Blog · From Episode 6 of the Podcast
Are the Ten Commandments in the Quran? The Bible and the Quran Side by Side
A short summary of Episode 6, in plain words, with examples from our daily life.
“You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.”
[17:36]
Episode 6 · Common Ground · 28 October 2026 · 20 min
Are the Ten Commandments in the Quran? The Bible and the Quran Side by Side (Quran 6:151)
This post is a written summary of Episode 6 of our podcast. You can read it here, and listen to the full episode whenever you have time.
In Short
Many of us grew up with the Ten Commandments on a Sunday school poster. The Quran has no single numbered list, but it gives two lists of commands, in chapters 6 and 17. When we put them beside the Bible's list, six of the ten match, and a seventh is close. Three do not appear in these lists, and the Quran adds a few of its own. Both put one command first, and that is to worship God alone.
Picture a child in a Sunday school room, looking at a poster with ten rules on it. Many of us can still see it. Years later we might wonder if the Quran has anything like it.
It does, in a different shape. Let's read the Bible's list first, then the two lists in the Quran, and count honestly what matches and what does not. We will go through it in four parts.
The Bible's List, and What the Quran Says About Moses
The Bible's list is in the Book of Exodus. It begins with God, and then it moves to people. Here are the first commands:
You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.Exodus 20:3-4 · Berean Standard Bible
Next come the commands about how we treat one another:
Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.Exodus 20:12-16 · Berean Standard Bible
There are ten in all. The others are about taking God's name in vain, keeping the Sabbath day, and not coveting what belongs to a neighbor. This list is not only an old rule. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us he did not come to cancel the law:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.Matthew 5:17 · Berean Standard Bible
Does the Quran start from a blank page? No. It speaks about Moses and the tablets:
We wrote for him on the tablets all kinds of enlightenments and details of everything: “You shall uphold these teachings strongly, and exhort your people to uphold them—these are the best teachings. I will point out for you the fate of the wicked.”[7:145]
That “We” is God speaking. So the Quran agrees that Moses received written teachings on tablets. It does not give one neat list. It places the main commands in two passages instead.
So far, we have seen the Bible's list and the Quran's agreement about Moses. Next, let's read the first Quran passage, in chapter 6.
Everyday Justice in Chapter 6
Chapter 6 moves from belief straight into daily life. God tells us to say this:
Say, “Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you: You shall not set up idols besides Him. You shall honor your parents. You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty—we provide for you and for them. You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden. You shall not kill—GOD has made life sacred—except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand.”[6:151]
A lot of the poster is already here. No idols, honor our parents, and do not kill, because life is sacred.
One part is new to the Bible's list. The Quran says not to kill children out of fear of poverty. It does not only say do not do it. It answers the fear behind it with a promise, “we provide for you and for them” [6:151]. Think of a young father lying awake over the bills. The command and the comfort come together.
The passage goes on into fair dealing:
You shall not touch the orphans' money except in the most righteous manner, until they reach maturity. You shall give full weight and a full measure when you trade, equitably. We do not burden any soul beyond its means. You shall be absolutely just when you bear witness, even against your relatives. You shall fulfill your covenant with GOD. These are His commandments to you, that you may take heed.[6:152]
Look at the phrase “even against your relatives” [6:152]. Picture a family meeting where one relative has clearly cheated someone. It is hard to speak up against our own. Our hearts want to take the family's side. The Quran asks us to put what is true above what is comfortable.
We have now seen the first list. Next, let's look at the second one, which gets more personal.
Manners, Fair Dealing and Checking What We Hear in Chapter 17
Chapter 17 has a longer list. It begins and ends with the same command. It starts with “You shall not set up any other god beside GOD” [17:22] and ends with the same warning in verse 39. Everything about how we treat people sits between the two. The very first thing inside is our parents:
Your Lord has decreed that you shall not worship except Him, and your parents shall be honored. As long as one or both of them live, you shall never say to them, “Uff” (the slightest gesture of annoyance), nor shall you shout at them; you shall treat them amicably.[17:23]
And lower for them the wings of humility, and kindness, and say, “My Lord, have mercy on them, for they have raised me from infancy.”[17:24]
Think about saying uff to a parent. Disrespect rarely begins with shouting. It begins with a sigh or an eye roll when Mom repeats a story for the third time. The Quran stops it right there. And it asks us to lower our wings for our parents, as they once did for us.
Then come the matches with the Bible:
You shall not commit adultery; it is a gross sin, and an evil behavior.[17:32]
You shall not kill any person—for GOD has made life sacred—except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus, he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder, he will be helped.[17:33]
Look at the limit on revenge. Without it, one killing can start a feud that never ends. The limit works like a circuit breaker. Next comes honest dealing:
Picture a shopkeeper who gives full measure when no one is watching. That is the spirit of not stealing. The chapter also has two commands that are not on the Bible's list. One is about pride, and the other is about the information we accept:
Think of a rumor that comes in a message from a neighbor. We are asked to check it before we pass it on. That is a very modern command for a very old book. So far, we have read both lists. Now let's count what matches.
What Matches, and the One Command Both Put First
Let's be honest and keep score. Six of the ten commandments match. They are no other gods, no idols, honor our parents, do not kill, do not commit adultery, and bear true witness. A seventh is close. The Bible says do not steal. The Quran says give full measure, and protect the orphans' money. It is the same idea, applied to the market.
Three do not appear in these two lists. They are keeping the Sabbath, not misusing God's name, and not coveting. The Quran also adds a few of its own, such as not walking proudly, checking what we hear, and the promise of provision in the command about children.
Why are the lists not identical? Think of two phones that look different but run on the same basic design. The buttons are in different places, but the purpose is the same. For the majority of Muslims, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad all bring the same foundation. The way it is applied differs with the time, the place and the people.
And the biggest thing they share is what comes first. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment:
Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”Mark 12:29-31 · Berean Standard Bible
The Quran puts the same foundation at the center, in a short chapter:
And the Quran shows what caring for our neighbor looks like:
You shall give the due alms to the relatives, the needy, the poor, and the traveling alien, but do not be excessive, extravagant.[17:26]
So the top of both is the same. Love the one God, and take care of the people around us. That is true whether we grew up with the poster or with the Quran. Now let's turn this into a small step.
Something to Try This Week
The episode ends with a question for all of us. Which of these shared commands is the hardest for us to practice?
Let's pick one and work on it this week. Maybe we can stop the sigh when a parent repeats a story. Maybe we can give full measure in a small deal. Or maybe we can check a rumor before we pass it on. Please tell us in the comments which one is hardest for you.
Quick Answers
Here are the questions from the episode, each with a short answer.
Are the Ten Commandments in the Quran? Six of the ten match in the Quran's two lists, and a seventh is close [6:151].
What is on the Bible's list? Ten commands, from no other gods to not coveting, in the Book of Exodus.
Does the Quran know about Moses and the tablets? Yes. God wrote teachings for Moses on tablets [7:145].
What does the first Quran list say? No idols, honor our parents, do not kill, and be just even against relatives [6:151].
Does the Quran get personal, too? Yes. It forbids even saying “Oof” to our parents [17:23].
What about justice and society? Revenge has a limit, and we must give full measure [17:33].
Which commands are unique to the Quran? Not walking proudly, and checking information for ourselves [17:36].
How much really matches? Six of ten, with a seventh close. Three are not in these lists.
Why aren't the two lists identical? They share one foundation, but they differ in how it is applied.
What is the single most important command? To worship God alone [112:1].
How do we put this together? Love the one God, and take care of the people around us [17:26].
Shorts From This Episode
Each Short is one idea from the episode, about a minute long. Please press one to watch it here.
Growth Prompt
Please take a few quiet minutes with [6:151]. Read it slowly. Then think about which of these commands comes easily to us, and which one we find hardest.
Which one of these shared commands do I find hardest to practice, and what is one small step I can take this week?
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