Understanding Judaism and Christianity: An Islamic Perspective

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Understanding Judaism and Christianity

About The Course

Embark on an enlightening journey with our online course, ‘Understanding Judaism and Christianity: An Islamic Perspective’. This exploration, designed for passionate learners, features 16 live, interactive sessions led by subject experts. This course is a powerful tool for individuals in the Western world and Muslim countries to deepen their understanding of Christianity and Judaism, fostering effective daʿwah and meaningful interfaith dialogue.

Course Team

Ustadh Sharif Randhawa

(Bayyinah Institute & the Centre for the Advanced Study of the Quran and its Interpretation)

Dr Hasan Awan - Muraqabah and Mind Peacefulness course

Ustadh Usman Shaikh

(MPhil in Islamic Studies,University of Oxford)

AT A GLANCE

16 Live Online Sessions

Duration : 4+ months

Saturday, 6PM - 7:30PM (London, UK)

Video Recordings Available

Access to Mobile App

Personalised Feedback

Digital Certificate

From £14.99/Month

(For 4 Months)

Enrol Now

Starts on 25th November 2023

Course Fee

Pay in Full: ~~£79.99~~ £59.99

Pay In 4 Installments: £14.99 per month

Registration Deadline:

24th November 2023

Al Balagh Scholarship

AlBalagh Scholarship is available for learners who cannot afford the fee.

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Sessions

Module 1

1. Introducing the Abrahamic Religions

1. Defining Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
2. The commonalities between the three religions.
3. The relationships between the “Abrahamic religions” from non-Muslim and Islamic perspectives.
4. The key differences between the three religions.

Module 2

2. Understanding Judaism

1. The origins and development of Judaism.
2. The Written and Oral Torah.
3. Key tenets: Monotheism and Covenant.
4. Modern Jewish sects: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism.
5. Judaism from an Islamic perspective.

Module 3

3. The Written and Oral Torah

1. The term “Torah”.
2. The Written Torah: The Hebrew Bible.
3. The Oral Torah: The Talmud and Midrash.
4. The Jewish interpretation of scripture.
5. The Written and Oral Torah from an Islamic perspective.

Module 4

4. Prophet Moses in Jewish Scripture and Tradition

1. His significance and role in Judaism.
2. The Exodus and the revelation of the Covenant.
3. Jewish understanding of prophecy: Moses as a model.
4. Comparing Moses in Judaism and Islam.

Module 5

5. Jewish Rituals and Practices

1. Understanding Mitzvot: The 613 commandments.
2. Key Jewish practices and their significance: Shabbat, Kosher, etc.
3. Jewish lifecycle events: From Brit Milah to Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
4. The role of prayer in Jewish life.

Module 6

6. The Textual Transmission of Jewish Writings

1. The textual transmission of the Bible in the light of Muslim views about the taḥrīf of earlier writings.
2. Exploring textual variants: a study of specific examples.
3. The implications of taḥrīf for Jewish-Muslim dialogue.
4. Balancing respect and critical inquiry in religious discussions.

Module 7

7. Judaism & Islam: A Comparative Study

1. Identifying key similarities and differences in beliefs.
2. Prophethood in Judaism vs. Islam.
3. Comparing ethical guidelines and moral teachings.
4. Concept of God in Judaism and Islam.
5. Shared values and points of connection for dialogue.

Module 8

8. Engaging in Daʿwah with Jewish References

1. The importance of respectful daʿwah.
2. Using shared prophets and narratives in dialogue.
3. How to approach sensitive topics like taḥrīf.
4. Strategies for handling theological disagreements.
5. Real-world examples of effective daʿwah with Jewish individuals.

Module 9

9. Understanding Christianity

1. The origins, development, and key doctrines of Christianity.
2. The role and significance of Jesus in Christianity.
3. The Christian Bible: Old and New Testaments.
4. The major branches of Christianity: Catholic, Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Protestant.
5. Christianity from an Islamic perspective.

Module 10

10. The Christian Bible: Old and New Testaments

1. The Old Testament.
2. The New Testament: content, authorship, canonization, & transmission.
3. Understanding Christian approaches towards interpreting the New Testament.
4. The Christian Bible from an Islamic perspective.

Module 11

11. The Doctrines of the Divinity of Jesus and the Trinity

1. The divinity of Jesus in the New Testament.
2. The development of the doctrine of the Trinity.
3. The impact of Trinitarian belief on Christian practices.
4. The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus from an Islamic perspective.

Module 1 2

12. Sacraments & Salvation

1. Understanding Christian sacraments: baptism, communion, etc.
2. Salvation in Christianity: various perspectives.
3. Christian rituals and their significance.
4. Exploring Christian holidays: Easter, Christmas, etc.
5. The role of church and community in Christian life.

Module 1 3

13. Bible and Taḥrīf (Distortion): An Islamic Analysis

1. The text of the New Testament and Muslim views on the taḥrīf of earlier writings.
2. Exploring the nature of New Testament textual variants.
3. The implications of taḥrīf for Muslim-Christian dialogue.
4. Maintaining a balanced and respectful dialogue.

Module 1 4

14. Christianity & Islam: A Comparative Exploration

1. Charting key similarities and differences in beliefs and practices.
2. Comparing views on Jesus and other shared figures.
3. Ethical parallels and divergences between Christianity and Islam.
4. Exploring the concept of God in Christianity and Islam.
5. Building on shared values for interfaith dialogue.

Module 1 5

15. Biblical References in Daʿwah: Strategies for Meaningful Dialogue

1. Employing biblical narratives and teachings in dialogue.
2. Respectful discussion of sensitive topics, including taḥrīf.
3. Navigating theological differences in dialogue.
4. Examples of effective daʿwah with Christian individuals.

Module 1 6

16. The End Times in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

1. The importance of eschatology in the Abrahamic religions.
2. Shared ideas about the end times in the Abrahamic religions.
3. Differences between the teachings Abrahamic religions on the end times.
4. The role of prophetic figures in end-times narratives.
5. Exploring the impact of eschatological beliefs on religious practice and dialogue.

Course Overview

In today’s interconnected world, understanding the beliefs of different faiths is a fundamental element of fostering interfaith dialogue, fulfilling the prophetic mission, engaging in daʿwah, and inviting others toward the true message of Islam with wisdom, compassion, and love. Our online course, “Understanding Judaism and Christianity: An Islamic Perspective”, offers an immersive journey into these two major religions with an Islamic perspective. Over 16 live interactive sessions, we will learn about the origins and development of Judaism and Christianity, their key beliefs and practices, their sacred texts, their different sects and denominations, and their understandings of salvation history and eschatology—the branch of theology concerned with the end times and afterlife.

This course is ideally suited for individuals involved in daʿwah, sharīʿah scholars, those interested in interfaith discussions, and particularly for Muslims residing in the West. It provides an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding of Western belief systems, enhancing your ability to present Islam’s truth and spread its message effectively. Embark on this journey to gain the knowledge and confidence you need to foster meaningful dialogue with your Christian and Jewish counterparts and bring new effectiveness to your daʿwah efforts.

Learning Objectives

Learn how Judaism and Christianity originated and developed, ultimately taking the forms by which we know them today.
Develop an understanding of the scriptures and traditions of Judaism and Christianity from academic and Islamic perspectives.
Understand the theological controversies that shaped the development of Christian doctrine.
Develop an appreciation for the commonalities and sources of disagreement between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
Examine the Islamic concept of taḥrīf, or scriptural distortion, and how it relates to Jewish and Christian scripture and interpretation.
Learn about the similarities and differences in the teachings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam about salvation history and eschatology.

Learning Outcomes

Be equipped with a well-rounded knowledge to engage in informed interfaith discussions about Judaism and Christianity.
Understand how the scriptures, interpretive traditions, and theology of Judaism and Christianity developed and how to identify the points of divergence between the Abrahamic religions.
Enhance your daʿwah efforts with your new-found knowledge and understanding, especially for Muslims residing in the West.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Al Balagh courses recognised or accredited?

Al Balagh courses do not provide an externally accredited or recognised qualification. Our own expert team works at the course content. With over 38000+ learners, we are continuously growing and our vision is to make Al Balagh qualifications renowned worldwide through our expert team, without seeking formal accreditation or recognition from external institutional bodies.

How is this online course structured?

Our online course comprises live interactive online sessions, pre-recorded videos, online course material that include, presentations, reading material & online learning activities. Students may ask questions and get their doubts cleared from their respective lecturers, if any. Our dedicated academic support team will assist you as required.

When will I have access to the online course material?

Upon successful enrollment, you will get access to myAlBalagh (our online learning portal) within 24 hours.

Will I get notification for live sessions?

All students will receive notification for their course live sessions via email and/or course WhatsApp group. You may also check the Course Schedule tab on your dashboard after logging in on our website or Mobile App.

Is it mandatory to attend live sessions?

We always encourage attending live sessions among students, but it is not compulsory for technical course progress of the students.

I missed a live session. Can I get the video recordings?

If you are unable to attend a live session or have missed it, you can view recorded sessions on your course dashboard. You can access all the completed Recordings, PPT and assessments anytime.

Can I download the recordings and watch it offline?

You can download recordings and PPT of the course sessions from the myAlBalagh mobile App for all the enrolled courses.The recordings will be available for students after 48 hours of the live session.

Do I get marks for watching course recordings and presentations?

There are no additional marks for watching the course recordings. Only the module Assessments and the final exam add up to the final score.You can check the individual scores of your Assessments under the Progress tab of myAlBalagh.

I have doubts but I cannot attend the live session. Any other way to ask my questions?

You can discuss your doubts via Course WhatsApp Group dedicated for student discussion or access the Discussion Board on myAlBalagh. It is a platform for you to ask questions, discuss and get your doubts cleared.

When will the final exam be held?

The Final Exam will be held at the end of the course and will be a Graded And Timed Exam.

How do I interact with my classmates?

You can interact with your classmates on our Whatsapp Group exclusive for the course students. Furthermore, you can use the Discussion Board to connect with other course students as well.

How long will I have access to the online course?

You will have access to the online course content for up to 2 years. If you want lifetime access, contact our admin team via Email at [email protected].

I am facing trouble signing into the “myAlBalagh” Online Student portal. What should I do?

In case you find any trouble accessing your account, then please contact us immediately. Our dedicated support team will ensure that your problem gets resolved at the earliest.

How can I apply for the Al Balagh Scholarship?

Al Balagh Academy values seekers of knowledge more than anything. Please visit here to apply for a scholarship. Our team will assess your application and respond in 2-3 working days.