Abrahamic

Abrahamic is a term used in religious studies to categorize faiths that trace spiritual lineage to the patriarch Abraham. It commonly refers to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, each of which regards Abraham as a foundational figure in its sacred history. Some scholars also include Samaritanism, the Druze, and the Bahá’í Faith in the broader sense, though the degree of historical continuity and theological alignment varies.

Shared elements often cited include belief in one God and a covenantal relationship with that God, reverence for scriptural revelations believed to originate with God, and a tradition of prophetic guidance. These religions emerged in the ancient Near East and share certain moral and ritual frameworks, though they differ in interpretation, law, and the understanding of revelation and messiah figures.

The term is a modern scholarly construction rather than a doctrinal category. It is useful for comparative studies and interfaith discussion but can obscure the significant doctrinal distinctions among the faiths. Debates exist about which groups count as "Abrahamic" and how central Abraham is to each tradition. Overall, "Abrahamic" serves as a convenience label for a family of closely related monotheistic traditions with shared origins.