Name: Hasan Ahmad Shaikh
Class :V-II
Section: A Specialization
10 AYAT & HADEES related to doing or
executing Business
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
The Ten Commandments are the well-known instructions, the
essence of the Torah, which Allah revealed to Moses on Mount
Sinai, peace and blessings be upon him. The commandments
prohibit the major sins of idolatry, impiety, disrespect for
parents, murder, theft, adultery, false witness, and envy.
These commandments are among the core teachings of Judaism
and Christianity that are taught to children at an early age, and
all of them are included within the teachings of Islam. Some
believe these commands go back as far as the seven laws of
Noah, peace and blessings be upon him.
As such, these commandments can be the basis of interfaith
dialogue and mutually-beneficial cooperation between Muslims,
Jews, and Christians. They are the “common word” for which we
can all come together in agreement.
Allah said:
ُقْل َي ا َأْه َل اْلِك َت اِب َت َع اَلْو ا ِإَلٰى َك ِلَم ٍة َسَو اٍء َب ْي َنَن ا َو َب ْي َن ُك ْم َأاَّل َن ْع ُبَد ِإاَّل َهَّللا َو اَل ُنْش ِر َك ِبِه َش ْي ًئ ا َو اَل َي َّت ِخَذ َب ْع ُض َن ا َب ْع ًض ا
َأْر َب اًبا ِّمن ُد وِن ِهَّللاۚ َف ِإن َت َو َّلْو ا َف ُقوُلوا اْش َه ُد وا ِبَأَّن ا ُمْس ِلُموَن
Say: O people of the Book, let us come to a common word
between us, that we will not worship anything but Allah, we will
not associate anything with Him, and we will not take one
another as lords instead of Allah. But if they turn away, then say:
Bear witness that we submit to Allah.
Surat Ali Imran 3:64
These common teachings can be distilled into two main
principles: love for Allah and love for our neighbors. In other
words, we should respect the rights of Allah by holding sound
beliefs and performing acts of worship in the best manner, and
we should respect the rights of people by treating them in the
way we would love to be treated. All of the divine revelations
throughout history are founded upon these two principles.
Abdullah Al-Hashimi reported: I came to Tawus, may Allah have
mercy on him, and he said to me, “Would you like me to
summarize in this sitting all of the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms,
and the Quran?” I said yes. Tawus said:
َخ ِف َهَّللا َت َع اَلى َم َخ اَفًة ال َي ُك وُن ِع ْن َد َك َش ْي ٌء َأْخ َو َف ِم ْن ُه َو اْر ُجْه َر َج اًء ُه َو َأَش ُّد ِمْن َخ ْو ِفَك ِإَّياُه َو َأِحَّب ِللَّن اِس َم ا ُتِحُّب
ِلَن ْف ِس َك
Fear Allah the Exalted more than anything else, hope in Allah
more intensely than you fear him, and love for people what you
love for yourself.
Source: Hilyat al-Awliyā 4693
The closest single passage in similarity to the Ten
Commandments occurs in the chapter of the cattle (surat al-
an’am). In this passage, many of these biblical commandments
are restated, with a heavy emphasis on fulfilling the rights of
Allah and the rights of people.
Allah said:
ُقْل َت َع اَلْو ا َأْت ُل َم ا َح َّر َم َر ُّب ُك ْم َع َلْي ُك ْم ۖ َأاَّل ُتْش ِر ُك وا ِبِه َش ْي ًئ اۖ َو ِباْلَو اِلَد ْي ِن ِإْح َس اًن اۖ َو اَل َت ْقُتُلوا َأْو اَل َد ُك م ِّمْن ِإْم اَل ٍق ۖ َّن ْح ُن
َٰذ
َن ْر ُزُقُك ْم َو ِإَّياُه ْم ۖ َو اَل َت ْق َر ُبوا اْلَف َو اِحَش َم ا َظ َهَر ِم ْن َه ا َو َم ا َب َط َن ۖ َو اَل َت ْقُتُلوا الَّنْف َس اَّلِتي َح َّر َم ُهَّللا ِإاَّل ِباْلَح ِّق ۚ ِلُك ْم
ۖ َو َّصاُك م ِبِه َلَع َّلُك ْم َت ْع ِقُلوَن َو اَل َت ْق َر ُبوا َم اَل اْلَي ِتيِم ِإاَّل ِباَّلِتي ِهَي َأْح َس ُن َح َّت ٰى َي ْب ُلَغ َأُشَّد ُهۖ َو َأْو ُفوا اْلَك ْي َل َو اْلِميَز اَن ِباْلِقْس ِط
اَل ُنَك ِّلُف َن ْف ًس ا ِإاَّل ُو ْس َع َه اۖ َو ِإَذ ا ُقْلُتْم َفاْع ِد ُلوا َو َلْو َك اَن َذ ا ُقْر َب ٰى ۖ َو ِبَع ْهِد ِهَّللا َأْو ُفواۚ َٰذ ِلُك ْم َو َّصاُك م ِبِه َلَع َّلُك ْم َت َذ َّك ُروَن َو َأَّن
َٰه َذ ا ِص َر اِط ي ُمْس َت ِقيًما َف اَّت ِبُعوُهۖ َو اَل َت َّت ِبُعوا الُّسُبَل َفَتَف َّر َق ِبُك ْم َع ن َس ِبيِلِهۚ َٰذ ِلُك ْم َو َّصاُك م ِبِه َلَع َّلُك ْم َت َّتُقوَن
Say: Come and I will recite what your Lord has forbidden for you,
that you not associate anything with Him, and be good to
parents. Do not kill your children out of poverty, for We will
provide for you and them. Do not approach lewdness, whether it
is public or private. Do not kill the soul which Allah has made
sacred except by right of justice. This He has instructed you that
you may reason. Do not approach the property of the orphans,
except in a way that is best, until he reaches maturity. Give full
measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except
within its capability. When you testify, be just even if it concerns
a relative, and fulfill the covenant of Allah. This He has instructed
you that you may remember. And this is My straight path, so
follow it and do not follow other ways, lest you be separated from
His way. This He has instructed you that you will be righteous.
Surat al-An’am 6:151-153
This passage explicitly and implicitly expresses the moral
foundations of the Muslim community. In fact, some of the
Prophet’s companions considered this passage to be the will and
testament of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon
him.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
َم ْن َس َّر ُه َأْن َي ْن ُظ َر ِإَلى الَّصِحيَف ِة اَّلِتي َع َلْي َه ا َخ اَت ُم ُم َح َّمٍد َص َّلى ُهَّللا َع َلْيِه َو َس َّلَم َفْلَي ْق َر ْأ َهِذِه اآْل َياِت ُقْل َت َع اَلْو ا َأْت ُل َم ا
َح َّر َم َر ُّب ُك ْم َع َلْي ُك ْم اآْل َي َة ِإَلى َقْو ِلِه َلَع َّلُك ْم َت َّتُقوَن
Whoever is pleased to look at the will which has upon it the seal
of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, then let him
recite these verses, “Say: Come and I will recite to you what your
Lord has forbidden…” (6:151) until he reaches the verse, “…that
you will be righteous.” (6:153)
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3070, Grade: Hasan
With this in mind, we find that the parallel sayings to the Ten
Commandments are conveyed all throughout the Quran and
Sunnah. The following are some prominent instances in which
Muslims are instructed to uphold these teachings:
First commandment: You shall have no other gods before Me.
Allah said:
َو ِإَٰل ُهُك ْم ِإَٰل ٌه َو اِحٌد ۖ اَّل ِإَٰل َه ِإاَّل ُه َو الَّر ْح َٰم ُن الَّر ِحيُم
Your God is one God. There is no God but him, the Gracious, the
Merciful
Surat al-Baqarah 2:163
And Allah said:
ُقْل ِإَّن َم ا َأَن ا َب َش ٌر ِّم ْث ُلُك ْم ُيوَح ٰى ِإَلَّي َأَّن َم ا ِإَٰل ُهُك ْم ِإَٰل ٌه َو اِح ٌد َف اْس َت ِقيُموا ِإَلْيِه َو اْس َتْغ ِفُروُهۗ َو َو ْيٌل ِّلْلُم ْش ِر ِكيَن
Say: I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that
your God is one God, so take a straight path to him and seek his
forgiveness.
Surat Fussilat 41:6
Second commandment: You shall not make idols.
Allah said:
َو اَل َتْد ُع َمَع ِهَّللا ِإَٰل ًها آَخ َر ۘ اَل ِإَٰل َه ِإاَّل ُه َو ۚ ُك ُّل َش ْي ٍء َهاِلٌك ِإاَّل َو ْج َه ُهۚ َلُه اْلُح ْك ُم َو ِإَلْيِه ُتْر َج ُعوَن
Do not call upon another god alongside Allah. There is no God but
him. Everything will perish but his countenance. Judgment
belongs to him, and to him you will return.
Surat al-Qasas 28:88
And Allah said:
ِإْن ِهَي ِإاَّل َأْس َم اٌء َس َّمْي ُتُموَه ا َأنُتْم َو آَب اُؤ ُك م َّما َأنَز َل ُهَّللا ِبَه ا ِمن ُس ْلَط اٍن ۚ ِإن َي َّت ِبُعوَن ِإاَّل الَّظ َّن َو َم ا َت ْه َو ى اَأْلنُفُس ۖ َو َلَقْد
َج اَء ُهم ِّمن َّر ِّب ِه ُم اْلُهَد ٰى
They are nothing but names you have named, you and your
forefathers, for which Allah has not revealed any authority. They
follow nothing but assumption and what their souls desire, yet
there has already come to them guidance from their Lord.
Surat al-Najm 53:23
Abdullah reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the
greatest sin?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,
said:
َأْن َت ْج َع َل ِهَّلِل ِنًّد ا َو ُه َو َخ َلَقَك
To make a partner with Allah although he alone created you.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5655, Grade: Sahih
Third commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord
your God in vain.
Allah said:
َو ِهَّلِل اَأْلْس َم اُء اْلُحْس َنٰى َف اْد ُعوُه ِبَه اۖ َو َذ ُروا اَّلِذيَن ُيْلِح ُد وَن ِفي َأْس َماِئِه
Unto Allah belong the best names, so call upon him by them and
leave those who violate the sanctity of his names.
Surat al-A’raf 7:180
And Allah said:
َأ َأ
َو ِإَذ ا َر ْيَت اَّلِذيَن َي ُخ وُضوَن ِفي آَياِتَن ا َف ْع ِر ْض َع ْن ُهْم َح َّت ٰى َي ُخ وُضوا ِفي َح ِديٍث َغ ْي ِر
When you see those who engage in offensive discourse
concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they
engage in another conversion.
Surat al-An’am 6:68
Fourth commandment: Remember the Sabbath day and keep it
holy.
Allah said:
َٰذ
َي ا َأُّي َه ا اَّلِذيَن آَم ُنوا ِإَذ ا ُنوِدَي ِللَّص اَل ِة ِمن َي ْو ِم اْلُجُم َع ِة َفاْس َع ْو ا ِإَلٰى ِذ ْك ِر ِهَّللا َو َذ ُروا اْلَب ْي َع ۚ ِلُك ْم َخ ْيٌر َّلُك ْم ِإن ُك نُتْم
َت ْع َلُموَن
O you who believe, when the prayer is announced on Friday, then
proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is
better for you, if you only knew.
Surat al-Jumu’ah 62:9
Salman Al-Farisi reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and
blessings be upon him, said:
اَل َي ْغ َت ِس ُل َر ُجٌل َي ْو َم اْلُجُم َع ِة َو َي َت َط َّهُر َم ا اْس َت َط اَع ِمْن ُط ْه ٍر َو َي َّد ِهُن ِمْن ُدْه ِنِه َأْو َيَم ُّس ِمْن ِط يِب َبْيِتِه ُثَّم َي ْخ ُرُج َف اَل
ُيَف ِّر ُق َب ْي َن اْث َن ْي ِن ُثَّم ُيَص ِّلي َم ا ُك ِتَب َلُه ُثَّم ُيْن ِص ُت ِإَذ ا َتَك َّلَم اِإْلَم اُم ِإاَّل ُغ ِفَر َلُه َم ا َب ْي َن ُه َو َب ْي َن اْلُجُم َع ِة اُأْلْخ َر ى
No one takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he
can, uses oil or perfume in his house, then proceeds for prayer
and does not separate two persons sitting together, then prays
as much as is written for him and remains silent while the prayer
leader is delivering the sermon, except that his minor sins
between this Friday and the previous would be forgiven.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 843, Grade: Sahih
Fifth commandment: Honor your father and your mother.
Allah said:
َو اْع ُبُد وا َهَّللا َو اَل ُتْش ِر ُك وا ِبِه َش ْي ًئ اۖ َو ِباْلَو اِلَدْي ِن ِإْح َس اًن ا َو ِبِذي اْلُقْر َب ٰى
Worship Allah and associate nothing with him, and be good to
parents and relatives.
Surat al-Nisa 4:36
Abu Huraira reported: A man asked the Prophet, “Who is most
deserving of my good company?” The Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, said:
ُأُّم َك
Your mother.
The man asked, “Then who?” The Prophet said:
ُأُّم َك
Your mother.
The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said:
ُأُّم َك
Your mother.
The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said:
َأُبوَك
Your father.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5626, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Sixth commandment: You shall not murder.
Allah said:
َو اَّلِذيَن اَل َي ْد ُعوَن َمَع ِهَّللا ِإَٰل ًها آَخ َر َو اَل َي ْقُتُلوَن الَّنْف َس اَّلِتي َح َّر َم ُهَّللا ِإاَّل ِباْلَح ِّق
The believers are those who do not call upon another god
alongside Allah or kill the soul which Allah has made sacred
except by right of justice.
Surat al-Furqan 25:68
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and
blessings be upon him, said:
َو َال َي ْقُتُل َو ْه َو ُمْؤ ِم ٌن
The killer is not a believer while he is killing.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6809, Grade: Sahih
Seventh commandment: You shall not commit adultery.
Allah said:
َو اَل َت ْق َر ُبوا الِّز َن اۖ ِإَّن ُه َك اَن َفاِحَش ًة َو َس اَء َس ِبياًل
Do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is immoral
and an evil way.
Surah al-Isra 17:32
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and
blessings be upon him, said:
اَل َي ْز ِني الَّز اِني ِحيَن َي ْز ِني َو ُه َو ُمْؤ ِم ٌن
The adulterer is not a believer while he is committing adultery.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2343, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Eighth commandment: You shall not steal.
Allah said:
َو اَل َت ْأُك ُلوا َأْم َو اَلُك م َب ْي َن ُك م ِباْلَباِط ِل
Do not consume the wealth of each other in falsehood.
Surat al-Baqarah 2:188
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and
blessings be upon him, said:
َو اَل َي ْس ِر ُق ِحيَن َي ْس ِر ُق َو ُه َو ُمْؤ ِم ٌن َو اَل َي ْن َت ِه ُب ُنْه َب ًة َي ْر َف ُع الَّن اُس ِإَلْيِه ِفيَه ا َأْب َص اَر ُه ْم ِحيَن َي ْن َت ِه ُبَه ا َو ُه َو ُمْؤ ِم ٌن
The thief is not a believer while he is stealing. The plunderer is
not a believer while he is plundering and the people are watching
him.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī2343, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Ninth commandment: You shall not bear false witness against
your neighbor.
Allah said:
َي ا َأُّي َه ا اَّلِذيَن آَم ُنوا اَّتُقوا َهَّللا َو ُقوُلوا َقْو اًل َس ِديًد ا
O you who believe, fear Allah and always speak the truth.
Surat al-Ahzab 33:70
And Allah said:
َف اَل َت َّت ِبُعوا اْلَهَو ٰى َأن َت ْع ِد ُلواۚ َو ِإن َت ْلُو وا َأْو ُتْع ِر ُضوا َف ِإَّن َهَّللا َك اَن ِبَم ا َت ْع َم ُلوَن َخ ِبيًر ا
Follow not your whims, let you be unjust. If you distort your
testimony or withhold it, then Allah is aware of what you are
doing.
Surat al-Nisa 4:135
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and
blessings be upon him, said:
اْلِبَّر َي ْهِدي ِإَلى اْلَج َّن ِة َو ِإَّن الَّر ُج َل َلَي ْص ُد ُق َح َّت ى ُيْك َت َب ِص ِّد يًقا َو ِإَّن اْلَك ِذَب َي ْهِدي ِإَلى ِإَّن الِّص ْد َق َي ْهِدي ِإَلى اْلِبِّر َو ِإَّن
الَّن اِر َو ِإَّن الَّر ُج َل َلَي ْك ِذُب َح َّت ى ُيْك َت َب َك َّذ اًبا اْلُفُجوِر َو ِإَّن اْلُفُجوَر َي ْهِدي ِإَلى
Verily, truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness
leads to Paradise. A man may speak the truth until he is recorded
with Allah as truthful. Verily, falsehood leads to wickedness and
wickedness leads to the Hellfire. A man may tell lies until he is
recorded with Allah as a liar.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2607, Grade: Sahih
Tenth commandment: You shall not covet.
Allah said:
َأْم َي ْح ُس ُد وَن الَّن اَس َع َلٰى َم ا آَت اُه ُم ُهَّللا ِمن َف ْض ِلِه
Do they envy people for what Allah has given them of his bounty?
Surat an-Nisa 4:54
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and
blessings be upon him, said:
اَل َت َب اَغ ُضوا َو اَل َت َح اَس ُد وا َو اَل َت َد اَب ُروا َو ُك وُنوا ِع َب اَد ِهَّللا ِإْخ َو اًن ا
Do not hate each other, do not envy each other, do not turn away
from each other, but rather be servants of Allah as brothers.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2559, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and
blessings be upon him, said:
ِإَّياُك ْم َو اْلَح َس َد َف ِإَّن اْلَح َس َد َي ْأُك ُل اْلَح َس َن اِت َك َم ا َت ْأُك ُل الَّن اُر اْلَح َط َب َأْو َقاَل اْلُع ْش َب
Beware of envy, for it consumes good deeds just as fire
consumes wood or grass.
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4903, Grade: Hasan
As we can see, the Ten Commandments are entirely compatible
with Islam and they are, in reality, the essence of all divine
revelations. They can be the best point of departure for sharing
Islam with Jews and Christians, and working together in
fulfillment of our ethical obligations.
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best
