Seven Commandments

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The word Mesani is translated as meaning "repetition" Two verses in Qur'an refer to Al mesani / Al mesaniy: 15:87and 39.23.

Qur'an 39:23 makes it clear that there is a mesani / mesaniy and Qur'an, and they are separate:

39.23 Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide.

The main text makes it clear that something, a book or a text called mesaniy / mesani were given to Mohamed (pbuh).

15.87 And We have bestowed upon thee the Seven Oft-repeated (verses) and the Grand Qur'an.

Which implies that there were seven laws before the giving of the Qur'an. It is generally accepted that "saban minel masani" (Seven Oft-repeated verses) and "quranel azim" (Grand Reading/Qur'an) must be two different things because they are separated with conjuction waw. However many Islamic scholars are at a loss to defined what the Mesani is. The proposal that they are the seven laws of Noah has been found acceptable by those muslims who have thought about it.

In the Qur'an Noah is portrayed as prophet teaching against idolatry even before the flood. http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/071.qmt.html

It is interesting that only seven of the "Ten Commandments" appear in the Qur'an 17:22-36:

1. Qur'an 17:22, 23 has the first Commandment (You shall have no other Gods before me). 2. Qur'an 17:23 has the fifth Commanment (Honour your father and your mother). 3. Qur'an 17:33 has the sixth Commandment (You shall not kill). 4. Qur'an 17:32 has the seventh Commandment (You shall not commit adultery). 5. Qur'an 17:35 has the eight Commandment (You shall not steal). 6. Qur'an 17:36 has the ninth Commandment (You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbour). 7. Qur'an 17:34 has the tenth Commandment (You shall not covet your neighbour’s house, you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.... manservant.... maidservant.... his ox.... his ass...anything that is your neighbour’s).

The second, third and fourth commandments (You shall not make unto thee any graven image or likeness of any thing. You shall not take the name of the L-rd your G-d in vain. Remember the Sabbath day) were left out perhaps as not being applicable to Islam, being particular to Judaism. The key may be in Qur'an 15:87 “..We have given you seven (sections) of mesaniy and this great Qur'an..” Perhaps these seven were derived by Qu'ran from Noahide law instead.

The word Qur'anic word "mesani" is the same word as the Hebrew word "mishna" (repetition), and probably derived from that.