An artist's illustration of the Abrahamic Family House to be built on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Edelman
An artist's illustration of the Abrahamic Family House to be built on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Edelman
An artist's illustration of the Abrahamic Family House to be built on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Edelman
An artist's illustration of the Abrahamic Family House to be built on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Edelman

What are the Abrahamic religions?


John Dennehy
  • English
  • Arabic

A new chapter of coexistence has started in the UAE as a mosque, church and synagogue will be built in Abu Dhabi.

The Abrahamic Family House is a response to the Document on Human Fraternity, which was signed by Pope Francis and Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, during the pontiff's visit to the UAE in February.

The document is a message of coexistence and the Saadiyat Island building – designed by renowned British architect David Adjaye – will reflect that aspiration.

What are the Abrahamic religions?

Islam, Christianity and Judaism are the three main Abrahamic religions because Abraham – or Ibrahim – is important to them all. Adherents consider him an important prophet or father figure.

When were the religions established?

Christianity is the world’s biggest religion, with about 2.1 billion followers. It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the Middle East about 2,000 years ago. ­

Many historians say that Islam began in Arabia in the 7th century in divine revelations given to the Prophet Mohammed. Muslims believe he was the last prophet. Close to two billion people practise the faith today.

Judaism, meanwhile, began more than 3,500 years ago. Jews believe that God anointed them as the chosen people to set an example of holiness. There are about 15 million Jews worldwide.

Construction of St Joseph's on Abu Dhabi's Corniche started in 1963, around the time this photograph was taken. Courtesy St Joseph's
Construction of St Joseph's on Abu Dhabi's Corniche started in 1963, around the time this photograph was taken. Courtesy St Joseph's

What are the main texts?

Muslims consult the Quran, Christians the Bible and Jews the Torah. The three are sacred books that tell the story of the three religions.

Why was Abraham so revered?

All three of these religions refer to Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God. As Abraham was about to deliver the killer blow, God stopped the sacrifice. For Christians, Abraham symbolises obedience to God and foreshadows the fate of Jesus.

Muslims refer to him as Ibrahim and consider him to be a major prophet. The Muslim festival of Eid Al Adha – when animals are sacrificed – remembers Abraham’s obedience to God.

Jews believe he is the man to whom God pledged the promised land. Abraham is also considered to be the father of the Arabs as well as the Jewish people through his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael (Ismail in Arabic).

What similarities do Abrahamic religions share?

The three religions are monotheistic because of their belief in a one, true God. Adherents believe God to be the creator and only source of moral law and that the road to salvation lies in obedience to God’s will.

What are the differences between the three?

Many of the three’s religious texts feature the same people and places but in different circumstances and scenarios. One of the big differences concerns Jesus. Christians consider Jesus to be the messiah and the son of God. Muslims consider him a prophet, while Jews consider him a false messiah.

The Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. AFP
The Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. AFP

The importance of Jerusalem

Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has been conquered, razed and rebuilt. It is also revered in all three Abrahamic holy books. Many holy sites are near the Haram Al Sharif – a hill in the old city – including Al Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall.

For Muslims, Al Aqsa Mosque is their third-holiest site. They believe the Prophet Mohammed came to the mosque from Makkah during his night journey — Al Isra Wa Al Miraj. The shrine of the Dome of the Rock is only a few steps away where the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven.

For Christians, Jerusalem is where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead.

Millions of Jews, meanwhile, visit Jerusalem to pray at the Western Wall, a remnant of the mount on which the Holy Temple once stood. Jews believe that this was the location of the foundation stone from which the world was created, and where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac.

Have the Abrahamic religions always coexisted peacefully?

It has not always been an easy journey. Pope Urban II launched the Crusades in 1095. What followed was a series a bloody battles over the fate of Jerusalem. The Christian armies retook the city initially but were later routed by famed Muslim leader, Saladin. The Crusades ended 200 years later with Muslims in control of the Holy Land. But Christians learnt much from the skilled Arab world in warfare and science.

Prophet Elias Cathedral Greek Orthodox in Abu Dhabi. The UAE is home to many religions and faiths. Wam
Prophet Elias Cathedral Greek Orthodox in Abu Dhabi. The UAE is home to many religions and faiths. Wam

Places of worship in the Middle East

Long before formation of the UAE in 1971, there were churches and temples. The first Roman Catholic church opened in the 1960s and now there are places of worship for Anglicans, Catholics, Orthodox, Sikhs, Buddhists and many more. There is also a small synagogue in Dubai. Across parts of the Arabian Peninsula the story is the same, with churches in Oman, Yemen, Bahrain and Qatar. There are also synagogues in Bahrain, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon.

A new era of coexistence starts

The UAE’s leaders designated 2019 as the Year of Tolerance and on Saturday, announced the Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat, ushering in a new era of tolerance.

Most wanted allegations
  • Benjamin Macann, 32: involvement in cocaine smuggling gang.
  • Jack Mayle, 30: sold drugs from a phone line called the Flavour Quest.
  • Callum Halpin, 27: over the 2018 murder of a rival drug dealer. 
  • Asim Naveed, 29: accused of being the leader of a gang that imported cocaine.
  • Calvin Parris, 32: accused of buying cocaine from Naveed and selling it on.
  • John James Jones, 31: allegedly stabbed two people causing serious injuries.
  • Callum Michael Allan, 23: alleged drug dealing and assaulting an emergency worker.
  • Dean Garforth, 29: part of a crime gang that sold drugs and guns.
  • Joshua Dillon Hendry, 30: accused of trafficking heroin and crack cocain. 
  • Mark Francis Roberts, 28: grievous bodily harm after a bungled attempt to steal a £60,000 watch.
  • James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson, 56: for arson and over the seizure of a tonne of cocaine.
  • Nana Oppong, 41: shot a man eight times in a suspected gangland reprisal attack. 
Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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RESULTS
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About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

Scoreline

Liverpool 4

Oxlade-Chamberlain 9', Firmino 59', Mane 61', Salah 68'

Manchester City 3

Sane 40', Bernardo Silva 84', Gundogan 90' 1

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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