The Ten Commandments in Judaism

Qur’an in Surah Al-Araf says that these Ten Commandments written in tablets of stone
were signs by Allah himself.  But what were these commands? They are given here exactly from
the Book of Exodus in the Taurat that Musa (PBUH) copied from the tablets of stone. (I only add
the numbers to count the commands)

And God spoke all these words:

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

1) You shall have no other gods before me.

2) You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the
earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I,
the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the
third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of
those who love me and keep my commandments.

3) You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone
guiltless who misuses his name.

4) Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither
you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any
foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the
sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the
Sabbath day and made it holy.

5) Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God
is giving you.

6) You shall not murder.

7) You shall not commit adultery.

8) You shall not steal.

9) You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

10) You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his
male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in
smoke, they trembled with fear. ”  (Exodus 20:1-18)

Often it seems that many of us who live in secular countries forget that these were commands.
They were not suggestions. They were not recommendations. Nor were they negotiable. They
were commands to be obeyed – to submit to. It was Sharia Law.  And the Israelites were in fear
of God’s Holiness.

The Standard of Obedience

Surah al-Hashr (Surah 59 – The Exile) refers to how the Ten Commands were given by
comparing it to the Qur’an’s revealing.  In contrast to the Qur’an, the Ten Commands were given
on a mountain in a terrifying display.

Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, verily, thou wouldst have seen it humble itself
and cleave asunder for fear of God.  Such are the similitudes which We propound to men, that
they may reflect.

God is He, than Whom there is no other god;- Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful. (Surah al-Hashr 59:21-22)

But an important question remains. How much or many commands were they to obey? The
following verse comes just before the giving of the Ten Commandments

…they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the
mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said,
“… if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured
possession. (Exodus 19:2-5)
And this verse was given just after the Ten Commandments

Then he (Musa) took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We
will do  everything the LORD has said; we will obey.” (Exodus 24:7).

In the last book of the Taurat (there are five) which is Musa’s final message, he summarized the
obedience to the Law in this way.
The LORD commanded us to obey all  these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we
might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey
all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be
our righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 6:24-25)