A Theological and Scholarly Debate
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction
The Ten Commandments, central to the moral code of Judaism and Christianity, are considered by many as divine laws directly revealed by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Fourth Commandment, as found in Exodus 20:8, reads:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8, NKJV)
This commandment was given not only as a religious ordinance but as an everlasting covenant (Exodus 31:16–17). It is a test of obedience and reverence towards God, with profound spiritual and communal implications.
The Sabbath in the Bible
The Sabbath, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, is deeply rooted in the act of creation (Genesis 2:2–3) and reaffirmed in the Decalogue (Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15). The Sabbath was intended as a day of rest, worship, and sanctification.
Muhammad’s Stance on the Sabbath
The Qur’an acknowledges the Sabbath:
"And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the Sabbath, and We said to them, 'Be apes, despised.'" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:65, Sahih International)
In this verse, Allah refers to a group among the Jews who violated the Sabbath, resulting in divine punishment. The Qur’an recognizes the sanctity of the Sabbath but paradoxically, neither Muhammad nor his followers observed the Sabbath as a holy day. Instead, Islam instituted Friday (Jumu'ah) as the special day of communal prayer (Qur’an 62:9).
The Shift from Sabbath to Jumu'ah
Islamic tradition holds that the "best day" is Friday, not Saturday (Sahih Muslim 854). This deliberate move is not found in the Torah, the Prophets, nor the New Testament, where Jesus Himself kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:16).
Debate Point:
If the Sabbath was never abrogated in Scripture and was reinforced by the prophets and Jesus, what theological basis did Muhammad have to nullify its observance and replace it with Friday?
Scholarly and Theological Critique
1. Consistency with Divine Law
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Biblical Consistency: The Sabbath is a sign between God and His people "forever" (Exodus 31:16–17). Nowhere in the Bible does God authorize a change of the Sabbath.
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Islamic Inconsistency: While the Qur’an rebukes those who break the Sabbath, Muhammad himself neither observed nor commanded the keeping of the Sabbath, instead creating a new sacred day. This constitutes a break from the pattern established by Moses and observed by Jesus.
2. Historical Perspective
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Jewish Tradition: The Sabbath is a perpetual covenant (see also Ezekiel 20:12, 20).
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Christian Practice: While some branches of Christianity moved worship to Sunday, this was centuries after Christ and is a subject of considerable theological debate (see Bacchiocchi, S., "From Sabbath to Sunday", 1977).
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Islamic Rejection: Islam claims to be a continuation of Abrahamic faith, yet rejects the Sabbath—central to Abrahamic law—demonstrating a rupture rather than continuity.
3. Qur’anic Admission of the Sabbath
Islam’s own scriptures testify to the seriousness of breaking the Sabbath (Surah 4:154, Surah 7:163–166), recounting the story of the Jews who were transformed into apes for Sabbath violations. Yet, Muslims today do not rest or worship on Saturday, nor did Muhammad command them to do so.
Contemporary Questions for Muslims
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If Allah considered Sabbath-breaking a grievous sin, why do Muslims not observe the Sabbath?
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On what authority did Muhammad change the designated day of worship from Saturday to Friday?
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Can Islam be considered a faithful continuation of the Mosaic law when it abrogates or alters one of the Ten Commandments?
Scholarly References
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Bacchiocchi, S. From Sabbath to Sunday: A Historical Investigation of the Rise of Sunday Observance in Early Christianity. Rome: Pontifical Gregorian University Press, 1977.
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Samuele Bacchiocchi, Divine Rest for Human Restlessness, Biblical Perspectives, 1998.
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The Holy Bible, Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15; Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Luke 4:16.
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The Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:65, Surah An-Nisa 4:154, Surah Al-A'raf 7:163–166, Surah Al-Jumu'ah 62:9.
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Hadith Collections: Sahih Muslim 854; Sahih Bukhari 893.
Conclusion
The evidence indicates that Muhammad broke the Fourth Commandment by neither observing nor commanding the observance of the Sabbath, thereby contradicting the eternal law given by God in the Torah. While Islam claims reverence for previous prophets, this fundamental departure raises theological and scholarly challenges about Islam’s claim to continuity with the Abrahamic tradition.
Final Debate Challenge
Is it possible for a prophet who claims to restore the true faith to disregard such a central command of God, or does this action mark a significant theological deviation? Scholars and students of comparative religion must honestly confront this question in the pursuit of truth.
Shalom,
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
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