38. THE STORY OF LUQMAN(PBUH)
Allah, Most High, says, {And indeed We bestowed upon Luqman Al-Hikmah (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 ungrateful, then verily, Allah is 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 others in worship 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! Aqimis-salah (perform as-salah prayers), enjoin (on people) al-ma‘roof (Islamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from al-munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allah, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad), and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments. And turn not your face away from men, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster. And be moderate in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the most disagreeable of sounds is the sound (braying) of the ass.”} (Soorah Luqman 31:12-19)
It is reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “Luqman was an Abyssinian carpenter.” Qatadah reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Az-Zubair that he said, “I said to Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah, “What has come to you regarding the case of Luqman?” He said, “He was of short stature and snub-nosed, and he was from Noobia.”
It has been widely reported from the majority of scholars that he was a wise man and a Waliyy, but not a Prophet. Allah, Most High, has mentioned him in the Qur’an and praised him and related his words of admonition to his son, who was the most beloved of Allah’s creation to him and of all mankind, the person for whose welfare he was most concerned. Among the first words of admonition that he addressed to his son was his saying: {“O, my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great zulm (wrong) indeed.”} (Soorah Luqman 31:13). So he forbade him from such a sin and warned him against it.
Al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah that he said, “When {It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allah)} (Soorah Al-An‘am 6:82) was revealed, the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) were distressed by this, and said, “Who among us does not confuse his belief with zulm?” The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “That is not what it means. Have you not heard what Luqman said, {“O, my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily, joining others in worship with Allah is a great zulm (wrong) indeed.”}?” It was (also) narrated by Muslim.
Then Allah, Most High, commanded us to be dutiful and kind to our parents and set forth the parents’ rights over their children and He confirmed it. He commanded us to treat parents well, even if they be disbelievers; but He told us that they are not to be obeyed if they order us to enter their religion. He then informed us regarding Luqman that he advised his son, {“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).”} (Soorah Luqman 31:16). He forbids him from being unjust to mankind, even if the injustice is as insignificant as a mustard seed, for Allah, Most High, will ask about it and He will bring it forth at the time of the Reckoning and place it in the scale, as He, Most High, says, {Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a small ant).} (Soorah An-Nisa’ 4:40) and He, Most High, says, {And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We as Reckoners.} (Soorah Al-Anbiya’ 21:47) He informed him that even if this injustice was as insignificant as a mustard seed and it was concealed within a solid rock, without any door or window in it, or it fell into something in the depths of the earth or it was in the wide expanse of the heavens, Allah would certainly know its location. {“Verily, Allah is Subtle (in bringing out that grain), Well Aware (of its place).”} (Soorah Luqman 31:16). That is, His Knowledge is precise, so the smallest atoms – whether they be apparent or hidden – are known to Him, as He, Most High, 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} (Soorah Al-An‘am 6:59). And He says, {And there is nothing hidden in the heaven and the earth, but is in a Clear Book (i.e. Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz)} (Soorah An-Naml 27:75) and He says, {(Allah, He is) the 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-Lawh Al-Mahfooz)} (Soorah Saba’ 34:3)
As for His Saying: {“O, my son! Aqimis-salah (perform as-salah).} (Soorah Luqman 31:17), it means: Perform the prayer with all its obligatory acts regarding its limits, its timings, its bowing, its prostration, its repose, its humility and all that has been legislated therein. And refrain from whatever is prohibited therein. Then he said, {…enjoin (on people) for al-ma‘roof (Islamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from al-munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allah, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad)} (Soorah Luqman 31:17). That is, (forbid them) with all your power and to the utmost of your ability, i.e. if you are able to do so, by your hand, if not, by verbal censure and if that is not possible, then by expressing hatred for the evil in your heart. Then he commanded him to be patient, saying, {…and bear with patience whatever befalls you} (Soorah Luqman 31:17). This is because the one who enjoins al-ma‘roof and forbids al-munkar may expect to be opposed and suffer harm; but the end result will be in his favor. This is why he ordered him to be patient in the face of that (opposition), for it is well known that the end result of patience is relief from suffering. And He, Most High, says, {Verily, these are some of the important commandments} (Soorah Luqman 31:17). That is, your enjoining al-ma‘roof and forbidding al-munkar and your patience in the face of harm is among the most important of commandments, which are unavoidable and from which there is no escape. {“And turn not your face away from men.”} (Soorah Luqman 31:18). ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him), Mujahid, ‘Ikrimah, Sa‘eed ibn Jubair, Ad-Dahhak, Yazeed ibn Al-Asamm, Abul-Jawza’ and others said that it means: do not behave arrogantly toward the people, turning your cheek away from them when you speak to them and when they speak to you. According to the scholars of Arabic language, the root meaning of the verb sa‘ara (used in the Verse) is a disease which afflicts camels in their necks, causing them to twist their heads to one side. So a proud man, who turns his face away when he speaks to people or when they speak to him is compared to the camel afflicted with this disease.
Abu Talib says in his poem:
In the past, we did not approve of injustice,
If they arrogantly turned their cheeks,
We would oppose it.
And ‘Amr ibn Hunayy At-Taghlibi said:
If a tyrant arrogantly turned his cheek,
We would stand firm against him and oppose him.
And Luqman said, {“…nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster.”} (Soorah Luqman 31:18). He forbade his son to walk with a strutting gait out of a sense of self-importance and boastfulness before the people, as He, Most High, 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} (Soorah Al-Isra’ 17:37). That is, you cannot traverse the lands by the speed of your walk using this gait of yours. Nor by your pounding of the earth with your feet can you penetrate it. Nor by your lofty behavior, your haughtiness and pride can you attain the height of the mountains, so be slow and deliberate, for you cannot outrun your destiny. And it has been confirmed in a hadeeth that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “While a man was strutting with pride due to his (fine) cloaks, Allah caused the earth to swallow him up and he will continue falling into it until the Day of Resurrection.” And in another hadeeth, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Beware of letting your izar (lower garment) hang down, because it is a form of pride and Allah does not like it.” For He, Most High, says in this Verse, {“Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster.”} (Soorah Luqman 31:18). And when he forbade him to display arrogance in his gait, he ordered him to walk moderately, for one must walk and so he prohibited him from evil (when doing so) and ordered him to do good (by walking without pride), saying, {“And be moderate in your walking.”} (Soorah Luqman 31:19). That is, neither walk remarkably slowly, nor exceedingly quickly, but between those two extremes, with an upright posture, as He, Most High, says, {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} (Soorah Al-Furqan 25:63). Then he said, {“…and lower your voice.”} (Soorah Luqman 31:19). That is, when you speak, do not raise your voice, because the loudest voice and {Verily, the most disagreeable of sounds is the sound (braying) of the ass.} (Soorah Luqman 31:19)
And it has been confirmed in the Saheehain that one should seek Allah’s Protection upon hearing the braying of a donkey at night, because it see a devil. This is why raising one’s voice without need is forbidden, especially when one sneezes; in such a case, it is preferred to lower one’s voice and cover one’s face, as confirmed by the hadeeth which describes the action of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). As for raising the voice when saying the Adhan (calling for prayer) when calling a group to fight and at the time of destruction and the like, that is lawful. This is what Allah, Most High, has related concerning Luqman in the Qur’an of wisdoms, admonitions and useful, comprehensive advices to attain goodness and repel evil. Many traditions have been transmitted relating stories pertaining to his life and the admonitions he proffered and there is a book which relates (advices, admonitions, etc.) from him, called Hikmatu Luqman (the Wisdom of Luqman); we shall quote from that as much as is easy for us, if Allah wills.
Imam Ahmad narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Luqman, the wise, used to say, “Verily, when Allah entrusts something, He protects it.”
And Ibn Abi Hatim reported on the authority of Al-Qasim Ibn Mukhaimirah that he said, “The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Luqman said to his son when he was admonishing him, “O, my son! Beware of wearing a mask, for it is deception by night and it is humiliation by day.” He also said, “Luqman said to his son, “O, my son! Wisdom has made the poor to sit on the thrones of kings.”
And on the authority of ‘Awn Ibn ‘Abdullah said, “Luqman said to his son, “O, my son! If you go to the meeting place of a people, cast the arrow of Islam (i.e. salutation of peace) at them, then sit down in their vicinity and do not speak until you see that they have spoken. Then if you find them observing the remembrance of Allah, cast your arrow with their arrows (i.e. join them). But if they observe anything else, then turn away from them and seek others (who remember Allah).”
It is reported on the authority of Hafs Ibn ‘Umar that he said, “Luqman placed a bag of mustard seeds by his side and began to advise his son, giving him a piece of advice for each mustard seed that he withdrew, until he had exhausted the supply of mustard seeds. Then he said, “O, my son! I have given you advice, the like of which, if it was given to a mountain, it would have split open.” He (Hafs) said, “Then his son became like one cleft asunder.”
By Ibn Katheer
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