Who Is the Allah of Muhammad? A Theological and Ethical Analysis of Muhammad’s Relation to the Ten Commandments
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Abstract
This article critically examines the identity of Allah as introduced by Muhammad in early Islam, in comparison to the God of Israel (YHWH) as revealed in the Hebrew Bible. It investigates whether Muhammad, as claimed by Muslims, was a prophet of the same God who sent Moses, or whether he invented a new deity and religious system that violated the foundational moral and spiritual laws revealed in the Ten Commandments. By analyzing Muhammad’s actions and teachings against the Decalogue, this study reveals significant theological and moral discrepancies between biblical prophetic standards and Muhammad’s life and practices.
1. Introduction
Islamic theology posits Muhammad as the final prophet in a lineage that includes Moses, David, and Jesus, sent by Allah — a deity Muslims claim is the same as the God of the Bible. This assertion merits critical examination against the ethical and theological framework established in the Torah, specifically the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17). If Muhammad indeed operated under the authority of the God of Israel, his life and religious reforms should conform to the moral laws previously revealed. This study will analyze Muhammad’s actions against each commandment to assess these claims.
2. The Ten Commandments and Muhammad: A Comparative Ethical Review
2.1. The First Commandment
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Historical sources (Quran 27:91; Sahih al-Bukhari; Musnad Ahmad Hadith 2506) indicate that Muhammad’s early association with the Kaaba, which housed 360 idols, including the chief idol Hubal, contradicts this commandment. Even after Islam’s emergence, the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) remained an object of veneration (cf. Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 25). Unlike biblical prophets who worshipped YHWH exclusively, Muhammad’s theological innovations centered around a deity identified with pre-Islamic Arabian idolatry, contradicting monotheistic fidelity.
2.2. The Second Commandment
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image…” (Exodus 20:4)
The erection and ritual veneration of the Black Stone at the eastern corner of the Kaaba violate this law. Islamic sources affirm Muhammad’s reverence for the Black Stone (Sahih al-Bukhari 2:667), a practice alien to biblical prophetic tradition. The Kaaba itself was a shrine for numerous idols before Islam, and the Black Stone remained a focal point of worship post-Islam.
2.3. The Third Commandment
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)
By attributing divine authority to the deity Allah, whom he redefined from Arabian pagan tradition, Muhammad’s claim that this being was the God of Moses constitutes a theological misrepresentation. The Quran (e.g., 27:91) and Hadith sources demonstrate a theological divergence from YHWH, particularly in moral character and covenantal promises.
2.4. The Fourth Commandment
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11)
The Quran and Hadith are devoid of any observance of the biblical Sabbath by Muhammad. Instead, he instituted Friday (Jumu'ah) prayers (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 13), severing continuity with the Mosaic Law. Moreover, Islamic records do not document Muhammad honoring his mother Amina or his foster-father, an essential moral expectation within the Decalogue.
2.5. The Fifth Commandment
“Honor your father and your mother.” (Exodus 20:12)
Historical accounts and Hadith literature record no explicit narrative of Muhammad honoring his deceased parents in a biblically consistent manner. This commandment, deeply embedded in Hebrew tradition and culture, appears neglected in the Prophet’s documented personal ethics.
2.6. The Sixth Commandment
“You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)
Islamic texts report multiple sanctioned killings under Muhammad’s command (Sunan Abu Dawud 2665; Quran 33:26-27), including executions of Jews in Medina (Banu Qurayza tribe) and assassinations of critics and poets. These actions starkly contrast with biblical prophetic conduct, where human life was sanctified and murder condemned.
2.7. The Seventh Commandment
“You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
Muhammad’s marital history includes multiple wives and concubines, alongside reported relationships with captive women post-battle (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 62). The Quran itself (33:37) records the incident involving Zaynab, the wife of his adopted son Zayd, which led to divine approval for their marriage after Zayd’s divorce — a case of moral compromise by biblical standards.
2.8. The Eighth Commandment
“You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)
Raids on merchant caravans (e.g., the Nakhla raid) and the confiscation of property from Jewish tribes in Medina (Quran 33:27) contradict this commandment. These actions were justified as spoils of war but violate the biblical prohibition against theft.
2.9. The Ninth Commandment
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)
The Quran and Hadith record accusations against Jews, Christians, and earlier prophets, including claims inconsistent with biblical revelation. Muhammad’s re-narration of biblical history (e.g., the altered portrayal of Ishmael’s role in Abraham’s story) constitutes false testimony by Judeo-Christian canonical standards.
2.10. The Tenth Commandment
“You shall not covet…” (Exodus 20:17)
The incident involving Muhammad’s desire for Zaynab (Quran 33:37) illustrates a direct breach of this commandment. His subsequent marriage to her, following her divorce from Zayd, signifies covetous behavior incompatible with prophetic holiness as modeled in the Hebrew Scriptures.
3. Conclusion
The ethical and theological review presented herein evidences Muhammad’s consistent violations of the Ten Commandments as revealed through Moses. These findings challenge the Islamic assertion that Muhammad was a prophet in the same spiritual and moral lineage as Moses, David, and Jesus. Furthermore, this analysis raises critical questions about the origin and identity of Allah as worshipped in Islam, revealing significant divergences from YHWH, the God of Israel.
Before Muslims challenge the integrity of the Bible, Christianity, or the Apostle Paul, it is imperative they first account for these fundamental ethical transgressions by Muhammad against the immutable moral law of the Decalogue.
References
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The Holy Bible, Exodus 20:1–17
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The Quran (various verses)
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Sahih al-Bukhari (multiple volumes)
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Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 2665
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Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 2506
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Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah
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Al-Tabari’s Tarikh al-Rusul wa’l-Muluk
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