Query: Temple Mount is related to an Abrahamic religion.

Relevant passages:
Waqf <=SEP=> A waqf also known as habous or mortmain property , is an inalienable charitable endowment under Islamic law , which typically involves donating a building , plot of land or other assets for Muslim religious or charitable purposes with no intention of reclaiming the assets . The donated assets may be held by a charitable trust . The person making such dedication is known as waqif , a donor . In Ottoman Turkish law , and later under the British Mandate of Palestine , the waqf was defined as usufruct State land ( or property ) of which the State revenues are assured to pious foundations . Although based on several hadiths and presenting elements similar to practices from pre-Islamic cultures , it seems that the specific full-fledged Islamic legal form of endowment called waqf dates from the 9th century CE ( see paragraph `` History and location '' ) .

New Testament <=SEP=> The New Testament or NT ( Ἡ Καινὴ , Hē Kainḕ Diathḗkē ; Novum Testamentum ) is the second major part of the Christian biblical canon , the first part being the Old Testament , based on the Hebrew Bible . The New Testament discusses the teachings and person of Jesus , as well as events in first-century Christianity . Christians regard both the Old and New Testaments together as sacred scripture . The New Testament ( in whole or in part ) has frequently accompanied the spread of Christianity around the world . It reflects and serves as a source for Christian theology and morality . Both extended readings and phrases directly from the New Testament are also incorporated ( along with readings from the Old Testament ) into the various Christian liturgies . The New Testament has influenced religious , philosophical , and political movements in Christendom and left an indelible mark on literature , art , and music .   The New Testament is a collection of Christian works written in the common ( Koine ) Greek language of the first century , at different times by various writers , who were early Jewish followers of Jesus , and the modern consensus is that it also provides important evidence regarding Judaism in the first century AD . In almost all Christian traditions today , the New Testament consists of 27 books . The original texts were written in the first and perhaps the second centuries of the Christian Era , in Greek , which was the common language of the Eastern Mediterranean from the Conquests of Alexander the Great ( 335 -- 323 BC ) until the Muslim conquests in the 7th century AD . All the works that eventually became incorporated into the New Testament are believed to have been written no later than around 150 AD , and a small minority of scholars would date them to no later than 70 AD . John A. T. Robinson , Dan Wallace , and William F. Albright dated all the books of the New Testament before 70 AD . Others give a final date of 80 AD , or at 96 AD .   Collections of related texts such as letters of the Apostle Paul ( a major collection of which must have been made already by the early 2nd century ) and the Canonical Gospels of Matthew , Mark , Luke , and John ( asserted by Irenaeus of Lyon in the late-2nd century as the Four Gospels ) gradually were joined to other collections and single works in different combinations to form various Christian canons of Scripture . Over time , some disputed books , such as the Book of Revelation and the Minor Catholic ( General ) Epistles were introduced into canons in which they were originally absent . Other works earlier held to be Scripture , such as 1 Clement , the Shepherd of Hermas , and the Diatessaron , were excluded from the New Testament . The Old Testament canon is not completely uniform among all major Christian groups including Roman Catholics , Protestants , the Greek Orthodox Church , the Slavic Orthodox Churches , and the Armenian Orthodox Church . However , the twenty-seven-book canon of the New Testament , at least since Late Antiquity , has been almost universally recognized within Christianity ( see Development of the New Testament canon ) .   The New Testament consists of :  Four narratives of the life , teaching , death and resurrection of Jesus called `` gospel '' or the good news .  A narrative of the Apostle ministries in the early church , called the `` Acts of the Apostles '' , and probably written by the same writer as the Gospel of Luke , which it continues ;  Twenty-one letters , often called `` epistles '' from Greek `` epistole '' , written by various authors , and consisting of Christian doctrine , counsel , instruction , and conflict resolution ; and  An Apocalypse , the Book of Revelation , which is a book of prophecy , containing some instructions to seven local congregations of Asia Minor , but mostly containing prophetical symbology , about the end times .

Christianity <=SEP=> ChristianityFrom Ancient Greek Χριστός , Khristós ( Latinized as Christus ) , translating Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ , Māšîăḥ , meaning `` the anointed one '' , with the Latin suffixes - ian and - itas . is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ , who serves as the focal point for the religion . It is the world 's largest religion , with over 2.4 billion followers , or 33 % of the global population , known as Christians . Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity whose coming as the Messiah ( the Christ ) was prophesied in the Old Testament .   Christian theology is summarized in creeds such as the Apostles ' Creed and Nicene Creed . These professions of faith state that Jesus suffered , died , was buried , descended into hell , and rose from the dead , in order to grant eternal life to those who believe in him and trust in him for the remission of their sins . The creeds further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven , where he reigns with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit , and that he will return to judge the living and the dead and grant eternal life to his followers . His incarnation , earthly ministry , crucifixion and resurrection are often referred to as `` the gospel '' , meaning `` good news '' . `` Good news '' is a translation of the Ancient Greek term εὐαγγέλιον euangélion , from which the terms evangelical and evangelism derive . The term gospel also refers to written accounts of Jesus 's life and teaching , four of which -- Matthew , Mark , Luke and John -- are considered canonical and included in the Christian Bible .   Christianity is an Abrahamic religion that began as a Second Temple Judaic sect in the mid-1st century . Originating in Judea , it quickly spread to Europe , Syria , Mesopotamia , Asia Minor , Transcaucasia , Egypt , Ethiopia and India , and by the end of the 4th century had become the official state church of the Roman Empire . Following the Age of Discovery , Christianity spread to the Americas , Australasia , sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world through missionary work and colonization . Christianity has played a prominent role in the shaping of Western civilization .   Throughout its history , Christianity has weathered schisms and theological disputes that have resulted in many distinct churches and denominations . Worldwide , the three largest branches of Christianity are the Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox Church and the various denominations of Protestantism . The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches broke communion with each other in the East -- West Schism of 1054 ; Protestantism came into existence in the Reformation of the 16th century , splitting from the Catholic Church .

Hebrew Bible <=SEP=> Hebrew Bible or Hebrew Scriptures ( Biblia Hebraica ) is the term used by biblical scholars to refer to the Tanakh ( תנ '' ך Thanach ) , the canonical collection of Jewish texts , which is the common textual source of several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament . They are composed mainly in Biblical Hebrew , with some passages in Biblical Aramaic ( in the books of Daniel , Ezra and a few others ) .   The content to which the Protestant Old Testament closely corresponds does not act as a source for the deuterocanonical portions of the Roman Catholic or to the portions of the Eastern Orthodox Old Testaments . The term does not comment upon the naming , numbering or ordering of books , which varies with later Christian biblical canons .   The term Hebrew Bible is an attempt to provide specificity with respect to contents but avoid allusion to any particular interpretative tradition or theological school of thought . It is widely used in academic writing and interfaith discussion in relatively neutral contexts meant to include dialogue among all religious traditions but not widely in the inner discourse of the religions that use its text .

Solomon <=SEP=> Solomon ( -LSB- ˈsɒləmən -RSB- ISO 259-3 Šlomo ; ܫܠܝܡܘܢ Shlemun ; سُليمان , also colloquially : or ; Σολομών Solomōn ; Salomon ) , also called Jedidiah ( Hebrew ) , was , according to the Bible ( Book of Kings : 1 Kings 1 -- 11 ; Book of Chronicles : 1 Chronicles 28 -- 29 , 2 Chronicles 1 -- 9 ) , Quran , hadith and Hidden Words a fabulously wealthy and wise king of Israel and a son of David , the previous king of Israel . The conventional dates of Solomon 's reign are circa 970 to 931 BC , normally given in alignment with the dates of David 's reign . He is described as the third king of the United Monarchy , which would break apart into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah shortly after his death . Following the split , his patrilineal descendants ruled over Judah alone .   According to the Talmud , Solomon is one of the 48 prophets . In the Quran , he is considered a major prophet , and Muslims generally refer to him by the Arabic variant Sulayman , son of David .   The Hebrew Bible credits him as the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem . It portrays him as great in wisdom , wealth , and power beyond any of the previous kings of the country , but ultimately as a human king who sinned . His sins included idolatry , marrying foreign women , and ultimately turning away from Yahweh , and led to the kingdom 's being torn in two during the reign of his son Rehoboam . Solomon is the subject of many other later references and legends , most notably in the 1st-century apocryphal work known as the Testament of Solomon . In later years , in mostly non-biblical circles , Solomon also came to be known as a magician and an exorcist , with numerous amulets and medallion seals dating from the Hellenistic period invoking his name .

Christian <=SEP=> A Christian ( -LSB- pronaudio = En-us-Christian . oggˈkɹɪʃtʃən -RSB- or -LSB- ˈkɹɪstjən -RSB- ) is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity , an Abrahamic , monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ . `` Christian '' derives from the Koine Greek word Christós , a translation of the Biblical Hebrew term mashiach .   While there are diverse interpretations of Christianity which sometimes conflict , they are united in believing that Jesus has a unique significance . The term `` Christian '' is also used as an adjective to describe anything associated with Christianity , or in a proverbial sense `` all that is noble , and good , and Christ-like . ''   According to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey , there were 2.2 billion Christians around the world in 2010 , up from about 600 million in 1910 . By 2050 , the Christian population is expected to exceed 3 billion . According to a 2012 Pew Research Center survey Christianity will remain the world 's largest religion in 2050 , if current trends continue .   Today , about 37 % of all Christians live in the Americas , about 26 % live in Europe , 24 % live in sub-Saharan Africa , about 13 % live in Asia and the Pacific , and 1 % live in the Middle east and North Africa . About half of all Christians worldwide are Catholic , while more than a third are Protestant ( 37 % ) . Orthodox communions comprise 12 % of the world 's Christians . Other Christian groups make up the remainder . Christians make up the majority of the population in 158 countries and territories . 280 million Christian live as a minority .   Christians have significantly influenced and contributed to human progress in many fields , including philosophy , ethics , literature , business and economics , fine arts and architecture , music , theatre and medicine , as well as science and technology , both historically and in modern times .

Dome of the Rock <=SEP=> The Dome of the Rock ( -LSB- قبة الصخرة , links = no -RSB- Qubbat al-Sakhrah , -LSB- כיפת הסלע , links = no -RSB- Kippat ha-Sela ) is an Islamic shrine located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem .  It was initially completed in 691 CE at the order of Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik during the Second Fitna , built on the site of the Roman temple of Jupiter Capitolinus , which had in turn been built on the site of Herod 's Temple , destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE .  The original dome collapsed in 1015 and was rebuilt in 1022 -- 23 . The Dome of the Rock is in its core one of the oldest extant works of Islamic architecture .   Its architecture and mosaics were patterned after nearby Byzantine churches and palaces , although its outside appearance has been significantly changed in the Ottoman period and again in the modern period , notably with the addition of the gold-plated roof , in 1959 -- 61 and again in 1993 .  The octagonal plan of the structure may also have been influenced by the Byzantine Church of the Seat of Mary ( also known as Kathisma in Greek and al-Qadismu in Arabic ) built between 451 and 458 on the road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem .   The site 's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad 's Night Journey to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure . The rock also bears great significance for Jews as the site of Abraham 's attempted sacrifice of his son .   It has been called `` Jerusalem 's most recognizable landmark , '' and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , along with two nearby Temple Mount structures , the Western Wall , and the `` Resurrection Rotunda '' in the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulchre .

Islam <=SEP=> Islam ( -LSB- ˈɪslɑːm -RSB- There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English , differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress , whether the s is -LSB- slinkz -RSB- or -LSB- slinks -RSB- , and whether the a is pronounced -LSB- slinkɑː -RSB- , -LSB- slinkæ -RSB- or ( when the stress is on the first syllable ) -LSB- slinkə -RSB- ( Merriam Webster ) . The most common are -LSB- ˈɪzləm , _ ˈɪsləm , _ ɪzˈlɑːm , _ ɪsˈlɑːm -RSB- ( Oxford English Dictionary , Random House ) and -LSB- ˈɪzlɑːm , _ ˈɪslɑːm -RSB- ( American Heritage Dictionary ) . الإسلام , -LSB- alʔisˈlaːm -RSB- ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which professes that there is only one and incomparable God ( Allah ) and that Muhammad is the last messenger of God . It is the world 's second-largest religion and the fastest-growing major religion in the world , with over 1.8 billion followers or 24.1 % of the global population , known as Muslims . Islam teaches that God who is merciful , all-powerful , and unique has guided mankind through prophets , revealed scriptures and natural signs . The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran , viewed by Muslims as the verbatim word of God , and the teachings and normative example ( called the sunnah , composed of accounts called hadith ) of Muhammad ( 570 -- 8 June 632 CE ) .   Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam , Abraham , Moses , and Jesus . As for the Quran , Muslims consider it to be the unaltered and final revelation of God . Like other Abrahamic religions , Islam also teaches a final judgment with the righteous rewarded paradise and unrighteous are punished in hell . Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam , which are obligatory acts of worship , and following Islamic law , which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society , from banking and welfare to women and the environment . The cities of Mecca , Medina and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam .   Islam originated in the early 7th century in Mecca , and by the 8th century the Islamic empire extended from Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east . The Islamic Golden Age refers to the period traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century when much of the historically Islamic world was experiencing a scientific , economic and cultural flourishing . The expansion of the Muslim world involved various caliphates and empires , traders and conversion to Islam by missionary activities .   Most Muslims are of one of two denominations : Sunni ( 75 -- 90 % ) or Shia ( 10 -- 20 % ) . About 13 % of Muslims live in Indonesia , the largest Muslim-majority country , 31 % in South Asia , the largest population of Muslims in the world , 23 % in the Middle East-North Africa , where it is the dominant religion , and 15 % in Sub-Saharan Africa . Sizable Muslim communities are also found in the Americas , Caucasus , China , Europe , Mainland Southeast Asia , Philippines and Russia . Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world .

Temple in Jerusalem <=SEP=> The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple ( , Modern : Beit HaMikdash , Tiberian : Beiṯ HamMiqdāš , Ashkenazi : Beis HaMikdosh ; ቤተ መቅደስ : Betä Mäqdäs ) was any of a series of structures which were located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem , the current site of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque . These successive temples stood at this location and functioned as a site of ancient Israelite and later Jewish worship .

Muslim <=SEP=> A Muslim is someone who follows or practices Islam , a monotheistic Abrahamic religion . Muslims consider the Quran ( Koran ) , their holy book , to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to the Islamic prophet and messenger Muhammad . The majority of Muslims also follow the teachings and practices of Muhammad ( sunnah ) as recorded in traditional accounts ( hadith ) . `` Muslim '' is an Arabic word meaning `` one who submits ( to God ) '' .   The beliefs of Muslims include : that God ( -LSB- ) is eternal , transcendent and absolutely one ( tawhid or monotheism ) ; that God is incomparable , self-sustaining and neither begets nor was begotten ; that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that has been revealed before through many prophets including Abraham , Moses , Ishmael and Jesus ; that these previous messages and revelations have been partially changed or corrupted over time ( tahrif ) and that the Qur ` an is the final unaltered revelation from God ( The Final Testament ) .

Temple Mount <=SEP=> The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת , Har HaBáyit , `` Mount of the House -LSB- of God , i.e. the Temple -RSB- '' ) , known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif ( الحرم الشريف , al-Ḥaram al-Šarīf , `` the Noble Sanctuary '' , or الحرم القدسي الشريف , al-Ḥaram al-Qudsī al-Šarīf , `` the Noble Sanctuary of Jerusalem '' ) , a hill located in the Old City of Jerusalem , is one of the most important religious sites in the world . It has been venerated as a holy site for thousands of years by Judaism , Christianity , and Islam . The present site is dominated by three monumental structures from the early Umayyad period : the al-Aqsa Mosque , the Dome of the Rock and the Dome of the Chain , as well as four minarets . Herodian walls and gates with additions dating back to the late Byzantine and early Islamic periods cut through the flanks of the Mount . Currently it can be reached through eleven gates , ten reserved for Muslims and one for non-Muslims , with guard posts of Israeli police in the vicinity of each .   The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism , which regards it as the place where God 's divine presence is manifested more than in any other place . According to the rabbinic sages whose debates produced the Talmud , it was from here the world expanded into its present form and where God gathered the dust used to create the first human , Adam .   Since at least the first century CE , the site has been associated in Judaism with Mount Moriah ( הַר הַמוריה , Har HaMōriyā ) ; Mount Moriah is the name given by the Hebrew Bible to the location of Abraham 's binding of Isaac , this identification being perpetuated by Jewish and Christian tradition .   Several passages in the Hebrew Bible indicate that during the time when they were written , the Temple Mount was identified as Mount Zion . The Mount Zion mentioned in the later parts of the Book of Isaiah , in the Book of Psalms , and the First Book of Maccabees ( c. 2nd century BCE ) seems to refer to the top of the hill , generally known as the Temple Mount . According to the Book of Samuel , Mount Zion was the site of the Jebusite fortress called the `` stronghold of Zion '' , but once the First Temple was erected , according to the Bible , at the top of the Eastern Hill ( `` Temple Mount '' ) , the name `` Mount Zion '' migrated there too . The name later migrated for a last time , this time to Jerusalem 's Western Hill .   According to the Bible , both Jewish Temples stood at the Temple Mount , though archaeological evidence only exists for the Second Temple . However , the identification of Solomon 's Temple with the area of the Temple Mount is widespread . According to the Bible the site should function as the center of all national life -- a governmental , judicial and religious center . During the Second Temple period it functioned also as an economic center . According to Jewish tradition and scripture , the First Temple was built by King Solomon the son of King David in 957 BCE and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE . The second was constructed under the auspices of Zerubbabel in 516 BCE and destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 CE . In the 2nd century , the site was used for a temple to Jupiter Capitolinus . It was redeveloped following the Arab conquest . Jewish tradition maintains it is here a Third and final Temple will also be built . The location is the holiest site in Judaism and is the place Jews turn towards during prayer . Due to its extreme sanctity , many Jews will not walk on the Mount itself , to avoid unintentionally entering the area where the Holy of Holies stood , since according to Rabbinical law , some aspect of the divine presence is still present at the site . It was from the Holy of Holies that the High Priest communicated directly with God .   The Temple was of central importance in Jewish worship , in the Tanakh and the Christian Old Testament . In the New Testament it remains the site of several events in the life of Jesus , and Christian loyalty to it as a focal point remained long after his death . After the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE , which came to be regarded by early Christians , as it was by Josephus and the sages of the Jerusalem Talmud , to be a divine act of punishment for the sins of the Jewish people , the Temple Mount lost its significance for Christian worship with the Christians considering it a fulfillment of Christ 's prophecy at , for example , and . It was to this end , proof of a biblical prophecy fulfilled and of Christianity 's victory over Judaism with the New Covenant , that early Christian pilgrims also visited the site . Byzantine Christians , despite some signs of constructive work on the esplanade , generally neglected the Temple Mount , especially when a Jewish attempt to rebuild the Temple was destroyed by the earthquake in 363 . and it became a desolate local rubbish dump , perhaps outside the city limits , as Christian worship in Jerusalem shifted to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre , and Jerusalem 's centrality was replaced by Rome .   Almost immediately after the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 638 CE , Caliph ` Omar ibn al Khatab , disgusted by the filth covering the site , had it thoroughly cleaned , and granted Jews access to the site . Among Sunni Muslims , the Mount is widely considered the third holiest site in Islam . Revered as the Noble Sanctuary , the location of Muhammad 's journey to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven , the site is also associated with Jewish biblical prophets who are also venerated in Islam . Muslims preferred to the esplanade as the heart for the Muslim quarter since it had been abandoned by Christians , to avoid disturbing the Christian quarters of Jerusalem . Umayyad Caliphs commissioned the construction of the al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock on the site . The Dome was completed in 692 CE , making it one of the oldest extant Islamic structures in the world . The Al Aqsa Mosque rests on the far southern side of the Mount , facing Mecca . The Dome of the Rock currently sits in the middle , occupying or close to the area where the Holy Temple previously stood .   In light of the dual claims of both Judaism and Islam , it is one of the most contested religious sites in the world . Since the Crusades , the Muslim community of Jerusalem has managed the site as a Waqf , without interruption . As the site is part of the Old City , controlled by Israel since 1967 , both Israel and the Palestinian Authority claim sovereignty over it , and it remains a major focal point of the Arab -- Israeli conflict . In an attempt to keep the status quo , the Israeli government enforces a controversial ban on prayer by non-Muslims .

Bible <=SEP=> The Bible ( from Koine Greek τὰ βιβλία , tà biblía , `` the books '' ) is a collection of sacred texts or scriptures that Jews and Christians consider to be a product of divine inspiration and a record of the relationship between God and humans .   Many different authors contributed to the Bible . What is regarded as canonical text differs depending on traditions and groups ; a number of Bible canons have evolved , with overlapping and diverging contents . The Christian Old Testament overlaps with the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Septuagint ; the Hebrew Bible is known in Judaism as the Tanakh . The New Testament is a collection of writings by early Christians , believed to be mostly Jewish disciples of Christ , written in first-century Koine Greek . These early Christian Greek writings consist of narratives , letters , and apocalyptic writings . Among Christian denominations there is some disagreement about the contents of the canon , primarily the Apocrypha , a list of works that are regarded with varying levels of respect .   Attitudes towards the Bible also differ amongst Christian groups . Roman Catholics , Anglicans and Eastern Orthodox Christians stress the harmony and importance of the Bible and sacred tradition , while Protestant churches focus on the idea of sola scriptura , or scripture alone . This concept arose during the Protestant Reformation , and many denominations today support the use of the Bible as the only source of Christian teaching .   With estimated total sales of over 5 billion copies , the Bible is widely considered to be the best-selling book of all time . It has estimated annual sales of 100 million copies , and has been a major influence on literature and history , especially in the West , where the Gutenberg Bible was the first book printed using movable type .

Judaism <=SEP=> Judaism ( from Iudaismus , derived from Greek Ἰουδαϊσμός , originally from Hebrew , Yehudah , `` Judah '' ; in Hebrew : , Yahadut , the distinctive characteristics of the Judean ethnos ) is an ancient monotheistic Abrahamic religion , with the Torah as its foundational text ( part of the larger text known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible ) , and supplemental oral tradition represented by later texts such as the Midrash and the Talmud . It encompasses the religion , philosophy , culture and way of life of the Jewish people . Judaism is considered by religious Jews to be the expression of the covenantal relationship that God established with the Children of Israel . With between 14.5 and 17.4 million adherents worldwide , Judaism is the tenth-largest religion in the world .   Judaism includes a wide corpus of texts , practices , theological positions , and forms of organization . Within Judaism there are a variety of movements , most of which emerged from Rabbinic Judaism , which holds that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of both the Written and Oral Torah . Historically , this assertion was challenged by various groups such as the Sadducees and Hellenistic Judaism during the Second Temple period ; the Karaites and Sabbateans during the early and later medieval period ; and among segments of the modern non-Orthodox denominations . Modern branches of Judaism such as Humanistic Judaism may be nontheistic . Today , the largest Jewish religious movements are Orthodox Judaism ( Haredi Judaism and Modern Orthodox Judaism ) , Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism . Major sources of difference between these groups are their approaches to Jewish law , the authority of the Rabbinic tradition , and the significance of the State of Israel . Orthodox Judaism maintains that the Torah and Jewish law are divine in origin , eternal and unalterable , and that they should be strictly followed . Conservative and Reform Judaism are more liberal , with Conservative Judaism generally promoting a more `` traditional '' interpretation of Judaism 's requirements than Reform Judaism . A typical Reform position is that Jewish law should be viewed as a set of general guidelines rather than as a set of restrictions and obligations whose observance is required of all Jews . Historically , special courts enforced Jewish law ; today , these courts still exist but the practice of Judaism is mostly voluntary . Authority on theological and legal matters is not vested in any one person or organization , but in the sacred texts and rabbis and scholars who interpret them .   The history of Judaism spans more than 3,000 years . Judaism has its roots as a structured religion in the Middle East during the Bronze Age . Judaism is considered one of the oldest monotheistic religions . The Hebrews and Israelites were already referred to as `` Jews '' in later books of the Tanakh such as the Book of Esther , with the term Jews replacing the title `` Children of Israel '' . Judaism 's texts , traditions and values strongly influenced later Abrahamic religions , including Christianity , Islam and the Baha'i Faith . Many aspects of Judaism have also directly or indirectly influenced secular Western ethics and civil law .   Jews are an ethnoreligious group and include those born Jewish and converts to Judaism . In 2015 , the world Jewish population was estimated at about 14.3 million , or roughly 0.2 % of the total world population . About 43 % of all Jews reside in Israel and another 43 % reside in the United States and Canada , with most of the remainder living in Europe , and other minority groups spread throughout South America , Asia , Africa , and Australia .

Talmud <=SEP=> The Talmud ( -LSB- ˈtɑ : lmʊd , _ - məd , _ ˈtæl - -RSB- Hebrew : talmūd `` instruction , learning '' , from a root -LSB- : wikt : למד , LMD -RSB- `` teach , study '' ) is a central text of Rabbinic Judaism . It is also traditionally referred to as Shas , a Hebrew abbreviation of shisha sedarim , the `` six orders '' , a reference to the six orders of the Mishnah . The term `` Talmud '' normally refers to the collection of writings named specifically the Babylonian Talmud ( Talmud Bavli ) , although there is also an earlier collection known as the Jerusalem Talmud or Palestinian Talmud ( Talmud Yerushalmi ) . When referring to post-biblical periods , namely those of the creation of the Talmud , the Talmudic academies and the Babylonian exilarchate , Jewish sources use the term `` Babylonia '' long after it had become obsolete in geopolitical terms .   The Talmud has two components : the Mishnah ( Hebrew : משנה , 200 CE ) , a written compendium of Rabbinic Judaism 's Oral Torah ; and the Gemara ( 500 CE ) , an elucidation of the Mishnah and related Tannaitic writings that often ventures onto other subjects and expounds broadly on the Hebrew Bible . `` Talmud '' translates literally as `` instruction '' in Hebrew , and the term may refer to either the Gemara alone , or the Mishnah and Gemara together .   The entire Talmud consists of 63 tractates , and in standard print is over 6,200 pages long . It is written in Tannaitic Hebrew and Jewish Babylonian Aramaic and contains the teachings and opinions of thousands of rabbis ( dating from before the Common Era through the fifth century CE ) on a variety of subjects , including Halakha ( law ) , Jewish ethics , philosophy , customs , history , lore and many other topics . The Talmud is the basis for all codes of Jewish law , and is widely quoted in rabbinic literature .

Al-Aqsa Mosque <=SEP=> Al-Aqsa Mosque ( المسجد الاقصى Al-Masjid al - ` Aqṣā , -LSB- ʔælˈmæsdʒɪd ælˈʔɑqsˤɑ -RSB- , `` the Farthest Mosque '' ) , also known as Al-Aqsa and Bayt al-Muqaddas , is the third holiest site in Sunni Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem . Whilst the entire site on which the silver-domed mosque sits , along with the Dome of the Rock , seventeen gates , and four minarets , was itself historically known as the Al-Aqsa Mosque , today a narrower definition prevails , and the wider compound is usually referred to as al-Haram ash-Sharif ( `` the Noble Sanctuary '' ) , or the Temple Mount , the holiest site in Judaism . Muslims believe that Muhammad was transported from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to al-Aqsa during the Night Journey . Islamic tradition holds that Muhammad led prayers towards this site until the seventeenth month after the emigration , when God directed him to turn towards the Kaaba .   The mosque was originally a small prayer house built by Umar the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate , but was rebuilt and expanded by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik and finished by his son al-Walid in 705 CE . The mosque was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 746 and rebuilt by the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur in 754 . His successor al-Mahdi rebuilt it again in 780 . Another earthquake destroyed most of al-Aqsa in 1033 , but two years later the Fatimid caliph Ali az-Zahir built another mosque which has stood to the present day .   During the periodic renovations undertaken , the various ruling dynasties of the Islamic Caliphate constructed additions to the mosque and its precincts , such as its dome , facade , its minbar , minarets and the interior structure . When the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099 , they used the mosque as a palace and the Dome of the Rock as a church , but its function as a mosque was restored after its recapture by Saladin in 1187 . More renovations , repairs and additions were undertaken in the later centuries by the Ayyubids , Mamluks , Ottomans , the Supreme Muslim Council , and Jordan . Today , the Old City is under Israeli control , but the mosque remains under the administration of the Jordanian/Palestinian-led Islamic Waqf .