Short answer: yes, in substance. Muslims believe the commandments given to Musa came from Allah (7:145), and nine of the ten are binding in Islam, stated in the Quran almost word for word, above all in Surah al-Isra 17:22 to 39 and Surah al-An'am 6:151 to 153. The one exception is the Saturday sabbath, which the Quran says was a law for the Children of Israel (16:124). For Muslims, the weekly day of gathering is Friday.
Musa and the tablets in the Quran
وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَلْوَاحِ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ مَّوْعِظَةًۭ وَتَفْصِيلًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ فَخُذْهَا بِقُوَّةٍۢ وَأْمُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَأْخُذُوا۟ بِأَحْسَنِهَا ۚ سَأُو۟رِيكُمْ دَارَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ ﴿١٤٥﴾
Wa katabnaa lahoo fil alwaahi minkulli shai'immaw 'izaanw wa tafseelal likulli shai'in fakhuzhaa biquwwatinw waamur qawmaka yaakhuzoo bi ahsanihaa; wa ooreekum daaral faasiqeen
And We wrote for him on the tablets [something] of all things - instruction and explanation for all things, [saying], "Take them with determination and order your people to take the best of it. I will show you the home of the defiantly disobedient."
Quran 7:145 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Araf
The Quran says that when Musa came back down and found his people worshipping the calf, he threw the tablets down, then took them up again, "and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who are fearful of their Lord" (7:154). It also records the covenant taken from the Children of Israel:
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًۭا وَذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُوا۟ لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًۭا وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا مِّنكُمْ وَأَنتُم مُّعْرِضُونَ ﴿٨٣﴾
Wa iz akhaznaa meesaaqa Baneee Israaa'eela laa ta'budoona illal laaha wa bil waalidaini ihsaananw wa zil qurbaa walyataamaa walmasaakeeni wa qooloo linnaasi husnanw wa aqeemus salaata wa aatuzZakaata summa tawallitum illaa qaleelam minkum wa antum mu'ridoon
And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allah; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.
Quran 2:83 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Baqarah
Read the full story on our Musa page.
Each commandment, matched to the Quran
The commandments below follow Exodus 20 in the numbering used by Jews and most Protestants. Catholics and Lutherans join the first two and split the last into two, but the content is the same.
| # | Commandment (Exodus 20) | In the Quran | In Islam |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | You shall have no other gods before Me | 17:22, 17:39, 6:151, 112:1-4 | The first and greatest command: tawhid |
| 2 | You shall not make idols | 6:151, 22:30, 21:52-54 | Forbidden: worship of images is shirk |
| 3 | Do not take the name of the Lord in vain | 2:224, 5:89 | Oaths by Allah must be kept, or expiated if broken; His name is honoured |
| 4 | Remember the sabbath day | 16:124, 4:154, 7:163, 62:9-10 | Given to the Children of Israel; Muslims have Friday prayer, with no day of rest |
| 5 | Honour your father and mother | 17:23-24, 6:151, 31:14 | Binding, and placed straight after worshipping Allah alone |
| 6 | You shall not murder | 17:33, 6:151, 5:32 | Binding: killing one innocent soul is like killing all mankind |
| 7 | You shall not commit adultery | 17:32, 24:2 | Binding, and the Quran says do not even approach it |
| 8 | You shall not steal | 5:38, 60:12, 17:34 | Binding, including the property of orphans |
| 9 | You shall not bear false witness | 6:152, 4:135, 25:72, 17:36 | Binding: testify justly even against relatives |
| 10 | You shall not covet | 4:32, 20:131 | Binding: do not long for what Allah gave others |
Surah al-Isra 17:22 to 39: the Quran's own list
Many scholars have pointed out that these verses read like an expanded set of commandments. They open and close with the command not to set up another god beside Allah:
لَّا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَقْعُدَ مَذْمُومًۭا مَّخْذُولًۭا ﴿٢٢﴾ ۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ﴿٢٣﴾ وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا ﴿٢٤﴾
Laa taj'al ma'al laahi ilaahan aakhara fataq'uda mazoomam makhzoolaa Wa qadaa Rabbuka allaa ta'budooo illaaa iyyaahu wa bilwaalidaini ihsaanaa; immaa yablughanna 'indakal kibara ahaduhumaaa aw kilaahumaa falaa taqul lahumaaa uffinw wa laa tanharhumaa wa qullahumaa qawlan kareemaa Wakhfid lahumaa janaahaz zulli minar rahmati wa qur Rabbir hamhumaa kamaa rabbayaanee sagheera
(22) Do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken. (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. (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."
Quran 17:22-24 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Isra
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَٰدَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَٰقٍۢ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًۭٔا كَبِيرًۭا ﴿٣١﴾ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَٰحِشَةًۭ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًۭا ﴿٣٢﴾ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًۭا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِۦ سُلْطَٰنًۭا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّى ٱلْقَتْلِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ مَنصُورًۭا ﴿٣٣﴾ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْـُٔولًۭا ﴿٣٤﴾ وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ إِذَا كِلْتُمْ وَزِنُوا۟ بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًۭا ﴿٣٥﴾ وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًۭا ﴿٣٦﴾
Wa laa taqtulooo awlaadakum khashyata imlaaq; nahnu narzuquhum wa iyyaakum; inna qatlahum kaana khitan kabeeraa Wa laa taqrabuz zinaaa innahoo kaana faahishatanw wa saaa'a sabeelaa Wa laa taqtulun nafsal latee harramal laahu illaa bilhaqq; wa man qutila mazlooman faqad ja'alnaa liwaliyyihee sultaanan falaa yusrif fil qatli innahoo kaana mansooraa Wa laa taqraboo maalal yateemi illaa billatee hiya ahsanu hattaa yablugha ashuddah; wa awfoo bil'ahd, innal 'ahda kaana mas'oolaa Wa awful kaila izaa kiltum wa zinoo bilqistaasil mustaqeem; zaalika khairunw wa ahsanu ta'weelaa Wa laa taqfu maa laisa laka bihee 'ilm; innas sam'a walbasara walfu'aada kullu ulaaa'ika kaana 'anhu mas'oolaa
(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. (32) And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way. (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]. (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. (35) And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is the best [way] and best in result. (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.
Quran 17:31-36 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Isra
The passage goes on: give relatives, the poor and travellers their right, do not waste (17:26), do not be stingy or spend everything (17:29), and "do not walk upon the earth exultantly" (17:37). It ends: "That is from what your Lord has revealed to you of wisdom" (17:39). Read the whole surah on our Surah al-Isra page.
Surah al-An'am 6:151 to 153
This passage begins "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you", and the very next verse turns to Musa and the scripture given to him (6:154):
۞ قُلْ تَعَالَوْا۟ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًۭٔا ۖ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًۭا ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَٰدَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَٰقٍۢ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٥١﴾ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ ۖ وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَٱعْدِلُوا۟ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْفُوا۟ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿١٥٢﴾ وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطِى مُسْتَقِيمًۭا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٥٣﴾
Qul ta'aalaw atlu maa harrama Rabbukum 'alaikum allaa tushrikoo bihee shai'anw wa bilwaalidaini ihsaananw wa laa taqtulooo aw alaadakum min imlaaq; nahnu narzuqukum wa iyyaahum wa laa taqrabul fawaahisha maa zahara minhaa wa maa batana wa laa taqtulun nafsal latee harramal laahu illaa bilhaqq; zaalikum wassaakum bihee la'allakum ta'qiloon Wa laa taqraboo maalal yateemi illaa billatee hiyaa ahsanu hattaa yablugha ashuddahoo wa awful kaila walmeezaana bilqisti laa nukallifu nafsan illaa wus'ahaa wa izaa qultum fa'diloo wa law kaana zaa qurbaa wa bi 'ahdil laahi awfoo; zaalikum wassaakum bihee la'allakum tazakkarron Wa annna haazaa Siraatee mustaqeeman fattabi'oohu wa laa tattabi'us subula fatafarraqa bikum 'an sabeelih; zaalikum wassaakum bihee la'allakum tattaqoon
(151) Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason." (152) And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best 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 the covenant of Allah fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember. (153) And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
Quran 6:151-153 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Anam
Why the sabbath is the exception
The Quran treats the sabbath as a specific law for the Children of Israel, not a law for all humanity: "Do not transgress on the sabbath" was part of their covenant (4:154), and "the sabbath was only appointed for those who differed over it" (16:124). The Quran tells the story of the town by the sea that broke it by fishing (7:163).
The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah guided the Muslims to Friday, as the Jews had Saturday and the Christians Sunday (Sahih al-Bukhari 876; Sahih Muslim 855). But Friday is not a day of rest: Muslims stop trade only for the prayer, then "disperse within the land" (62:10). See our post on Friday in Islam.
The same commands in the Prophet's ﷺ pledges
The Prophet ﷺ took pledges from new Muslims built around the same core. The pledge of the believing women in the Quran lists them:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ وَلَا يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلَٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأْتِينَ بِبُهْتَٰنٍۢ يَفْتَرِينَهُۥ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعْصِينَكَ فِى مَعْرُوفٍۢ ۙ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ﴿١٢﴾
Yaaa ayyuhan nabbiyyu izaa jaaa'akal mu'minaau yubaai naka 'alaaa allaa yushrikna billaahi shai 'anw wa laa yasriqna wa laa yazneena wa laa yaqtulna awlaadahunna wa laa yaateena bibuhtaaniny yaftaree nahoo baina aydeehinna wa arjulihinna wa laa ya'seenaka fee ma'roofin fabaayi'hunna wastaghfir lahunnal laaha innnal laaha ghafoorur raheem
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Quran 60:12 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Mumtahanah
Ubadah ibn al-Samit reported that the Prophet ﷺ took the same pledge from the men of Madinah: "that you will not associate anything with Allah, not steal, not commit zina, not kill your children, not bring a slander you have invented, and not disobey in what is right" (Sahih al-Bukhari 18; Sahih Muslim 1709).
What Islam adds
Islam affirms the commandments and builds on them. Alongside them the Quran and Sunnah set:
- The five daily prayers, zakat, the fast of Ramadan and Hajj, the pillars of Islam.
- The ban on riba, gambling and alcohol (2:275, 5:90).
- Detailed rights of relatives, orphans, neighbours, travellers and the poor (4:36).
- Inner commands: sincerity, humility, avoiding suspicion and backbiting (49:12).
The six beliefs behind all of it are on our articles of faith page.
Questions
Do Muslims follow the 10 commandments?
Yes, in substance. Nine of the ten are commands in the Quran, mostly in 17:22-39 and 6:151-153. The Saturday sabbath is the exception: the Quran says it was for the Children of Israel.
Are the Ten Commandments in the Quran?
Not as a numbered list called the Ten Commandments. The Quran says Allah wrote guidance for Musa on the tablets (7:145), and almost every commandment appears in its verses.
What are the Islamic commandments?
The core is in 17:22-39: worship Allah alone, honour parents, give relatives and the poor their right, do not waste, do not kill your children, do not approach zina, do not kill, protect orphans' wealth, keep commitments, give full measure, do not follow what you do not know, and do not be arrogant.
Why don't Muslims keep the sabbath?
The Quran says the sabbath was appointed for the Children of Israel (16:124). The Prophet ﷺ said Allah guided Muslims to Friday, which is a day of congregational prayer, not rest.
Is Musa (Moses) a prophet in Islam?
Yes. Musa is one of the greatest messengers, named more than any other prophet in the Quran, and one of the five called Ulul Azm, those of firm resolve.
Sources
- Quran 2:83, 2:224, 4:32, 4:135, 4:154, 5:32, 5:38, 5:89, 6:151-154, 7:145, 7:154, 7:163, 16:124, 17:22-39, 20:131, 25:72, 60:12, 62:9-10. Translation by Sahih International.
- Exodus 20:1-17 (the Ten Commandments), for the comparison.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 18 and Sahih Muslim 1709 (the pledge), Sahih al-Bukhari 876 and Sahih Muslim 855 (Friday).
- Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Quran al-Azim, on 6:151-153 and 17:22-39.
This page is pending review by the scholars on our team.