Overview
The Ten Commandments, also called the Decalogue, appear in several forms in the Hebrew Scriptures, including Exodus 20:2–17, Exodus 34:12–26 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. These passages differ in wording and arrangement; the version in Exodus 20 is the one most often used in popular discussions.
Depending on how its instructions are counted and grouped, the Exodus passage contains more individual imperatives than the familiar number ten. It forms part of the wider body of laws traditionally associated with the Mosaic covenant.
The Qur’an is Islam’s revealed scripture. Muslim interpretation understands it as divine revelation conveyed to Muhammad. It does not present the Decalogue as one numbered unit, but several passages address related themes such as exclusive worship, respect for parents, truthful conduct, sexual ethics, protection of life and restraint from coveting.
Comparison of themes
| Hebrew Scriptures: Exodus 20 | Related Qur’an passages |
|---|---|
| Exclusive worship: Do not place other gods before God. | Qur’an 17:22 and 47:19 are commonly read as affirming devotion to one God and rejecting association of other deities with God. |
| Images and representation: The passage prohibits making and worshiping idols. | Qur’an 14:35 records a prayer for protection from idol worship; 42:11 emphasizes that nothing is comparable to God. |
| Respect for the divine name: Do not use God’s name in a false or empty manner. | Qur’an 2:224 cautions against using oaths as an obstacle to justice, while 73:8 and 76:25 call for remembrance and praise of God. |
| Sabbath rest: The seventh day is set apart from ordinary work. | The Qur’an discusses the Sabbath in relation to the Israelites. Muslim communal worship is associated with Friday prayer rather than a Sabbath observance. |
| Honor parents: Treat father and mother with respect. | Qur’an 17:23–24 instructs believers to speak kindly to parents, show humility and pray for them. |
| Protection of life: Do not unlawfully kill. | Qur’an 17:33 treats human life as sacred and prohibits taking life except within the framework of justice. |
| Sexual fidelity: Do not commit adultery. | Qur’an 17:32 prohibits adultery and describes it as a serious moral wrong. |
| Property and honesty: Do not steal or give false testimony. | Qur’an 5:38–39 addresses theft and repentance, while 25:72 praises servants of God who do not support falsehood. |
| Restraint from coveting: Do not desire a neighbor’s household, relationships or possessions. | Qur’an 4:32 advises people not to covet advantages granted to others and instead to ask God for provision. |
The Sabbath and Friday prayer
The Qur’an refers to the Sabbath as a distinctive obligation connected with the Jewish community. Islamic practice instead gives particular importance to the communal Friday prayer, including gathering, remembrance and a sermon. These practices should not be treated as interchangeable: the comparison concerns related questions about sacred time and communal worship, not identical institutions.
Across both traditions, interpretation varies among communities and historical periods. A responsible comparison therefore distinguishes scriptural wording from later legal, theological and cultural developments.