Seerah.Net

... Moreover, Luqman was mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an and was highly praised by Allah the Almighty who narrates his advice to his own son in which he says: "O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed.", so he forbade his son and warmed him against joining others in worship with Allah. Imam Bukhari said: I was told by Qutaibah after Jarir after al-A`mash after Ibrahim after `Alqamah after `Abdullah as saying: "When the verse 'It is those who believe and do not confuse their belief with wrong (i.e., joining others in worship with Allah)' (Surah al-An`am: 82) was revealed, we said: "O Allah's Messenger! Who is there amongst us who has not done wrong to himself?" The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam replied; "It is not as you say, for 'wrong' in the verse and 'do not confuse their belief with wrong' means 'SHIRK' (i.e., joining others in worship with Allah. Haven't you heard Luqman's saying to his son, 'O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed. (Luqman: 13)'"

Then Allah informs us of His advice to mankind to take care of parents. He states their rights on the children and orders us to be kind with them even if they were polytheists but one should not obey them if they invite him to join others in worship with Allah. Then Allah resumes Luqman's advice to his son saying, ""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)." Allah the Almighty also says, "And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record" (Surah al-An`am:59) and "And there is nothing hidden in the heaven and the earth, but is in a Clear Book (i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz)" (Surah an-Naml:75) and "(Allah, He is) the All Knower of the unseen, not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant) or less than that or greater, escapes from His Knowledge in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz)" (Surah Saba': 3).

As-Sadiy claimed that the rock mentioned in the verse is that which lies beneath the seventh earth but this claim is totally rejected for the word "rock" is indefinite and if his claim were true, it would be "the rock". So "rock" here means any rock whatever and not a particular one. Narrated Abu Sa`id al-Khudri after Prophet Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam as saying, "If any of you performs deeds in a solid rock that has no door or hole, his deeds whatever they are will come out (to the public)."

Then Luqman said, "O my son! Aqim-as-­Salat (perform as-Salah)", i.e., perform it properly and in due time. Then he said, "), 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)", i.e., with your full power, with your hand, tongue and if you could not, let it be with your heart (i.e., reject and resent it). Then he advised him to observe patience saying, "and bear with patience whatever befalls you" for if one enjoins what is good and forbids the evil, he will probably be regarded as an enemy to certain people (but the final reward would surely be his). For this, he commanded him to observe patience. "Verily! These are some of the important commandments ordered by Allah with no exemption" that are inevitable and cannot be neglected.

Allah the Almighty says, "And turn not your face away from men with pride." Narrated ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id ibn Jubair, ad-Dahhak, Yazid ibn al-Asam, Abu al-Jawza' and others: This means one should not be showy or arrogant.

Allah the Almighty says, "...nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster." Here Luqman forbids his son to strut in his walk. Allah the Almighty says, "And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height" (Al-Isra': 37), i.e., you will neither be able to tread the whole earth nor penetrate it with your fast walking or strong footsteps, nor will you be as high as mountains with your showing off or arrogance. So know yourself well, for you are only a human being (created to worship Allah alone). The Prophetic hadeeth states, "While a man was walking, dragging his dress with pride, he was caused to be swallowed by the earth and will go on sinking in it until the Day of Resurrection." (transmitted by Imam al-Bukhari in his Saheeh) Another Prophetic hadeeth states that: "Beware dragging your dress with pride for this is boastfulness which is not loved (liked) by Allah." Allah the Almighty says: "Verily Allah likes not the arrogant boaster."

After Luqman forbids his son to walk boastfully, he orders him to be moderate in his walking, saying, "And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking", i.e., do not walk too fast or too slow, rather take a course in between. "And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness." (Al-Furqan: 63). Then Luqman says, "And lower your voice"' i.e., if you talk, do not raise your voice very loudly because the braying of the ass is the harshest of all voices.

Narrated Abu Hurairah radhiallahu `anhu: The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, "When you hear the crowing of the roosters, ask for Allah's blessings, for (their crowing indicates that) they have seen an angel. And when you hear the braying of the donkeys, seek refuge with Allah from Satan for (their braying indicates) that they have seen a Satan." (transmitted by Imam al-Bukhari in his Saheeh) For this, it is forbidden to raise one's voice needlessly. But, raising the voice with the Adhan (the call to prayer) and in the battlefield is permitted.

These are the pieces of advice given by Luqman to his son that are mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an. Many others have been mentioned in a book entitled Hikmat Luqman (Luqman's Wisdom).

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

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