10 Commandments of Allah to Bani Israel

Before we go any further, one matter must be clarified carefully so that no one misunderstands the direction of this discussion.

We as Muslims do not take our religion from the Bible, even though we believe in the revealed Books. We do not place the Old Testament on the same level as the Quran. Nor do we claim that the text available today has been preserved in full as the original revelation from Allah. Our position remains unchanged. The Quran is the highest reference, the most perfectly preserved, and the final authority.

So why am I still presenting the content known as The 10 Commandments?

The answer is simple. Allah Himself states that this decree had already been conveyed to Bani Israel فِي الْكِتَابِ. Therefore, in the context of Bani Israel, we need to examine the traces of that covenant in the source that was once in their possession, and then reassess it using the Quran as the criterion. Not to derive creed from a scripture that has been altered, but to see what still remains, what was concealed, and how the Quran came to correct what had been distorted.

For that reason, what I present below is my own Malay rendering of the content found in the Old Testament, prepared for the purpose of this discussion. You may consult other language versions online if you wish to make further comparisons. Even so, all of them remain merely materials for examination, not absolute authorities, because their originality has not been fully preserved.

What we want to observe here is not merely the sound of the text, but the framework of commandments that was once given to Bani Israel. From there, we will be able to compare, assess, and better understand how the Quran reopens matters that had long been obscured.

The 10 Commandments, or the 10 Words of Command, consist of the following:

1. Do not have any god besides Allah

This means that no human being may place anything as the highest object of devotion other than the true God. This includes idols, power, human beings, wealth, or anything else elevated until it takes the place of God in the heart and in obedience.

2. Do not make graven images for worship

This prohibition is not merely about making statues. Its essence is that no object, symbol, or representation should be made into an intermediary of worship. This command closes the door to shirk and to worship directed at anything other than God.

3. Do not take the name of God in vain

This means do not toy with the name of God. Do not use His name for false oaths, deception, pious theatrics, or to legitimize injustice. The name of God is not a tool of manipulation.

4. Remember and sanctify the Sabbath

For Bani Israel, the Sabbath was a day of rest dedicated to God. Its broader meaning is that human beings are not machines. There must be a time to step away from worldly affairs and return to worship, gratitude, and submission to God.

5. Honor your father and mother

This command safeguards the foundation of the family. Honoring one’s parents is not merely a matter of courtesy. It is an acknowledgment of their rights, their sacrifices, and their standing. A society that destroys reverence for parents usually rots from the roots.

6. Do not kill

This prohibition safeguards human life. Life does not belong to man to be played with at will. This command affirms that shedding blood without right is a grave crime.

7. Do not commit adultery

This protects honor, lineage, family, and social stability. Adultery is not merely a private sin. It is an act that betrays trust, destroys households, and opens the door to wider corruption.

8. Do not steal

This prohibition upholds property rights and trust. Theft is not limited to taking someone else’s belongings. Fraud, breach of trust, bribery, manipulation of wealth, and taking the rights of others unlawfully all fall within the spirit of this command.

9. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor

Originally, this is closely tied to courts and justice. It means do not lie, do not slander, do not fabricate accusations, and do not twist facts. When testimony is corrupted, justice collapses.

10. Do not covet what belongs to others

This command reaches directly into the human heart. It forbids covetous desire for another person’s wife, house, wealth, or anything else that belongs to someone else. This shows that corruption begins not only in outward acts, but also in desires cultivated within the soul.

The List of Words of Command to Bani Israel in the Quran

Now we turn to The 10 Commandments, that is, the commands imposed upon Bani Israel according to the version declared by Allah in the Quran. This is the preserved version.

Since the Quran never literally names them as the 10 Words of Command, I will first retain the Quranic verses themselves so that you may read the Arabic text together with the Malay translation I prepared. I have also removed all bracketed wording from the translations in order to preserve the purity of the verse and prevent our understanding from being mixed with the interpretations of the original translator.

We will begin with the commands starting from verse 22 of Surah al-Isra’, and we will see the severe emphasis upon these commands in verses 37 and 38. So, to put it simply, the covenant of Allah with Bani Israel, or The 10 Commandments, is articulated in the Quran through Surah al-Isra’ verses 22 to 39.

لَّا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَقْعُدَ مَذْمُومًۭا مَّخْذُولًۭا ٢٢

(22) And do not make as equal with Allah another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken.

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ٢٣

(23) And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age while with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.

وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا ٢٤

(24) And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."

رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِى نُفُوسِكُمْ ۚ إِن تَكُونُوا۟ صَـٰلِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِلْأَوَّٰبِينَ غَفُورًۭا ٢٥

(25) Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] - then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving.

وَءَاتِ ذَا ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُۥ وَٱلْمِسْكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا ٢٦

(26) And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوٓا۟ إِخْوَٰنَ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لِرَبِّهِۦ كَفُورًۭا ٢٧

(27) Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.

وَإِمَّا تُعْرِضَنَّ عَنْهُمُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ رَحْمَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكَ تَرْجُوهَا فَقُل لَّهُمْ قَوْلًۭا مَّيْسُورًۭا ٢٨

(28) And if you [must] turn away from the needy awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect, then speak to them a gentle word.

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ ٱلْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًۭا مَّحْسُورًا ٢٩

(29) And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًۭا ٣٠

(30) Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Acquainted and Seeing.

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَـٰقٍۢ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًۭٔا كَبِيرًۭا ٣١

(31) And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةًۭ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًۭا ٣٢

(32) And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًۭا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًۭا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّى ٱلْقَتْلِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مَنصُورًۭا ٣٣

(33) And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in [the matter of] taking life. Indeed, he has been supported [by the law].

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْـُٔولًۭا ٣٤

(34) And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.

وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ إِذَا كِلْتُمْ وَزِنُوا۟ بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًۭا ٣٥

(35) And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is the best [way] and best in result.

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًۭا ٣٦

(36) And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.

وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ ٱلْجِبَالَ طُولًۭا ٣٧

(37) And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height.

كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ كَانَ سَيِّئُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّكَ مَكْرُوهًۭا ٣٨

(38) All that - its evil is ever, in the sight of your Lord, detested.

ذَٰلِكَ مِمَّآ أَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ رَبُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْحِكْمَةِ ۗ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتُلْقَىٰ فِى جَهَنَّمَ مَلُومًۭا مَّدْحُورًا ٣٩

(39) This is from what your Lord has revealed to you, [O Muhammad], of wisdom. And, [O mankind], do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity, lest you be thrown into Hell, blamed and banished.

Why All of This Is So Important for Us to Understand

At this stage, some may still wonder why I am urging you to pay such serious attention to these commandments of Allah imposed upon Bani Israel.

The answer is that this is not simply about reviewing ancient history. Nor is it merely about reading a record of a people who came and passed away. What we are examining is a covenant whose consequences for violation are still carried by Allah Himself into the Quran. You already know that the people of Nuh went through their cycle. ‘Ad went through theirs. Thamud went through theirs. Other earlier nations also received their own warnings and punishments.

But Bani Israel are presented before us in a different manner. They not only received commandments through Prophet Musa a.s., but were reminded again under the law of Prophet Isa and the law of Prophet Muhammad SAW. This shows that their file has not been closed. It is not like the case of earlier nations. That is why we cannot read these commandments merely as material for comparative religion.

What we are now exploring is a covenant that still has a connection to punishment yet to come. When the Quran repeats these commandments and at the same time opens the chapter of violation and the consequences of violation, then we must understand that this is not an issue of the past alone. We need to be aware, we need to understand, and we need to be convinced that this is a warning whose effects will unfold in our age.

That is why understanding these commandments is so important. We are not wasting our time arranging knowledge merely to appear clever or to show off before others. What we are doing together is looking at the prelude to a punishment whose discussion in the Quran has not yet been concluded. Once we know that this punishment has not yet been concluded, then the question is no longer whether it is relevant or not. The real question is whether we realize that we may be living in the age of its manifestation. More alarming still, are we living upon the very land where they will be punished.

Closing

So far, we have only examined one chain of commandments once given to Bani Israel in two forms of presentation, one through the traces that still remain in the Old Testament and the other through the form preserved again by Allah in the Quran. But the discussion does not end here.

In the next part, we will examine more systematically which similarities still remain between The 10 Commandments and the List of Words of Command to Bani Israel in the Quran. After that, we will move into the differences that are equally crucial to understand. It is there that we will see more clearly which parts still carry traces of the original revelation, which parts have changed, and how the Quran came not merely to repeat, but also to correct, complete, and re-expose that covenant.