise in exactly the same way. What should they do?

Explain key beliefs of Islam and Judaism

A classmate missed these lessons. Explain the key beliefs and practices of Islam and Judaism using what this module has covered, describing each belief as held by its followers.

  • Explain what Muslims believe about God and one source of authority in Islam
  • Explain two of the Five Pillars of Islam
  • Explain what Jews believe about the covenant and the Torah
  • Explain one important practice in Judaism, such as Shabbat
  • Finish by explaining why beliefs should be described as held by their followers