The Qur’anic Confirmation and Refutation of the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments (called ‘the ten words’ or ‘Decalogue’ in the Bible), are a reflection of God’s holy, gracious and trustworthy character (Leviticus 11:44;19:18; Psalm 111:2-9;112:4-7) and contain the general principles that are to guide the faith and moral response of God’s chosen people. They were given to God’s people through Moses at Mt Sinai after they had been delivered from slavery in Egypt. The Jews were to express their gratitude to God by loving Him with all their heart and soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) and by loving their neighbour as themselves (Leviticus 19:18). Jesus Christ affirmed the spiritual principles and heart-attitudes embodied in the Ten Commandments (Matthew 5:17-48) and the apostles stressed their importance, not as a means to earn God’s favour, but as the goal of people transformed by faith in Christ’s sacrifice and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Romans 3:20; 8:3-5).
The Qur’an lays stress on law (shariah) as Allah’s guidance to Muslims. It sometimes affirms principles contained in the Ten Commandments (e.g. Suras 17: 22-37; 60: 12; 2:53; 5:82), seeing them, together with the many requirements of shariah, as a way to earn Allah’s favour (Sura 48:10). It also contradicts the Ten Commandments in order to satisfy and make compliance easier for sinful human beings.
The God of the Bible does not lower His standard to suit fallen human nature. The God of the Bible is holy and He commands His people to be holy (Leviticus 11:45; 1 Peter 1:16). The Bible invites God’s people to keep the law because they are in a covenant relationship with God. Deuteronomy 5:1-5; Jeremiah 11:1-5.
The Qur’an invites Muslims to observe the shariah in order to be in a covenant relationship with Allah. Sura 19:96; 48:10; 5:7-14; 2:83-84.
A careful study of the Islamic religious texts reveals that the Qur’an is beset with contradictory messages. For example, in Sura 17:32 “Do not commit adultery”, compare Sura 24:33, where Allah gives Muslims approval for practicing adultery:
…“force not your maids to prostitution when they desire chastity, in order that ye may make a gain in the goods of this life. But if anyone compels them, yet, after such compulsion is God, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Sura 24:33).
Similarly, at times Allah speaks approvingly of the Ten Commandments contained in the Old Testament of the Bible:
1. No other God;
2. No idols;
3. Do not misuse the name of God;
4. Keep the Sabbath;
5. Honour your parents;
6. Do not murder;
7. Do not commit adultery;
8. Do not steal;
9. Do not give false testimony;
10. Do not covet.
Yet at other times Allah teaches Muslims the contrary – that they can break the commandments when and as needed:
1. Other gods were recommended;
2. Muhammad associated with Allah;
3. Muslims can be absolved from misuse of the name of God;
4. Don’t befriend non-Muslim parents and deal harshly with non-Muslims who are near to you;
5. Work is apportioned; there is no day of rest for the workers;
6. Allah grants murdering/killing for various reasons: How to make it stronger;
7. Limited prostitution and other cases of licentiousness;
8. Stealing booty from non-Muslims after killing them;
9. Deception (Taqiyya ), Tawriya and lying is permitted;
10. Muhammad greedily took property off the Jews; Muslims have eternal promise of booty, an incentive in Jihad.
Moreover, Muhammad taught that if Muslims do not commit sins, Allah will destroy them and create other people who will.
Sahih Muslim Vol. 4, Hadith No. 6621. Abu Ayyub Ansari reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: If you were not to commit sins, Allah would have swept you out of existence and would have replaced you by another people who have committed sin, and then asked forgiveness from Allah, and He would have granted them pardon. Sahih Muslim Vol. 4, Hadith No. 6622 and Hadith No. 6621. Muhammad also taught that Allah has decreed adultery and other things. See Sahih Muslim Vol. 4, Hadith No. 6421, No. 6422.
So the Qur’an and Hadith are full of contradictory instructions for Muslims to follow. They are exhorted to live by both high and low moral standards.
First Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20:3; Deut. 6:4-5; No other gods except Yahweh.
New Testament Reference:
1Cor.8:4-6; 1 Tim. 2:5 One God: The Holy Trinity Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor.13:14
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 112:1-4; 59:22-24; 17:22; 4:171; 16:51;
Quranic Contradiction References:
Other gods acknowledged in original Qur’an. See J M Rodwell footnote on Suras 53:19 and G. Sale and E. Palmer’s trans. Footnote for Sura 22:52; as well as in classic Islamic writings by early Muslims[1].
[1] (Guillaume, A The Life of Muhammad: a translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah, 1995 pp. 161-167, 165-166. ff and Watt & McDonald. The History of Al-Tabari: Vol. VI. 1988 pp. 105-108.). The Trinity misunderstood (Sura 5:116) and denied (Sura 4:171; 5:17, 71-73).
The Second Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20:4-6 No idols
New Testament Reference:
Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:23; 1 Cor. 8:4; 10:7; 2 Cor. 6:16
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 4:48, 116; 35: 40; 48:6
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 4:80; 48:9-10; 3:31-32: Allegiance to Muhammad linked to allegiance to Allah; Sura 3:96-7; 5;2, 97; 22:26: Veneration of the black stone of the Ka’bah during pilgrimage .
The Third Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20:7
New Testament Reference:
Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God Matt. 5:33-37; 6:7-8; James 5:12; Col. 3:17, 23;
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 2:224; 3:62-63;
Quranic Contradiction References:
Muslims take oath in the name of Allah. However, in Sura 66:2 “Surely Allah hath ordained for you to have absolution from your oaths”.
The Forth Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20:8-11 Keep the Sabbath
New Testament Reference:
Mark 2:27-28 Matt. 11:28; Heb. 4:1-11
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 4:154; 2:65;
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 16:124; 62:9-11; 43:32 work apportioned; No day of rest for workers
The Fifth Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20:12 Honor Parents
New Testament Reference:
Mat 15:4-6; 19:19; Mk. 10:19; Eph. 6:2-3
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 17:23-25; 4:36; 2:83; 6:152; 46:15-18;
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 9:23, 123 Don’t befriend non-Muslim Parents & deal harshly with those who are near to you…
The Sixth Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20:13 Do not murder
New Testament Reference:
Matt. 5:21,22, 43-44; 19:18; Rom. 13:9; James 3:9; 1 John 3:12
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 17:31, 33; 5:32; 6:151; 4:29, 36; 60:12; Kindness
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 31:18-19 Humility Allah grants killing for various reasons (Sura 9:5; 8:39, 67; 2:191; killing; Sura 9:29-30 fight Jews and Christians if they do not convert, demand protection money, and humiliate them. Sura 5:51; 3:28; 60:13; 58:14 Avoid friendship with Christians, Jews, non-Muslims. Sura 8:12-13; 5:33-34. Honour killing for opposing Allah and Muhammad.).
The Seventh Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Ex 20:14 Do not commit adultery
New Testament Reference:
Matt. 5:27, 28; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim 5:2; Heb.13:4
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 17:32; 24:3-5; 60:12; 16:90; 25:68
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 24:33 See note on limited prostitution and various other cases (Sura 4:3, 129, polygamy and sex with slave-girls; Sura 4:20 exchange wife; Sura 4:24 temp. marriage; Sura 70:29, 30 unlimited concubines; Sura 33:37 marriage to adopted son’s wife; Sura 65:4 See note on child wife.).
The Eighth Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20:15 Do not Steal
New Testament Reference:
Mk. 10:19; Matt. 19:18; Lk. 18:20; James. 5:4; Eph. 4:28
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 5:38,39 amputation of thief’s hand; 17:34-35; 6:152; 60:12
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 4:94. See note on stealing booty from non-Muslims after killing them. Sura 9:120; 48:18-20;
The Ninth Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Ex 20:16 Do not give false testimony
New Testament Reference:
Matt. 5:37; 19:18; Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 45:7; 33:35; 60:12 lying and falsehood forbidden
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 3:28; 16:106; 66:2 Deception (Taqiyya) permitted;
The Tenth Commandment
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20:17 Do not Covet
New Testament Reference:
Luke 12:15; Rom.7:7; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph 5:3, 5; James 3:14-16; 4:1, 2, 5; Heb.13:5
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 4:32; 37; 25:67; 5:42 Covet not, envy not; greed forbidden
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 48:1-2, 19-21; 8:60; promise of booty an incentive in Jihad; Sura 4:94; 33:19-20; Muhammad greedily took property off the Jews; Sura 59:2-8.
The Two Great Commandments
Old Testament Reference:
Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18; Love God and Love your neighbour
New Testament Reference:
Matt. 22:34-40; Mk. 12:28-34 Gal 5:14; James 2:8 1 John 4:20-21
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 3:31; 4:36; 2:177; 3:92 Sura 9:123 Deal harshly with those who are near to you
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 5:54-57 “humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers”.
Ten Commandments
Old Testament Reference:
Exodus 20;1-17 Deut.5:6-21; Jer.7:9; Hos.4:1-2
New Testament Reference:
Matt 5:17-48 Mark 10:19; Rom 13:9; James 2: 10-13
Quranic Confirmation Reference:
Sura 60:12; 17: 22-39; 2:53; 37:117; 7:171
Quranic Contradiction References:
Sura 9:108 [2].
[2](Veneration to the black stone of the Ka’aba as an object of pilgrimage, and prayer five times a day facing it. Muhammad taught that on the Day of Judgment, the black stone will intercede for those Muslims who paid it homage. See Hadith: Tirmidhi 961; Ibn Maajah 2944; Al-Haakim 1/664).
