Shared Principles: Quranic and Biblical Commandments

By Faysal Burhan
Published 2025

While Islam does not have an explicitly numbered list called “the ten commandments” in the same format as the Bible, the Qur’an contains many passages, especially in Surah Al-An’am (6:151-152) and Surah Al-Isra (17:23-35), that outline a set of fundamental moral and ethical principles considered equivalent in spirit and share significant overlap with the Biblical Mosaic Law. Such commandments focus on core duties to God and humanity.

You will find the verses outlined above listed at the end for further exploration.

The Qur’anic Commandment Overlaps the Bible’s

The Qur’anic Commandment can be summarized as follows:

♦ Monotheism: Worship God alone and do not associate any partners with Him.

♦ Filial Piety: Be kind, do not harm, be respectful, and dutiful toward your parents, especially as they age.

♦ Sanctity of Life: Do not commit murder, including the killing of children due to poverty, as God is the provider of sustenance.

♦ Moral Integrity: Avoid all forms of indecency and unlawful sexual relations, both publicly and privately.

Justice in Dealings:

♦ Protect and manage orphans’ property responsibly until they reach maturity.

♦ Ensure fairness in business transactions by giving full measure and weight to all parties involved.

♦ Be just and truthful in testimony, regardless of who is involved.

♦ Fulfilling Obligations: Honor promises and the covenant made with God.

♦ Charity: Provide what is due to relatives, those in need, and travelers without waste.

In essence, these verses emphasize a life of monotheism, justice, compassion, and moral integrity, stressing both individual piety and social responsibility.

The Biblical Ten Commandments for similarity:

You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make idols (graven images).
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (lie).
You shall not covet (desire wrongfully anything that belongs to your neighbor).

Qur’anic Key Example Verses

(O Muhammad), Say, “Let me tell you about what your Lord has commanded: Do not consider anything equal to God; Be kind to your parents; Do not murder your children out of fear of poverty, for We give sustenance to you and to them. Do not even approach indecency either in public or in private. Take not a life which God has made sacred except by way of justice and law. Thus does He command you that you may learn wisdom. 6:151

And do not approach the orphan’s property except in the best way until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you testify, be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And fulfill the covenant of God. Thus, He has instructed you to remember this. 6:152

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. 17: 23

And give his due to the near of kin, as well as to those in need and the wayfarer, but do not squander [your substance] senselessly. 17:26