The Ten Commandments: A Quick Introduction

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By C. Mofty (© 2012 IslamReligion.com)Published on 19 Mar 2012 - Last modified on 19 Mar 2012
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Judaism
Reading the title, some people might think of the ‘The Ten
Commandments,’[1] one of the most financially
successful[2] movies and rated as one of the
best ten ever.[3] Or the title might stir the
memories of the national debate of putting ‘The Ten Commandments’ on public
property and use in public schools that ended in the Supreme Court in 2005.
Leaving aside the movies and the
media, basic facts on Ten Commandments are little known. That is why in three
article we will explore what are the Ten Commandments? Who follows them? What is
their relevance to (modern) American life? What solutions, if any, do they
provide for today’s challenges?
Let us start with the basics. The
Ten Commandments have their origin in the Jewish religion, but they are also
found in the Christian Bibles. It is said to be inscribed on two tablets that
were given by God to Moses. In the Bible, they are recorded in Exodus 20:2-17
and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The Exodus list is more commonly accepted by Christians.
Encyclopedia Britannica describes them to be a “list of religious precepts
that…were divinely revealed to Moses on Mt. Sinai and were engraved on two
tablets of stone.”[4]
“Judaism teaches that the first
tablet, containing the first five declarations, identifies duties regarding our
relationship with God, while the second tablet, containing the last five
declarations, identifies duties regarding our relationship with other people.”[5] Catholics believe, “The Ten
Commandments are precepts bearing on the fundamental obligations of religion and
morality and embodying the revealed expression of the Creator's will in relation
to man's whole duty to God and to his fellow-creatures.”[6]
The Hebrew, Protestant, and
Catholic versions differ. That there are different versions of the Ten
Commandments is not a well-known fact.[7]
Three verses in the Quran, the
sacred book of Islam, mention ten important commandments. They are in Surah
Anaam, 6:151-153, and Surah Isra’, 17:23-39 is like a commentary on the
commandments listed in Surah Anaam. Some scholars call them the “verses of the
ten commandments” simply because they speak of ten significant commandments to
be observed by a Muslim. The Quran does not directly state that these are the
same commandments that were given to Moses.
Great emphasis is placed on these
commandments in the Islamic faith. Ibn Mas’ud, a famous companion of Prophet
Muhammad said[8]:
“Whoever wishes to ascertain the
will of Prophet Muhammad on which the Prophet has put his seal, let him read the
Statement of God, and then he recited the three verses.”
The Prophet of Islam himself
said,
“Who among you will give me his
pledge to do three things,” he then recited the verse 6:151 and continued,
“Whoever fulfills (this pledge), then his reward will be with God, but whoever
fell into shortcomings and God punishes him for it in this life, then that will
be his recompense. Whoever God delays (his reckoning) until the Hereafter, then
his matter is with God. If He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He
will forgive him. ''[9]
In summary, these commandments
contain what God wills for the life of all people. It has five orders and a
similar number of prohibitions that define the relationship of man and his
Creator, man’s obligations to his family, and commandments that order his social
life. What follows are the ten commandments of Quran and their relevance to
modern life.
Footnotes:
[1]
It must be clarified that Islamic teachings do not look favorably at
portraying prophets of God in images or the screen.
[2]
(http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm)
[3]
(http://www.afi.com/10top10/epic.html)
[4] "Ten Commandments."
Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia
Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.
(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/587032/Ten-Commandments).
[5]
(http://www.jewfaq.org/10.htm)
[6]
(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04153a.htm)
[7] The Ten Commandments as Public
Ritual. Contributors: Derek H. Davis - author. Journal Title: Journal of Church
and State. Volume: 44. Issue: 2. Publication Year: 2002. Page Number:
221.
[8] Tirmidhi
[9] Hakim said, "Its chain is Sahih
and they did not record it.''