Short answer
Yes, in substance. Each of the Ten Commandments has a match in the Qur'an, though the Qur'an does not list them as ten in one place. It says God (﷾) gave Moses laws written on tablets. It commands the worship of God (﷾) alone and tells believers to shun idols. It warns against those who profane (disrespect) God's (﷾) names. It says the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest, was a command given to the Children of Israel. It commands kindness to parents. It forbids taking life, adultery and theft. It forbids false witness and hiding the truth. And it forbids coveting what God (﷾) has given to others. Several of these commands stand side by side in two chapters, al-Isra and al-An'am. The first commandment, to worship God (﷾) alone, is the heart of Islam.
Full explanation
The tablets given to Moses
The Qur'an says God (﷾) gave Moses the Scripture. It says He wrote laws for him on tablets, commanding and explaining all things, and told him to hold them firmly. Deuteronomy says God (﷾) wrote the ten commandments on two tables of stone.
“And We ordained laws for him in the tablets in all matters, both commanding and explaining all things, (and said): "Take and hold these with firmness, and enjoin thy people to hold fast by the best in the precepts: soon shall I show you the homes of the wicked,- (How they lie desolate)."”
“And remember We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion (Between right and wrong): There was a chance for you to be guided aright.”
“And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.”
| The commandment (Exodus 20) | In the Qur'an |
|---|---|
| No other gods | None is to be worshipped but God (﷾). |
| No graven images | Shun the abomination of idols. |
| Do not take God's (﷾) name in vain | Turn away from those who profane His names. |
| Keep the Sabbath | A covenant God (﷾) took from the Children of Israel. |
| Honour your father and mother | Kindness to parents, in the same sentence as the worship of God (﷾) alone. |
| Do not kill | Do not take a life God (﷾) has made sacred. |
| Do not commit adultery | Do not even come near adultery. |
| Do not steal | Not stealing is part of the believing women's pledge, and the Qur'an sets a penalty for theft. |
| Do not bear false witness | Those who witness no falsehood are praised. |
| Do not covet | Do not covet what God (﷾) has given more freely to others. |
One God (﷾), and no idols
The commandments against other gods and graven images (carved idols) come first in Exodus 20. The Qur'an decrees that none is to be worshipped but God (﷾). It tells believers to shun the abomination (something hateful) of idols, and never to give God (﷾) partners. The Qur'an repeats the first command many times, in words such as "there is no god but He".
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."”
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”
“Such (is the Pilgrimage): whoever honours the sacred rites of Allah, for him it is good in the Sight of his Lord. Lawful to you (for food in Pilgrimage) are cattle, except those mentioned to you (as exception): but shun the abomination of idols, and shun the word that is false,- Being true in faith to Allah, and never assigning partners to Him: if anyone assigns partners to Allah, is as if he had fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the wind had swooped (like a bird on its prey) and thrown him into a far-distant place.”
“Allah! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).”
God's (﷾) name
The commandment against taking God's (﷾) name in vain has a match too. The Qur'an says the most beautiful names belong to God (﷾). It tells believers to call on Him by them. It also tells them to turn away from those who profane them, that is, who treat them with disrespect.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
“The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on him by them; but shun such men as use profanity in his names: for what they do, they will soon be requited.”
The Sabbath
The Sabbath commandment has a match as well. The Qur'an confirms that God (﷾) commanded the Children of Israel (the Israelites) not to break the Sabbath. It says He took a solemn covenant, or agreement, from them. It says the Sabbath was made strict only for those who differed over it. Islam accepts it as a law God (﷾) gave to the Children of Israel, not as a law for every nation.
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
“And for their covenant we raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai); and (on another occasion) we said: "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) we commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the sabbath." And we took from them a solemn covenant.”
“The Sabbath was only made (strict) for those who disagreed (as to its observance); But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment, as to their differences.”
Honour your parents
The commandment to honour father and mother is there too. The Qur'an puts kindness to parents in the same sentence as the worship of God (﷾) alone. It forbids even a word of contempt to them in their old age.
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."”
Life, marriage and property
Three commandments forbid killing, adultery and theft. The Qur'an forbids taking a life God (﷾) has made sacred. It forbids even coming near adultery. It makes the promise not to steal part of the pledge that believing women gave the Prophet (ﷺ). And it prescribes a punishment for the thief, man or woman, for a lawful court to apply.
“Thou shalt not kill.”
“Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).”
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
“Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).”
“Thou shalt not steal.”
“O Prophet! When believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty to thee, that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter,- then do thou receive their fealty, and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
“As to the thief, Male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power.”
Truth and coveting
The last commandments forbid false witness and coveting, which means longing for what belongs to others. The Qur'an praises those who witness no falsehood. It forbids covering the truth with falsehood. And it forbids coveting the gifts God (﷾) has given more freely to others.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
“Those who witness no falsehood, and, if they pass by futility, they pass by it with honourable (avoidance);”
“And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is).”
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
“And in no wise covet those things in which Allah Hath bestowed His gifts More freely on some of you than on others: To men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn: But ask Allah of His bounty. For Allah hath full knowledge of all things.”
Several commandments in one passage
Like Exodus 20, the Qur'an also gathers several of these commands in one place. In Surat al-An'am (chapter 6) the Prophet (ﷺ) is told to recite what God (﷾) has forbidden. The list includes joining partners with Him, unkindness to parents, killing one's children for fear of want, shameful deeds, and taking life unjustly.
“Say: "Come, I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from": Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret; take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.”
The commandment on images
Exodus forbids making images and bowing down to them. Catholic churches hold statues of Jesus, Mary and the saints. Orthodox Christians bow before icons (holy pictures). Both churches call this veneration, meaning deep respect, not worship. A mosque has no images at all, and a Muslim bows to God (﷾) alone.
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”
Who changed the Sabbath
The commandment names the seventh day. The Law of Moses calls the Sabbath a perpetual covenant, meaning a lasting agreement. Jesus kept it, going to the synagogue (the Jewish house of worship) on the Sabbath as his custom was. Yet almost every church now rests on Sunday, the first day of the week. It does so on no command of God (﷾) and no word of Jesus. Only God (﷾) changes His law, through a prophet, and no prophet brought this change. The Qur'an says the Sabbath was made strict only for those who differed over it, so Muslims have changed nothing that God (﷾) gave them.
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.”
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”
“The Sabbath was only made (strict) for those who disagreed (as to its observance); But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment, as to their differences.”
“To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;”
Perspectives
Christian
The Ten Commandments are God's law, given to Moses at Sinai and written on stone. Jesus pointed to them as the way to eternal life.
Deuteronomy says God wrote the ten commandments on two tables of stone.
Rebuttal
Islam agrees. The Qur'an also says God (﷾) wrote laws for Moses on tablets. Islam adds that the Qur'an confirms the same moral law, and its first command is to worship God (﷾) alone.
When asked what to do for eternal life, Jesus named the commandments.
Rebuttal
Islam agrees that Jesus pointed to the commandments. The Qur'an gives the same commands against killing, adultery, theft and false witness, and the same call to honour parents. Islam puts the worship of God (﷾) alone first.
The Islamic perspective
The Qur'an confirms the moral law God (﷾) gave Moses. Every commandment has a match in the Qur'an. The first, to worship God (﷾) alone, is the centre of the message the Prophet (ﷺ) brought.
The Qur'an says God (﷾) wrote laws for Moses on tablets.
The Qur'an commands the worship of God (﷾) alone and forbids idols, matching the commandments against other gods and images.
The Qur'an forbids killing, adultery, theft, false witness and coveting, as the Ten Commandments do.
The Qur'an confirms the Sabbath as a command given to the Children of Israel.
The Qur'an and the Torah share one moral law because both come from the same God (﷾).
Muslims keep the commandment against images more strictly than the Catholic and Orthodox churches, which bow before statues and icons.