<P> However, some of the restriction of Abrahamic to these three is due only to tradition in historical classification . Therefore, restricting the category to these three religions has come under criticism . The religions listed below here claim Abrahamic classification, either by the religions themselves, or by scholars who study them . </P> <P> The Bahá'í Faith, which dates only to the late 19th century, has sometimes been listed as Abrahamic by scholarly sources in various fields . </P> <P> Though smaller and younger than the well - known Abrahamic religions, the Bahá'í Faith is significant because of its activities, distribution and numbers . The religion is almost entirely contained in a single, organized community with international, national, regional, and local administration, without sects or subdivisions, and is recognized as the second-most geographically widespread religion after Christianity . The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated some 7.3 million Bahá'ís in 2005 and the only religion to consistently surpass population growth in each major region of the planet over the last century, often growing at twice the rate of the population . </P> <P> Bahá'u'lláh (1817--1892), the founder, affirms the highest religious station for Abraham and generally for prophets mentioned among the other Abrahamic religions, and has claimed a lineage of descent from Abraham through Keturah and Sarah . Additionally Bahá'u'lláh actually did lose a son, Mírzá Mihdí . Bahá'u'lláh, then in prison, eulogized his son and connected the subsequent easing of restrictions to his son's dying prayer and compared it to the intended sacrifice of Abraham's son . </P>

The three major religions in the middle east include all of the following except