How Old Is Islam vs Judaism? Age, Origins & Key Differences Explained

TL;DR: Judaism traces its roots to Abraham and the covenant established thousands of years before the Common Era, with Moses leading Israel around the 13th century BCE Deuteronomy 31:2. Christianity emerged from Judaism in the 1st century CE John 8:57. Islam, founded by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century CE, also claims Abrahamic heritage through Ishmael Genesis 16:16. The biggest disagreement is which lineage — Isaac's or Ishmael's — carries the primary covenant, making Judaism roughly 2,000+ years older than Islam as an organized religion.

Judaism

And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. — Genesis 21:5

Judaism is widely considered the oldest of the three Abrahamic faiths, with origins scholars date to roughly 2000–1800 BCE. Its founding narrative centers on Abraham, whose son Isaac was born when Abraham was one hundred years old Genesis 21:5. That birth marked the continuation of God's covenant through the Israelite line, distinguishing it from the line of Ishmael Genesis 16:16.

The religion took on its more formal, law-centered character through Moses, who was eighty years old when he confronted Pharaoh and led the Exodus Exodus 7:7. Moses lived to one hundred and twenty years, delivering the Torah before his death Deuteronomy 31:2. Most historians place the Mosaic period around the 13th century BCE, giving Judaism an organized religious tradition stretching back over 3,300 years.

Christianity

Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? — John 8:57

Christianity emerged as a distinct faith in the 1st century CE, growing out of Second Temple Judaism. Its scriptures explicitly connect Jesus to the Abrahamic lineage, with Jewish interlocutors challenging Jesus by asking whether he had truly seen Abraham John 8:57. That exchange highlights how early Christians and Jews debated the continuity — and rupture — between the two traditions.

Christianity is therefore roughly 2,000 years old as an independent religion, far younger than Judaism but predating Islam by about six centuries. It shares the Hebrew scriptures with Judaism and acknowledges the Mosaic law, including the ages and narratives of patriarchs like Abraham Genesis 21:5 and Moses Exodus 7:7, while interpreting them through the lens of Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Islam

And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. — Genesis 16:16

Islam was founded by the Prophet Muhammad in the early 7th century CE, making it approximately 1,400 years old — the youngest of the three Abrahamic religions. However, Islamic theology teaches that Islam is not a new religion but the original, primordial faith of all the prophets, including Abraham and Moses. Muslims trace a special lineage through Ishmael, Abraham's firstborn son, who was born when Abram was eighty-six years old Genesis 16:16.

Ishmael's own covenant relationship with God is underscored by his circumcision at thirteen years old Genesis 17:25, an act Muslims regard as foundational to the Abrahamic tradition they inherit. While Islam as a historically organized religion dates to 610–632 CE, its self-understanding reaches back to the very origins shared with Judaism and Christianity Genesis 21:5.

Where they agree

All three faiths trace their spiritual ancestry to Abraham, whose son Isaac was born when he was one hundred years old Genesis 21:5 and whose son Ishmael was born when he was eighty-six Genesis 16:16.
All three revere Moses as a major prophet; Moses was eighty years old when he spoke to Pharaoh, a narrative shared across all three traditions Exodus 7:7.
All three traditions practice or have historically practiced circumcision, rooted in the covenant sign seen in Ishmael's circumcision at thirteen Genesis 17:25.
All three regard Abraham as the father of faith and the starting point of monotheistic religion Genesis 21:5.

Where they disagree

Issue	Judaism	Christianity	Islam
Age as an organized religion	~3,500 years (Mosaic era, 13th c. BCE) Exodus 7:7	~2,000 years (1st century CE) John 8:57	~1,400 years (7th century CE) Genesis 16:16
Primary covenant lineage	Through Isaac, born to Abraham at age 100 Genesis 21:5	Through Isaac, fulfilled in Jesus John 8:57	Through Ishmael, born to Abraham at age 86 Genesis 16:16
Role of Moses	Lawgiver and central prophet Deuteronomy 31:2	Prefigures Christ; law superseded by grace Exodus 7:7	One of the greatest prophets, but not the final one Deuteronomy 31:2
Significance of Ishmael's circumcision	Noted but secondary to Isaac's line Genesis 17:25	Symbolic; physical circumcision replaced by baptism Genesis 17:25	Central — establishes Ishmael's covenant standing Genesis 17:25

Key takeaways

Judaism is the oldest of the three Abrahamic religions, with organized roots in the Mosaic era (~13th century BCE) — over 3,300 years ago.
Islam is approximately 1,400 years old, founded by Muhammad in the 7th century CE, making it roughly 2,000 years younger than Judaism.
Christianity sits in between at ~2,000 years old, emerging from Judaism in the 1st century CE.
All three faiths share Abraham as a common ancestor, but disagree on whether the primary covenant runs through Isaac (Judaism & Christianity) or Ishmael (Islam).
Islam teaches it is the original faith of all prophets, so Muslims view its spiritual age as ancient even though its institutional founding is the most recent.

FAQs

How old is Judaism compared to Islam?

Judaism is roughly 2,000 years older than Islam as an organized religion. Judaism's formal structure dates to the Mosaic period (c. 13th century BCE), when Moses was eighty years old leading the Exodus Exodus 7:7, and Moses lived to one hundred and twenty years delivering the Torah Deuteronomy 31:2. Islam was founded in the 7th century CE, about 1,400 years ago, though it traces its lineage to Abraham through Ishmael, born when Abram was eighty-six Genesis 16:16.

Do Islam and Judaism share the same ancestor?

Yes — both trace their lineage to Abraham. Judaism emphasizes the line through Isaac, born when Abraham was one hundred years old Genesis 21:5, while Islam emphasizes the line through Ishmael, born when Abram was eighty-six Genesis 16:16. Ishmael was also circumcised at thirteen as a sign of his covenant relationship with God Genesis 17:25.

Is Christianity older than Islam?

Yes. Christianity emerged in the 1st century CE, roughly 600 years before Islam's founding in the 7th century CE. The New Testament already records Jewish contemporaries of Jesus debating his connection to Abraham John 8:57, placing Christianity's origins firmly in the 1st century. Islam, while younger as an institution, claims the same Abrahamic roots Genesis 21:5.

What does Islam say about its own age?

Islamic theology teaches that Islam is the original religion of all prophets, not a new 7th-century invention. Muslims believe Abraham, Moses, and all prior prophets were themselves 'Muslims' (submitters to God). The lineage through Ishmael — born when Abram was eighty-six Genesis 16:16 and circumcised at thirteen Genesis 17:25 — is seen as the direct ancestral line to Muhammad. So while Islam as a historically organized faith is ~1,400 years old, Muslims regard its spiritual age as co-extensive with humanity's Genesis 21:5.

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