Do Muslims and Jews worship the same God?

The God of Abraham and Moses

Islam sees itself as the continuation of the faith of Abraham. The Quran tells Muslims how to speak to Jews and Christians:

Moses is the prophet named most often in the Quran, and the Torah is honoured as a book from God. See Do Muslims believe in Moses?

Strict monotheism in both faiths

Judaism and Islam are very close on the core idea of God. The Jewish Shema says, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One." The Quran says, "Say, He is Allah, the One" (Quran 112:1). Both reject any partner, image or incarnation of God, and both stress that God is merciful, just and close to those who call on Him.

Even the names are related. Arabic "Allah" and Hebrew "Elohim" or "Eloah" come from the same Semitic root, and Arabic-speaking Jews have used "Allah" for God for centuries. See Why do Muslims call God Allah?

So where is the difference?

• Prophethood: Muslims believe Jesus and Muhammad ﷺ were prophets sent by the same God; Judaism does not accept them.
• Scripture: Muslims believe the Torah was revealed by God but that its text changed over time, and that the Quran is the final revelation.
• Law and practice: both have detailed religious law (halakha and sharia), often similar, like avoiding pork. See Why do Muslims and Jews both avoid pork?

These are differences about what God revealed and to whom, not about which God exists.

Common ground for neighbours

For converts with Jewish family, this shared belief can be a real bridge. You can tell your parents that you still worship the God of Abraham, now following His final prophet. The same question is often asked about Christianity too. See Do Muslims and Christians believe in the same God?