A Tale Of Moon And Star: Judaism, Islam, And The Struggle For Jerusalem
- IJLLR Journal
- Dec 20, 2025
- 2 min read
Trivani Singh Rathore, The Law School, University of Jammu
ABSTRACT
This paper traces the intertwined histories and theological connections between Judaism and Islam from the call of Abraham (Genesis 12:1) through modern conflicts. Both traditions stem from the figure of Abraham (Ibrahim) and his descendants. In Judaism the promise made to Abraham leads to the covenant with Israel through his son Isaac, whereas in Islam Abraham’s line through Ishmael is honored as a source of Arab identity and monotheism. We survey the development of Judaism – the building and loss of the First and Second Temples (Solomon’s Temple c. 960 BCE; Second Temple 516 BCE–70 CE) and the exiles to Babylon and Rome – alongside the emergence of Islam in the 7th century, its claims to Abrahamic heritage, and its claims on Jerusalem (Al-Aqsa, Dome of the Rock). Key doctrinal contrasts are examined (the Jewish expectation of a Messiah vs. Islam’s emphasis on Muhammad (SAW) as prophet; Torah law vs. the Qur’an; the particularist covenant vs. Islam’s universal ummah). We then discuss the shared sacred geography of Jerusalem – especially the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, Western (Wailing) Wall, Dome of the Rock, and Al-Aqsa Mosque – and flashpoints from antiquity to today: the Babylonian exile, Roman destruction of Jerusalem (70 CE), Caliph ʿUmar’s 7th‐c. accession, the Crusades, and the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Finally, we consider contemporary legal and political issues: sovereignty claims, the status quo onholysites,religiousfreedom,andinternationallaw. Throughout,wedraw on primary sources and key scholarship (e.g. Karen Armstrong, Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths; Bernard Lewis, The Middle East; Josephus, Jewish War) to illuminate how these faiths have diverged yet remain deeply connected through common origins and contested landscapes.
