Saturday, March 29, 2025
Who Was Abraham? The Patriarch Revered by Muslims, Jews, and Christians — Mentioned Again by Donald Trump at the Gaza Peace Summit
During the Gaza Peace Conference, U.S. President Donald Trump once again invoked the Abraham Accords, the landmark 2020 agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Trump’s reference aimed to remind the world of shared roots among Jews, Muslims, and Christians — all of whom revere Abraham as a foundational figure of faith.
Abraham (known as Ibrahim in Islam) is considered the forefather of the three great monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These faiths are often referred to as Abrahamic religions, as they trace their spiritual lineage back to him.
The Hebrew Bible (Torah), the Christian Old Testament, and the Qur’an each describe Abraham as a prophet who established a covenant with God. According to writer Bruce Feiler in Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths, “Everyone claims Abraham, but in truth, he belongs to all. It’s ironic that the three faiths that honor him have also fought over him.”
The Hebrew Bible tells that God promised Abraham he would become the father of a great nation. Abraham’s wife Sarah bore a son, Isaac, in her old age, while his servant Hagar bore Ishmael. Isaac’s descendants became the Israelites, while Ishmael is believed to be the ancestor of many Arab tribes.
Abraham is said to have lived around 2000 BCE in the region of Mesopotamia and Canaan (modern-day Israel, Jordan, and Gaza).
Judaism traces its roots to Isaac’s son Jacob, later called Israel, whose descendants formed the Jewish people.
Christianity holds that Jesus Christ descended from Abraham’s line through Isaac.
Islam regards Prophet Muhammad as a descendant of Ishmael, and honors Abraham (Ibrahim) as a key prophet who built the Kaaba in Mecca with his son.
Jerusalem remains a deeply contested yet sacred city for all Abrahamic faiths:
Christians believe it is where Jesus was crucified and resurrected.
Muslims revere Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven during Isra and Mi’raj.
Jews regard it as the site of their ancient Temple and the place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.
Since Israel’s founding in 1948 and its annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967, both Israelis and Palestinians have claimed the city as their capital — making it one of the most enduring flashpoints in global politics.
By invoking the Abraham Accords and the figure of Abraham himself, Donald Trump sought to remind nations that peace in the Middle East depends on acknowledging shared spiritual ancestry. His remarks underscore the belief that dialogue — grounded in mutual respect and historical ties — remains the key to lasting peace among the descendants of Abraham.
