Seerah.Net

Allah the Almighty says:

"And indeed We bestowed upon Luqman Al­Hikmah (wisdom and religious understanding, etc.) saying: 'Give thanks to Allah,' and whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his ownself. And whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allah is All ­Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise.

And (remember) when Luqman said to his son when he was advising him: 'O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed.'

And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.

But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.

'O my son! If it be (anything) equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle (in bringing out that grain), Well ­Aware (of its place)

'O my son! Aqim­is­Salat (perform As­Salat), enjoin (people) for Al­Ma'ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from Al­Munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allah, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad), and bear with patience whatever befall you. Verily! These are some of the important commandments ordered by Allah with no exemption.

'And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster.

'And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying) of the ass.'" (Luqman 31: 12-19)

He is Luqman ibn `Anqa ibn Sadun. Or as stated by as-Suhaili from ibn Jarir and al-Qutaibi that he is Luqman ibn Tharan who was from among the people of Aylah (Jerusalem).

He was a pious man who exerted himself in worship and who was blessed with wisdom. Also, it is said that he was a judge during the lifetime of Prophet Dawud `alayhis salaam. And Allah knows best.

Narrted Sufyan ath-Thawri from al-Ash`ath after `Ikrimah on the authority of Ibn `Abbas radhiallahu `anhu as saying: "He was an Ethiopian slave who worked as a carpenter." Qatadah narrated from `Abdullah ibn Zubair saying: "I asked Jabir ibn `Abdullah about Luqman. He said, 'He was short with a flat nose. He was from Nubia.'"

Narrated Yahia ibn Sa`id al-Ansari after Sa`id ibn Musayib his saying: "Luqman belonged to the black men of Egypt. He had thick lips and Allah the Almighty granted him wisdom but not Prophethood." Al-Awza`i said: "I was told by `Abdur Rahman ibn Harmalah that a black man came to Sa`id ibn al-Musayib asking for charity. Sa`id said, 'Do not feel distressed for your black colour because there were from among the best of all people three black men - Bilal ibn Rabah, Mahja (the freed salve of `Umar ibn al-Khattab) and Luqman the wise, who was black from Nubia and whose lips were thick.'"

Narrated al-A`mash after Mujahid: "Luqman was a black huge slave, thick-lipped and cracked-footed." `Umar ibn Qais said: "Luqman was a black slave, thick-lipped and cracked-footed. It happened while he was preaching some people, a man came him and said, 'Aren't you the one who used to look after the sheep with me at such-and-such a place?' Luqman said, 'Yes, I am!' The man said, 'Then, what made you of that position?' Luqman said, 'Telling the truth and keeping silent regarding what does not concern me.'" (This hadeeth was narrated by Ibn Jarir after Ibn Hamid after al-Hakam.)

Ibn Abu Hatim said: I was told by Abu Zar`ah that he was told by Safwan after al-Walid after `Abdur Rahman ibn Abu Yazid ibn Jabir who said, "Allah the Almighty raised Luqman's status for his wisdom. A man who used to know him saw him and said, 'Aren't you the slave of so-and-so who used to look after my sheep not so long ago in the past?' Luqman said, 'Yes!' The man said, 'What raised you to this high state I see?' Luqman said, 'The Divine Decree, repaying the trust, telling the truth and discarding what does not concern me.'"

Narrated ibn Wahb: I was told by `Abdullah ibn `Ayyash al-Fityani after `Umar, the freed slave of `Afrah as saying, "A man came to Luqman, the wise, and asked, 'Are you luqman? Are you the slave of so-and-so?' He said, 'Yes!' The man said, 'You are the black shephard!' Luqman said, 'As for my black colour, it is obviously apparent, so what makes you so astonished?' The man said, 'You became frequently visited by the people who pleasingly accept your judgements!' Luqman said, 'O cousin! If you do what I am telling you, you will be like this.' The man said, 'What is it?' Luqman said, 'Lowering my gaze, watching my tongue, eating what is lawful, keeping my chastity, undertaking my promises, fulfilling my commitments, being hospitable to guests, respecting my neighbours, and discarding what does not concern me. All these made me the one you are looking at.'"

One day, Abu ad-Darda' mentioned Luqman the wise and said, "He was not granted wisdom because of wealth, children, lineage, or given habits, but he was self-restrained, taciturn, deep thinking and he never slept during the day. In addition, no one has ever seen him spitting, clearing his throat, squeezing the lemon, answering the call of nature, bathing, observing trivialities, or foolishly laughing. He did not weep or cry when all his children died. Finally, he used to frequent the princes and men of authority to mediate and think thoroughly and find admonition. So because of all these, he was granted that great wisdom."

Some people claimed that he was offered Prophethood and that he feared not to be able to carry out its requirements and obligations. Thus he chose to have wisdom for it is easier - this cannot be totally true - and Allah knows best. `Ikrimah also narrated that: Luqman was a prophet! (Note: This narration is very weak for the sub-narrator al-Ja`fi is mentioned by Imams al-Bukhari and an-Nasa`i among the weak narrators.)

However the majority of the scholars are of the view that Luqman was a wise man and not a prophet.

(To be continued, in shaa Allah...)

Taken from Stories of the Qur'an by Ibn Kathir (Dar al Manarah)