SOME COMMANDMENTS FROM THE QURAN

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The following is not intended to provide a comprehensive list or index of the commandments of the Quran. Rather, it is intended to give the reader a little insight into the nature of some of the commandments found.

• Worship no one but the one Lord of the Universe, the God of all mankind and everything within the Earth and Universe both visible and that beyond the realms of perception (6:102)

• Do not set up any God, idol, or anything else along with the worship of God. Worship him alone with no partners or intercessors (17:39)

• Following your desires and your lusts over God's laws are akin to idol worship and following your desires is tantamount to setting up rivals with your Lord (25:43) (See article: Idolatry According to the Quran)

• Do not follow your forefathers blindly (2:170)

• Do not follow your leaders and religious guides blindly (33:67; 9:31)

• Verify information for yourself (17:36) Do not be led like the cattle (7:179)

• Call God by any beautiful name (17:110; 7:180)

• Consume lawful food (2:168) (See article: Food Permissibility and Prohibitions)

• Establish regular prayers, enjoin good and kindness and forbid the doing of wrong (31:17; 17:78)

• Pay Zakat (2:43; 41:6-7; 58:13) (See article: The Concept of Zakah from the Quran)

• Spend in time of plenty and also in time of hardship (3:134)

• Restrain your anger and forgive others (3:134)

• Help the needy, the oppressed, the destitute, orphans, the hungry, enjoin patience, self-restraint, kindness and compassion (90.11-18)

• Do not abuse or revile other people's God's or Deities (6:108)

• Do not covet (crave / desire with envy) with respect to what has been given to others by God (4:32; 15:88; 20:131)

• Do not consume usury (2:278-279) (See article: Riba)
   

• Do not distinguish between any of God's messengers (2:285) (See article: Do Not Make Any Distinctions Between the Messengers of God)

• Do not slander or backbite (4:112; 49:12; 60:12)

• Do not laugh at each other with the purpose of mocking or defaming each other (49:11)

• Do not be sarcastic to one another (49:11)

• Do not call each other by offensive nicknames (49:11)

• Avoid suspicion as much as possible as in some cases this can be a sin (49:12)

• Do not assign piety to yourselves or to other people. You will never know who is really pious. This knowledge is only with God (53:32)

• Be kind to your parents as they did care for you when you were little (17:24)

• Stand up against injustice, even if it means you have to go against yourselves, your parents, kinsfolk, the rich and poor (4:135)

• Do not follow your parents if their actions or endeavours make you depart from God's decree (29:8)

• Give to your kinsfolk and to the needy and the wayfarer (17:26)

• Don't kill your children whether abortions or otherwise out of fear of poverty. God will provide for you and for them (17:31)

• At all times, keep a subdued voice and don't communicate in a harsh or loud voice (31:19)

• Bear in patience whatever may befall you (31:17)

• Don't squander wealth senselessly or in a spendthrift manner (17:26)

• Don't be miserly but also don't open your hand out so much that you are left destitute. Aim for a balance (17:29)

• Stay away from involvement in bribery (2:188)

• Eschew gambling and drinking (5:90)

• Congregate at Friday prayers (62.9-10)

• Don't come near to adultery and watch matters that can lead to adultery (17:32)

• Do not rob or steal (5:38-39; 60:12)

• Listen to Quran when it is recited, so you may learn from it and God's mercy may be shown to you (7:204)

• Do not refuse small kindnesses, like a smile, a good word, (107:1-7)

• Speak a gentle word, even to your enemies (20:44) (See article: Speak a Gentle Word)

• Only fight in self-defence. Never as aggressors (2:190-194) (See article: A Message of Peace or to Live by the Sword?)

• Be charitable and pay the poor their due (Numerous references throughout the Quran)

• Fast in the month of Ramadhan if you can as this is much better for you. If you cannot fast, then you have the right of ransom (2:184)

• Do not come near to the wealth of orphans until they reach maturity except with best intentions (17:34)

• Be just in whatever you do and weigh with just measure (17:35)

• Do not withhold testimony if you have witnessed a financial transaction (2:283)

• Do not cover truth with falsehood or mix them together, nor conceal the Truth when you know what it is (2:42)

• Establish prayers (20:14)

• Do not enter homes before asking for permission and if permission is not granted then leave (24:28)

• Do not become divided and break yourself into sects (3:103)

• Do not use compulsion in religion (2:256) (See article: Forced Faith is No Faith)

• Consult each other in all affairs (religious or otherwise) (42:38 65:6; 3:159) (See article: Consultation)

• Dress modestly (7:26)

• Part from bad company or people who are indulging in unseemly speech (7:180)

• Make peace between your brethren and seek to redress balance (49:9)

• Pray to the Lord in humility and in secret (7:56)

• Spend secretly and openly (13: 22) though charity in secrecy is better (2:271)

• Do not follow up your charity with reminders of generosity or injure the feeling of the recipient (2:262-63)

• Perform the pilgrimage (2:197)

• Perform ablution before the Prayer (5:6)

• Vie with one another in good works (5:48)

• Be kind to parents but do not make your actions and dealings with them tantamount to worshipping them. Worship is only for God. (See article: Parents)

• Don't turn your face away from people in false pride and don't walk proudly on the earth. God does not like people who are self-conceited and act in a boastful manner (31:18; 17:37)

• Never kill anyone unjustly unless for causes under established law. Unfortunately, if this happens, the heir have rights of retribution, but just retribution. They too need to be aware of not to transgress (17:33)

• Don't allow your oaths that you have taken in the name of God to become an obstacle to do virtue and righteousness. Being righteous and establishing justice is paramount (2:224)

• Do not utter unseemly or harsh speech in public unless an injustice has been done to you (Then seek fair redress and do not transgress) (4:148)