The Qur’an, the Ten Commandments, and the Failed Claim of Biblical Verification
An Academic and Theological Critique
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Abstract
The Qur’an repeatedly claims to confirm, verify, and affirm the earlier Scriptures—the Torah and the Gospel (e.g., Qur’an 2:41; 3:3; 5:46–48). However, a critical examination of Qur’anic content reveals a profound theological and structural disjunction between the Qur’an and the Bible. One of the clearest demonstrations of this failure is the Qur’an’s inability to present the Ten Commandments—the very heart of Mosaic covenant theology—in their chronological, covenantal, and theological form as found in the Hebrew Bible. This article argues that the Qur’an neither preserves nor accurately reflects the Decalogue, thereby undermining its own claim of scriptural verification.
1. The Centrality of the Ten Commandments in Biblical Theology
In biblical theology, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17; Deuteronomy 5:6–21) are not merely moral suggestions. They are:
Directly spoken by God (Exod. 20:1)
Covenantal in nature (“I am the LORD your God…”)
Chronologically ordered
Universally binding within the Mosaic covenant
The foundation of Israel’s law, ethics, worship, and identity
The Decalogue begins with the self-revelation of Yahweh and grounds morality in God’s redemptive act (“who brought you out of Egypt”). Ethics flow from redemption—not from abstract moralism.
Any text claiming to affirm the Torah must preserve this structure, theology, and content.
2. The Qur’an’s Claim of Scriptural Verification (Taṣdīq)
The Qur’an states:
“He sent down the Torah and the Gospel previously, as guidance for mankind” (Qur’an 3:3)
“Confirming what was before it” (Qur’an 2:41)
“Let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein” (Qur’an 5:47)
These verses presuppose:
The existence of authentic Torah and Gospel texts
Their authority
Their theological continuity with the Qur’an
Yet the Qur’an simultaneously fails to reproduce the most fundamental legal and theological core of the Torah: the Ten Commandments.
3. The Absence of the Ten Commandments in the Qur’an
3.1 No Complete, Chronological Decalogue
Nowhere in the Qur’an is there:
A single, unified list of Ten Commandments
A chronological structure
A covenantal introduction (“I am the LORD your God…”)
A Sinai narrative where God directly speaks the commandments as in Exodus
Muslim apologists often cite Qur’an 6:151–153 or 17:22–39 as “Islamic Ten Commandments.” This claim collapses under scholarly scrutiny.
These passages:
Are fragmented moral injunctions
Lack covenantal framing
Are not numbered
Are not presented as a divine covenant
Mix moral, social, and ritual commands inconsistently
They are not the Decalogue.
3.2 Loss of Covenant Theology
The biblical Ten Commandments are rooted in relationship:
“I am the LORD your God…”
The Qur’an replaces covenant with submission to absolute will. Allah never enters a redemptive covenant with Israel in the Qur’anic narrative; instead, Israel is portrayed primarily as disobedient, corrupted, and rejected.
Thus, the ethical framework shifts from grace-based obedience to law-based submission.
This is a theological rupture, not a continuation.
4. Contradictions Between Qur’anic Ethics and the Decalogue
Several core commandments are altered or diluted:
| Biblical Commandment | Biblical Emphasis | Qur’anic Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| No other gods | Exclusive covenant | Tawḥīd without covenant |
| No graven images | Absolute prohibition | Inconsistent application |
| Sabbath | Covenant sign | Completely absent |
| God as Father | Relational | Explicitly denied (Qur’an 5:18; 112:3) |
A text that denies God’s Fatherhood cannot affirm Mosaic or Christian theology.
5. The Qur’an’s Internal Contradiction
The Qur’an faces an irreconcilable dilemma:
If the Torah and Gospel were true and authoritative, then the Qur’an contradicts them.
If they were corrupted, then the Qur’an falsely claims to confirm them.
Both positions cannot be simultaneously true.
This creates a self-refuting epistemology.
6. Theological Implications
The absence of the Ten Commandments in their biblical form demonstrates that:
The Qur’an does not preserve Mosaic revelation
Qur’anic ethics are derivative and selective
Qur’anic “confirmation” is rhetorical, not textual
Islam presents a different God, a different covenant, and a different moral foundation
Thus, Islam is not a continuation of biblical faith but a theological reconfiguration detached from biblical history.
7. Conclusion
The Ten Commandments are the spine of biblical revelation. Any scripture claiming to affirm the Bible must preserve them in content, structure, and theology. The Qur’an does none of these.
Therefore, the Qur’anic claim to verify or confirm the Bible is historically, theologically, and textually indefensible.
The Qur’an does not affirm the Bible; it replaces it, revises it, and contradicts it.
This failure exposes the Qur’an’s claim of divine continuity as a theological assertion unsupported by evidence.
Author
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Founder & President, Shimba Theological Institute
Bible Scholar | Theologian | Restorative Justice Advocate
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