10. The Ten Commandments in Islam

In Surah Al-An'am, verses 151-153 present what can be described as the Islamic "Ten Commandments." These verses outline fundamental ethical principles that should govern human conduct. They begin with Allah's command to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

These commandments provide a comprehensive ethical framework that is universally applicable and should be intuitively understood by people of all divinely revealed religions. The first commandment establishes the foundation of all faith:

This primary principle of tawhid (monotheism) is followed immediately by the command to show excellence toward parents:

The positioning of parental rights immediately after Allah's rights highlights their importance. After Allah, who brings us into existence, our parents are the means through which we enter this world and our first caretakers. Their rights precede those of teachers, leaders, and all others.

The third commandment prohibits infanticide, a practice that was common in pre-Islamic Arabia:

This verse addresses fears of economic hardship that might lead to infanticide or, in modern contexts, to avoiding having children altogether. Allah reassures believers that He is the provider for all, removing economic anxiety as a justification for limiting offspring.

The fourth commandment extends the ethical framework to cover all forms of immorality:

The prohibition is not merely against committing immoral acts but against approaching them (la taqrabu), establishing a protective boundary. Both public and private immorality are forbidden, with "hidden" immorality being particularly relevant in our digital age when people may engage in secret vices through technology.

The fifth commandment prohibits unlawful killing: