What are the different 'Tablets' mentioned in the Quran?

The Quran mentions three distinct types of 'Tablets'. According to classical tafsir, these are: 1) The sacred Tablets of Law given to Prophet Moses (Quran 7:145), 2) The physical planks (Alwah) of Prophet Noah's Ark (Quran 54:13), and 3) The celestial Preserved Tablet (Lawh Mahfuz) containing all divine decree (Quran 85:22).

Are the Tablets of Moses the same as the Preserved Tablet (Lawh Mahfuz)?

No, they are fundamentally different. Islamic scholars like Al-Qurtubi clarify that the Tablets of Moses were a specific revelation of law sent down to him. The Preserved Tablet (Lawh Mahfuz) is the eternal, celestial source of all divine knowledge and decree, from which all scriptures, including the contents of Moses' Tablets, originate.

What was written on the Tablets of Moses in Islam?

According to the Quran and tafsir by Ibn Kathir, the Tablets contained 'an admonition and an explanation for all things' (7:145) and were a source of 'guidance and mercy' (7:154). They contained the divine commandments and foundational laws for the Children of Israel, which formed the basis of the Torah.

Tablets in Islam: Moses' Law, Noah's Ark & The Preserved Tablet

Tablets

الألواح

Explore Verses Related to Tablets

🕋Al-A'raf7:145 🕋Al-A'raf7:150 🕋Al-A'raf7:154 🕋Al-Qamar54:13 🕋Al-Buruj85:22

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the term 'Tablets' (الألواح - Alwah) in the Quran refers to three distinct and significant concepts, a distinction meticulously maintained by commentators like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari. Primarily, it denotes the sacred Tablets of Law inscribed by Allah and given to Prophet Moses on Mount Sinai, containing 'guidance and mercy' for his people (Quran 7:145, 154). Secondly, in a completely different context, it refers to the physical 'planks' of Prophet Noah's Ark, the vessel of salvation built under divine command (Quran 54:13). Finally, the related term 'Lawh Mahfuz' (Quran 85:22) signifies the celestial Preserved Tablet, the ultimate, guarded repository of all divine decree and knowledge. This synthesis across verses reveals how 'Tablets' represent both the divine source of sacred Law and the physical instruments of divine salvation, showcasing the depth of Quranic language.

📖 Quranic Context

Central to the concepts of divine revelation (sharia), salvation, and divine decree (qadr).

Represents both the medium for divine law and the means for divine intervention and salvation.

References: Refers to three distinct concepts: Moses' Tablets of Law (7:145, 7:150, 7:154), the planks of Noah's Ark (54:13), and the Preserved Tablet (85:22).

💭 Theological Perspective

The Tablets of Moses represent the human need for divine law and guidance.

The Preserved Tablet signifies the ultimate reality and divine knowledge, fostering trust (tawakkul) in God's plan.

Moses' Tablets are a primary example of codified divine guidance for a community.

Understanding these concepts helps build a framework for law, faith in God's plan, and appreciation for His signs of salvation.

📜 Hadith Perspective

Prophetic traditions elaborate on the nature of the Lawh Mahfuz and the contents of the Torah, which originated from the Tablets.

The pen writing all of decree on the Lawh Mahfuz
The comprehensive nature of the law given to Moses

Universal agreement on the distinct meanings of 'Alwah' in these different contexts.

💎 Deeper Insights

Search grounding reveals a profound conceptual link: The Tablets of Moses carry the 'Law' for spiritual salvation, while the planks (Alwah) of Noah's Ark carry the 'Believers' for physical salvation. The term connects the vessel of God's Law with the vessel of God's Mercy, showing both are means of deliverance.

— Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi

The physicality of the tablets is central to the lesson. Moses's Tablets were tangible, their breaking (7:150) a powerful physical demonstration of the gravity of sin. Noah's Ark was made of simple planks and nails. This shows that Allah uses physical, tangible means as signs and instruments for His divine will, grounding abstract faith in concrete historical events.

— Al-Tabari, Sayyid Qutb