The term ‘Abrahamic Faiths’ refers to the three religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and is a strong clue to how closely related the three religions are, both in terms of their histories and their key teachings.

The Quran refers to Abraham by the most honourable title of The Friend of God. In the daily prayers Muslims perform, the commitment and efforts by Abraham and his household are remembered. And in the annual pilgrimage (the Hajj), where over 2 million faithful gather from the far corners of the world, the rituals are based on the legacy of Abraham and his family.

We do not know exactly when Abraham lived, but it would have been over 3,000 years ago. The Quran teaches that Abraham had supreme faith in God. There are two sons of Abraham we learn of, who had different mothers. They both provide essential and parallel historical links through to him. His first wife, Sarah, gave birth to Isaac; the second, Hagar, gave birth to Ishmael.

Trusting in God’s direction, Abraham took Hagar and the baby Ishmael to a barren land where he was asked to leave Hagar alone with her baby. Muslims believe this barren place was Baca, the name evolving into Makka (Mecca) and the place becoming a bustling city over time. Importantly for Muslims, Abraham later returned to build a cube-like structure dedicated to the worship of God.