Understanding the founder figure of three world religions
5 minutes
5:00
Take a few minutes to recall what you learned about monotheism and sacred texts in Year 7.
Question 1: What is monotheism?
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer: The belief in one God. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all monotheistic religions.
Question 2: Name two sacred texts from world religions
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer: The Bible (Christianity and Judaism), the Quran (Islam), the Torah (Judaism). There are many correct answers!
Question 3: What is a covenant?
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer: A sacred agreement or promise, often between God and people. You may have learned this last year!
Question 4: Which continent is the Middle East part of?
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer: Asia. Today's religions all began in the Middle East and spread across the world.
10 minutes
The Story of Abraham
Abraham is a figure whose importance stretches across three of the world's major religions. He is not a modern historical figure — he appears in religious texts written over 2,000 years ago — but his story has shaped billions of lives. Let's trace his journey through time and through the eyes of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Who Was Abraham?
Abraham (originally called Abram) was born in ancient Mesopotamia, in what is now Iraq, around 2000 BCE. According to the Bible and the Quran, he was chosen by God to become the father of a great nation. This choice, and his unwavering faith, makes him central to three world religions today.
Key Events in Abraham's Life
🕎 Judaism: Abraham the Father
In Judaism, Abraham is honoured as the founder of the Jewish people. The story begins when God calls to Abram: "Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation." This is the call to go to Canaan, the Promised Land (modern-day Israel/Palestine).
✝️ Christianity: Abraham the Model of Faith
Christians see Abraham as the model of faith and obedience. His willingness to trust God completely, even when asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, shows a faith so strong that he is called "the father of the faithful." For Christians, this foreshadows Jesus's sacrifice.
☪️ Islam: Abraham the Friend of God
In Islam, Abraham (Ibrahim) is revered as one of the greatest prophets. Muslims honour him particularly for his willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael for God. Muslims believe that Abraham's legacy continues through Ishmael, who became the ancestor of the Arab people and eventually the prophet Muhammad.
The Key Events
The Call (c. 2000 BCE)
God calls Abram to leave his home and journey to an unknown land. He is promised descendants and a great nation.
The Journey to Canaan
Abraham travels to what is now Israel/Palestine. He is promised this land as an inheritance for his descendants.
The Covenant (Genesis 17)
God makes a formal agreement with Abraham. He will be the father of many nations, and all his male descendants must be circumcised as a sign of the covenant.
Isaac's Birth
Abraham's wife Sarah gives birth to Isaac when Abraham is very old. Isaac is the child of the promise and becomes the focus of the covenant.
The Sacrifice (Genesis 22)
God asks Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. Abraham prepares to obey, but God stops him at the last moment and provides a ram as a sacrifice instead. This tests Abraham's faith and obedience.
Ishmael and the Arab Nations
Abraham also has a son Ishmael with Hagar (Sarah's servant). According to Islamic tradition, Ishmael becomes the ancestor of the Arab peoples and, eventually, the prophet Muhammad.
Why Abraham Matters to All Three Religions
Abraham is called the "Father of Three Faiths" because:
Judaism traces its origins directly to Abraham and his covenant with God. Jews are sometimes called the "children of Abraham."
Christianity sees Abraham as the ancestor of Jesus (through David), and as the model of faith for all believers.
Islam recognizes Abraham as one of the most important prophets (Khalil Allah, "the Friend of God") and the ancestor of Muhammad through Ishmael.
All three religions trace their spiritual roots back to Abraham's original covenant with God. This shared connection is why they are called the Abrahamic faiths.
10 minutes
Match the Events to Scripture
Below are key events from Abraham's story. Use your knowledge to match each event to its religious source. Click the chips to sort them into the correct categories.
Available Events:
God calls Abram to Canaan
The covenant and circumcision
Isaac's birth to Sarah
The Binding of Isaac
Ishmael and the Arabs
Abraham as a model of faith
Abraham as Friend of God
Abraham foreshadowing Jesus
📖 In the Bible (Judaism & Christianity)
☪️ In the Quran (Islam)
✝️ Christian Interpretation Only
10 minutes
Why Is Abraham Called "The Father of Three Faiths"?
Now that you understand Abraham's story and its importance across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, write a paragraph explaining why he deserves this title. Your answer should show that you understand the connection between all three religions through Abraham.
Sentence Starters (Choose 2-3 to help you):
"Abraham is important to all three religions because..."
"Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are connected through Abraham because..."
"The story of Abraham's covenant shows that..."
"All three religions trace their faith back to Abraham's..."
"Although the three religions interpret Abraham differently, they all agree that..."
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Key Ideas to Include:
Covenant
A sacred agreement or promise between God and Abraham
Monotheism
Belief in one God — shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Descendant
Someone who comes from an ancestor; Abraham's descendants include Jewish, Christian, and Muslim peoples
10 minutes
The Relationship Between the Three Faiths
This is a real theological question that believers and scholars have debated for centuries.
One view: Abraham's children are siblings
What does "Abraham's children" mean?
All three trace themselves to Abraham and monotheism. But they answer the question "What does God want from us?" in different ways. Are they siblings with different interpretations, or are they fundamentally opposed?
Your Perspective
Question: In your view, does Islam replace Judaism and Christianity, complete them, or coexist with them as a separate path? Why?
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Remember: This is a real theological debate. There's no neutral "right answer." What matters is that you think carefully about the evidence and explain your reasoning clearly.
5 minutes
Lesson Review
Before you finish, test your understanding of today's key content with these retrieval questions.
1. What covenant did God make with Abraham?
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer: God promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation and give his descendants the land of Canaan. In return, Abraham and his descendants had to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant.
2. Name Abraham's two sons and explain their significance to the three faiths
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer:Isaac is the child of Abraham and Sarah, promised by God. He is important to Judaism and Christianity. Ishmael is Abraham's son with Hagar. In Islam, he is seen as the ancestor of Muhammad and the Arab peoples.
3. Why did the sacrifice of Isaac matter to each religion?
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer:Judaism: It showed Abraham's absolute faith and obedience to God. Christianity: It prefigures Jesus's sacrifice. Islam: When Abraham was willing to sacrifice Ishmael (not Isaac in Islamic tradition), he showed perfect submission to God's will.
4. Why is Abraham called "the Father of Three Faiths"?
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer: Because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all trace their spiritual roots back to Abraham and the covenant God made with him. He is the shared founder figure of all three Abrahamic faiths.
5. What is the promised land in Abraham's story?
🔒Try to answer from memory first!
Answer: Canaan, which is modern-day Israel and Palestine. God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit this land.
Well done! You're ready for Lesson 2: Judaism — The Chosen People