Salt Lake Community College

Comparison Paper
Are all religions ultimately the same?

Kim Smith
RELS-2300-004
Instructor: Suzanne Jacobs
5/02/2016

I.

Are all religions ultimate the same? I believe that while religions have things in common,

they also have their differences which sets them apart from each other. In this paper I will
compare the similarities and differences between Sikhism, Judaism, and Islam. This paper
contains three sections; the origins of the religions, sacred texts, and the rituals of each religion.
II. Origins of the religions
a. Sikhism
The origins of Sikhism came from Guru Nanak in the region of Punjab. At age
thirty Nanak had a spiritual change. It is said that is spiritual change happened after he was
immersed in a river and was said to have emerged after three days. In the text book Living
Religions, Mary Pat Fisher states that The Almighty sent him back into the world to redeem it
from Kali Unga (the darkest of ages). (Fisher, 435). After Nanaks experience he started to travel
all over India and neighboring countries. While he traveled he taught people his three central
teachings; working hard to earn an honest living, sharing your earnings with those who are in
need, and remembering God at all times. After Nanak, there were nine other Gurus. After the
last Guru died, the Sikhs were under the Mogul Empire where they had social equality and
religious freedom.
b. Judaism
The origins of Judaism begin near the region of Canaan (which is now Isreal and
Palestine areas), with Abraham who was the first patriarch, his sons Isaac and Ishmael,
Isaacs son Jacob, and Jacobs 12 sons who begat the twelve tribes of Israel. The people
of Abraham centered into a covenant (Brit) and personal relationship with God. God

promised that if they were obedient he would grant them many things. The Israelites,
Ishmaelites, Medianites, and the Edomites are descendants of that covenant.
While the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, an Israelite baby named Moses escaped
pharaohs order to have all baby boys born to Israelite women to be killed. Moses was
raised by pharaohs daughter. Moses was said to have fled into the desert after seeing an
overseer beating an Israelite slave. While in the desert God appeared to him in the form
of a burning bush, telling Moses that he needed to free the Israelite slaves from Egypt.
Moses bother, Aaron acted as his spokesperson. The book of Exodus recounts the
miracles that happened in order to convince pharaoh to let the Israelites leave. While on
the trek back to Canaan, Moses and the Israelites traveled to Mt. Sinai to re-establish the
covenant. God gave Moses a set of rules (known as the Torah), He instructed the people
to build the Ark of the Covenant, which is where the stone tablets that had the
commandments written on them where kept. The Israelites had to wander the desert for
forty years before they could return to Canaan. Moses, Aaron, and their older sister
Miriam died in the desert before the Israelites reached the Promised Land.
c. Islam
Islam can trace its ancestry to Ibrahim (known as Abraham in Judaism and
Christianity). In the Quran, it is said that Abraham and his sons Ismail and Hagar went to
Mecca (which is Arabia). Together they built the Kabah, the holiest sanctuary in Islam and it is
said to be the original place of worship for Ibrahim. God told Ibrahim that the Kabah should be
a place of pilgrimage. In the text book Living Religions, it says that In about 570 CE, a new
prophet was born. This man, Muhammad, is considered by many Muslims to be the last of a
continuing chain of prophets who have come to restore the true religion. (Fisher, 377). In 610

CE, Muhammad had his first revelation from the angel Gabriel. Three years later (613 CE) he
had a revelation telling him to start preaching publicly. In 622 Muhammad and his followers
made the Hijrah (migration) from Mecca to Yathrib (now Medina). Mecca leaders saw this as a
hostile movement and until 630 CE there were many military operations. In 630 CE Muhammad
returned to Mecca with many followers and cleansed the city. He returned to Medina and died
there in 632.
d. Conclusion/Comparisons.
Judaism is similar to Islam in the aspect that both religions come from Abrahamic
roots. Both Judaism and Islam view Abraham and Moses as a prophets. Unlike Sikhism, which
comes from Guru Nanak.
III. Sacred Texts
a. Sikhism
The Holy Text in Sikhism is the Guru Granth Sahib. It contains prayers and
hymns that are sung and chanted. The Granth was compiled by the fifth Guru, Arjun Dev ji, but
Bhai Gurdas completed the text. The Granth not only has the writings and words of 7 Gurus, it
also includes writings from Hindu and Muslim saints. The Granth is considered the most sacred
of text and is treated with respect. The Granth is written and sung in Punjabi.

The Guru Granth Sahib (sikhismguide)

b. Judaism
The Jewish scriptures is the Tanakh. The Tanakh includes the Torah, Neviim, and
the Ketuvim, it has 24 books total. The Torah (written Law) refers to the first five books of
Moses. In Living Religions, Fisher states that, it means the entire Hebrew Bible and the Talmud,
the written and the oral law. For some, Torah can refer to all sacred Jewish literature and
observance (Fisher, 278). The Torah is the most sacred of Jewish texts. It has the history of the
world, laws and the Jewish peoples ancestry. The Torahs subject matter includes monotheism,
love, faith, and Jewish law. It is written in scrolls and it kept in a cabinet in the synagogue called
the Ark, or the Ark of the Covenant. The Neviim refers to the Prophets, and Ketuvim means
Writings. The Jewish people also have another text called The Talmud, which is part of the
Oral Law. The Talmud includes Jewish law and folklore.

The Torah (ridgeaphistory)

c. Islam
The Holy Text in Islam is the Quran. It means recitation. The Quran was
gathered into a single text around 650 CE by the third caliph (a caliph is the successor to the
prophet) Uthman. Living Religions, says that, He (the Prophet) received the messages over a
period of twenty-three years, with some later messages replacing earlier ones...Later messages

also addressed the organizational needs and social lives of the Muslim community. (Fisher,
384). The Quran has 114 Surahs or chapters. The Quran was revealed to Muhammed in
Arabic and when someone reads from it, it is spoken in Arabic. To read it in English or another
language it loses its meaning. The Quran talks about wisdom, doctrine, worship, law, prophets,
and Gods relationship to man. The Quran mentions important people from Jewish and Christian
history.

The Quran (islam.ru)

D. Conclusion/Comparisons
The biggest similarity between the holy text in Sikhism, Judaism, and Islam is
that all three texts talk about God and monotheism. Even though they call God by different
names (Sikhism: Sat Nam, Judaism: G-d, Islam: Allah) they are the same. Similarly all three text
are revealed from God. Another similarity between Sikhism and Islam is that The Guru Granth
Sahib has writing from Muslim saints. A difference between all three texts is that they are all
written in different and spoken in different languages; the Granth is in Punjabi, the Tanakh is in
Hebrew, and the Quran is in Arabic.
IV: Rituals
a. Sikhism

From my personal observance at the Gurdwara I saw many rituals that I learned in
class. The first being when I first walked in. I saw people take their shoes off, wash their hands
and move upstairs. Upstairs I saw people walking up to where the Guru Granth was sitting.
They would bow, give an offering (either money or words) and then back up and take a seat.
Another thing I first noticed when walking in was the music and singing, this is called Kirtan
(singing of hymns). After the kirtan there was the reading of the scriptures, called Vak Lao.
After reading a few passages, they all prayed together. After the prayer they passed a warm,
sticky dough called the parshad. After partaking of the parshad, we went downstairs to the
kitchen to have lunch with the Gurdwara members. This community kitchen is called Langar.
This service is free to all members and visitors. Sikhs prayer 3-5 times daily. Sikhs do not have
specific Sabbath day, they believe that every day is a day of worship.
b. Judaism
In my personal observance at the synagogue was the recitation of prayers, singing
of hymns. Many of the prayers were sung. All prayers and hymns were in Hebrew, but the
books given to us had an English translation next to it. After the prayers and hymns, the Rabbi
read from the Torah (Haftorah reading). She also had members of the congregation come up and
participate in retrieving the Torah from the ark, reading from the book, and putting the Torah
away. After reading the Torah, the Rabbi made a current day comparison to what was read from
the Torah. Jewish Shabbat (Sabbath), begins Friday at sundown with lighting of candles, challah
(leavened bread), wine, and special meal. Shabbat ends Saturday at sundown.
c. Islam

The practices in Islam are called the five pillars. The first pillar is Shahada, or the
statement of faith. The second pillar is Salat, or prayer. Muslims are required to pray five times
day and can pray anywhere as long as they face Mecca. The third pillar is charity, or Zakat.
Linving Religions author Fisher explains, At the end of the year, all Muslims must donate at
least two and a half percent of their accumulated wealth to needy Muslims (Fisher, 394). This is
to help stop personal greed. The fourth pillar is Sawm, or Fasting. This day of fasting happens in
the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and lasts from dawn to dusk during the crescent to new
moon. They cannot have food, drink, or sexual relations. The fifth and last pillar is Hajj, or
pilgrimage to Mecca. This pilgrimage takes place in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.
Every Muslim is to make the pilgrimage at least once in their life they are financially and
physically able. There are five stages of Hajj: 1. Start at Mina, perform 5 prayers. 2. Prayers at
the Arafat. 3. At Muzdalifah pilgrims collect pebbles for the stoning ceremony. 4. Jamaraatstoning the pillars, and an animal sacrifice is made. 5. Return to Mecca, crossing Safa and
Marwa 7 times, more prayers are said.
d. Conclusion/comparisons
The biggest similarity is that all three religions incorporate prayer into their daily
lives and is also part of their worship service. Sikhs and Muslims are supposed to pray so many
times a day, Sikhs 3-5 and Muslims 5. Unlike Judaism, which does not have a specific number
for daily prayers. Another similarity is that the three religions ask that their members give
donations to help the poor and needy.
V. Conclusion:

I believe that while religions have things in common, they also have their differences which sets
them apart from each other. Judaism and Islam have Abrahamic roots, but Sikhism does not.
Sikhisms holy text includes writing from Islamic figures. But all three religions are
monotheistic, the belief in one God. All three religions use prayer as a form of worship but pray
in different ways (prostrating, language, direction). From these comparisons we can learn that
many religions share similar beliefs and practices.

Works Cited
Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions 9th Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2014. Print. (pp. 435, 377, 278,
384, 394
N/A. Revelation the Guru Granth Sahib. Digital Image. SikhismGuide. SikhismGuide.
Web. 30 April 2016.
N/A. Judaism. Digital Image. Ridgeaphistory. Web. 30 April 2016.
Elias, Abu Amina. Forgiveness in the Quran and Sunnah. Digital Image. Islam.ru.
MuslimsToday.info.
24 Jan 2014. Web. 30 April 2016
Class observation, Gurdwara Sahib, April 24, 2016.
Class observation, Congregation Kol Ami, Saturday March 12, 2016