Say, ‘Come I will tell you what your Lord has really forbidden you.

1 Do not ascribe anything as partner to Him;

2 be good to your parents;

3 do not kill your children in fear of poverty’ – We will provide for you and for them –

4 ‘stay well away from committing obscenities, whether openly or in secret;

5 do not take the life Allah has made sacred, except by right. This is what He commands you to do; perhaps you will use your reason.

6 Stay well away from the property of orphans, except in the way that is best, until they come of age;

7 give full measure and weight, according to justice’ –

8 We do not burden any soul with more than it can bear –

9  ‘when you speak, be just, even if it concerns a relative;

10 keep any promises you make in Allah s name.’

This is what He commands you to do, so that you may take heed. This is my path leading straight, so follow it, and do not follow other ways they will lead you away from it- ‘This is what He commands you to do, so that you may refrain from wrongdoing. ‘ (AJ-An’am 6:151-153)

In these verses we have Ten Commandments of Islam. ‘Ubadah ibn Samit – may Allah be pleased with him- said that Prophet Muhammad used to take pledge of Islam (bay’ah) from the people in Makkah by reciting these verses. Some scholars call them as “al-Din al-Jami'” (the Universal and Comprehensive Teachings of Religion). These commandments include belief, worship, ethics, and laws pertaining to social, economic and civic matters.

Similar teachings were also given in the Torah (Exodus 20:2-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21) to Bani Israel and they are known among Jews and Christians as the Ten Commandments. They are generally summarized as follows:

1. You shall not worship any other god but God. – 1 Do not ascribe anything as partner to Him;
   
2. You shall not make a graven image.
3. You shall not take the name of God in vain.
4. You shall not break the Sabbath.
5. You shall not dishonor your parents.  – 2 be good to your parents;
   
6. You shall not murder. – 5 do not take the life Allah has made sacred, except by right. This is what He commands you to do; perhaps you will use your reason.
   
7. You shall not commit adultery – 4 ‘stay well away from committing obscenities, whether openly or in secret;
   
8. You shall not steal. – 7 give full measure and weight, according to justice’ –
   
9. You shall not commit perjury. – 9  ‘when you speak, be just, even if it concerns a relative;
   
10. You shall not covet. – 6 Stay well away from the property of orphans, except in the way that is best, until they come of age;
    

3 do not kill your children in fear of poverty’ – We will provide for you and for them –

8 We do not burden any soul with more than it can bear –