Truth is often stranger than fiction
Millennia ago, Moses the prophet of God climbed Mount Sinai to receive 10 commands after God saved his people from slavery and oppression. God assured salvation in exchange for obedience.
These laws continue to govern Jews, Christians and Muslims who worship the God of Moses.
- Thou shalt have no other God.
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto those that love me, and keep my commandments.
- Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Honour thy father and thy mother.
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- Thou shalt not desire thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not desire thy neighbour’s wife, nor his servants, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
For eons, humans struggled to uphold the laws. Some continue to desire the neighbours property. Others wage war to steal. Drug addicts kill for a quick fix and drunk drivers murder innocents on the road with limited liability to themselves.
Many consign their parents to old age institutions, while others make songs and movies mocking God. The poor bow to the rich and the ignorant bow down to those who say they have wisdom.
About two decades ago some South African leaders finally got together after years of battle and wrote a new set of commandments. They promised everyone free houses, education and so on.
Today those who made promises are questioned by a new generation about the promises made.
In the words of the wise, be wary what you promise as you may have to keep it or suffer the results.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress