Nine Things All Religions Have In Common

Most religions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Confucianism, Jainism and Manichaeism are all actually part of the same religion and were all started by a true Prophet of God. While these religions may seem different in appearance they share many similarities.

1. Monotheism

One common feature from most of the religions that exist today is that they emphasize the worship of one Supreme God—Allah in Islam, "Your God is the one God: there is no god except Him, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy" (Quran 2:163) and Yahweh in Judaism—who is all-powerful, compassionate, and the source of moral guidance.

Hinduism is often perceived as polytheistic, but it is fundamentally a monotheistic religion. While other gods and goddesses exist, they are considered subordinate to the ultimate God, Brahman, and are not worshipped alongside Him as equals.

"The Supreme Being is radiant, formless, and imperishable. He is within and without, unborn, without vital breath or mind, pure, and self-existent."(Mundaka Upanishad 2.1.2)

Buddhism is often seen as a religion without a God but this is a misconception. The religion features gods and goddesses shared with Hinduism, and an ultimate God, Brahma, who dwells in a realm called Brahmaloka, the highest celestial world.

2. Call to Prayer

The call to prayer in Judaism and Islam shares similarities. In Islam, the Adhan is a vocal call, inviting believers to the five daily prayers. In Judaism the shofar (ram's horn) is used to gather the community for prayer, especially during the High Holy Days, and certain Psalms serve as preparatory invocations in communal settings. Both emphasize the call to worship as a remembrance of God and the importance of the ritual of prayer

In the following videos you can compare how similar the Jewish call to prayer is to the Arabic one:

3. Daily Prayers

Prayer is a central practice in many religions, emphasizing devotion, gratitude, and spiritual connection. Muslims perform five daily prayers (Salah), while Jews recite three daily prayers (Shacharit, Mincha, and Ma’ariv), both incorporating ritual washing (Wudu in Islam, Netilat Yadayim in Judaism) and specific postures like bowing and prostration.

In these videos you can see how similar the Jewish prayer movements are to the Muslim ones:

Similarly, Zoroastrians observe five daily prayers (Gahs), aligning with specific times of the day, accompanied by ablutions and facing a source of light as a symbol of the divine.

Manichaeans also practice daily prayer, performed four times a day, facing celestial bodies like the sun and moon, with ritual washing and fasting often included. These traditions share many common elements such as structured timings, sacred recitations and ritualistic purity.

4. Denial of the Self

The Goal of the Wise states that, “Every Prophet and Messenger to ever walk the Earth has taught a doctrine of self-denial or fighting against the self, evil inclinations, or annihilating the ego.” The crushing of our own ego is a central theme that we find running through all religions because it is an obstacle in our path towards God.

Jesus taught,

“Deny your self.”(The Holy Bible, Book of Matthew, Chapter 16, Verse 24)

The Prophet Mohammed said,

“The greatest jihad is against one’s own self.” (Mizan Al-Hikmah, Mohammed Al-Reyshahri, Vol. 1, p. 453 3 Sharḥ Nahj Al-Balāgha, Ibn Abi Al-Hadid, Vol. 20, p. 292)

In Hinduism, the ego (Ahamkara) is seen as a false construct that obscures the soul's unity with the divine reality (Brahman). Liberation (Moksha) is achieved by dissolving the ego through practices like meditation and selfless action. Buddhism similarly views the ego as an illusion, rooted in the concept of anatta (no-self). Letting go of ego-driven attachments through mindfulness and meditation is key to attaining enlightenment (nirvana).

In Manichaeism, the ego is linked to the realm of darkness, keeping the soul trapped in material desires. Overcoming the ego through renunciation and spiritual practices allows the soul to return to the divine light.

Zoroastrianism frames the ego within the cosmic struggle between good (Asha) and evil (Druj), encouraging individuals to purify the ego by practicing truth, humility, and righteousness.

5. The World is an Illusion

Some groups of people believe we are living in a simulated or illusory reality, akin to a matrix, where our perceived world is a construct rather than true existence. This idea is also a central theme in many religions and stated in their holy books either explicitly or allegorically.

In Islam, the world (Dunya) is described as a temporary illusion, a deceptive reality compared to the eternal Hereafter (Akhirah). The Quran frequently reminds believers that worldly pleasures are distractions, emphasizing the pursuit of God’s guidance and preparation for the Day of Judgment. Imam Ali famously said,

“People are asleep, and if they die, they awaken.”

Similarly, the Bible encourages believers to focus on the divine, urging,

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)

Hinduism and Buddhism share the belief in Maya, the illusory nature of the world, which obscures true existence. In Buddhism, liberation from this illusion comes through enlightenment, while Hinduism emphasizes overcoming ignorance to realize ultimate truth.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna states,

"This divine Maya of Mine, consisting of the three gunas (qualities), is difficult to overcome. But those who take refuge in Me alone can cross beyond it." (Bhagavad Gita 7.14)

6. Karma

"Neither in the sky, nor in the middle of the sea, nor by entering a mountain cleft, nowhere in the world is there a place where one may escape the results of evil karma." (Dhammapada Verse 127)

Many religions share the belief that actions have consequences, emphasizing accountability and moral responsibility. Buddhism teaches that good deeds bring joy and lead to realms of bliss, while evil deeds cause suffering both in this life and the next.

Similarly, Hinduism’s concept of karma reflects the law of cause and effect, where righteous actions create positive outcomes, and harmful actions generate negative consequences, influencing one’s reincarnations. Liberation from this cycle is achieved through selfless actions, devotion, and spiritual wisdom.

The Bible echoes this principle in Galatians 6:7-8, “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap,” highlighting the rewards of good deeds and the consequences of sin.

Islam, while not explicitly teaching karma, emphasizes a similar concept of divine justice, where every deed is recorded and judged by Allah, as stated in the Quran:

“Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (Surah Al-Zalzalah 99:7-8)

7. Reincarnation

Hinduism and Buddhism both teach the concept of reincarnation, where the soul undergoes a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (Samsara). In Hinduism, this cycle is governed by karma—the moral consequences of one’s actions—and liberation (Moksha) is attained by transcending it through spiritual wisdom and righteous living. In Buddhism, reincarnation is similarly tied to karma, with the ultimate goal being enlightenment (nirvana), which ends the cycle of rebirth and brings liberation from suffering.

While not traditionally thought of as an Abrahamic belief, there are many proofs that reincarnation is a concept that exists in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In the Bible, in the book of Matthew, a conversation between Jesus and his disciples shows that people had a belief in the return of souls during the time of Jesus.

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Holy Bible: Matthew 16:13-16)

Here the disciples are clearly expecting the return of various prophets and messengers, to come back in different bodies. In the book of John we find another clear mention of reincarnation where Jesus states that people must be born again to enter the kingdom of God,

“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (The Holy Bible, Book of John, Chapter 3, Verses 1-7)

Islamic narrations also clearly indicate that a belief in reincarnation is a part of the religion, the concept of the Raj’a (The Return) in Islam is actually referring to the reincarnation of a soul into a new body and not bodies coming out of the grave as previously thought.

Imam Ja’far Al-Sadiq said: “Whoever does not believe in our Return is not from us.” (Al-Muhtadir, Al-Hassan Ibn Sulayman Al-Hilli, p. 33)

Abi Baseer said: Abu Ja’far, meaning Imam Al-Baqir (PBUH), said to me: “Do the people of Iraq deny the Raj’a (The Return)?” So I said: Yes. So he (PBUH) said: “Haven’t they read the Qur'an {And the Day when We will gather from every nation a group}?” (The Holy Qur'an, Al-Naml, Verse 83). (Bihar Al-Anwar, Al-Allamah Al-Majlisi, 3rd ed., Vol. 53, p. 40, hadith 6)

8. A World Saviour in the End Times

Many religions share the concept of a world savior who emerges during times of moral decay to restore peace, justice, and righteousness. In Judaism, the Messiah is a human leader from David's lineage who ushers in a Messianic Age of harmony. Similarly, Islam's Mahdi is a guided leader who establishes justice before the Day of Judgment, often alongside Jesus. Buddhism speaks of Maitreya, a future Buddha who brings wisdom and renewal. Hinduism's Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu, restores dharma at the end of Kali Yuga. In Zoroastrianism, the Saoshyant leads the final triumph of good over evil, culminating in a purified and eternal world.

9. Religion is a Man

So how can all of these different religions have so many similar practices and teachings? The reason for all of these similarities is that they ultimately originate from the same God, and while their rituals and teachings may differ, they all share one fundamental feature: each was founded by a man appointed by God to lead humanity and impart divine knowledge. From Adam to Noah, Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Abraham, Jesus, Aristotle, Mohammad, and the 124,000 prophets and messengers sent to humankind, these divinely chosen vicegerents carried the religion to the people.

The rules and practices for humanity may change over time, tailored to what benefits society most in a given era. Similarly, the knowledge revealed by God varies according to humanity's readiness to understand it. Therefore, true religion is not defined by jurisprudence or specific teachings but by following God’s chosen representative in each era.