Chapter 31-50
Luqman (Surah Luqman)
(34 verses in total; revealed in Makkah, beginning of Middle Period – Middle Makkan)
This chapter mentions Prophet Luqman and his advice to his own family and children to affirm the tribes of Prophet Mohammad that the message of God is universal and applies to all including the families of the Prophet.
The key themes in this chapter are as follows:
· The Qur’an is a book of wisdom, guidance and mercy for those who are devoted to God, share their wealth to benefit others and have a firm conviction in afterlife
· The structure of the heaven (without visible physical support – through gravity and forces of natural laws) should underscore the magnificence of God’s creation
· The earth and the world around us are a source of support and nourishments for our lives and our spirit, if we care to reflect and understand
· Prophet Luqman’s advice of kindness to parents, gratefulness to God, pursuit of good and avoidance of evil, humility and lack of arrogance, worship of God, middle course in living and gentleness in conversation – advice that all can benefit from in all generations
· People are warned of the serious consequences of denial of God and evil practices
In the name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Alif, Laam, Meem!
These are verses of the book
Full of wisdom!
Guidance and mercy for those who do good!
Who establish worship of God (salat)
Fulfil the obligation from wealth (zakat)
Attain certainty about the life to come!
Such are on the guidance from their Cherisher God
Assured of success! (v. 1-5)
Among people, there are those who deploy playful discourse, without knowledge, to lead people away from God’s guidance and to mock at it. For them is a humiliating consequence. When Our messages are relayed to them, they turn away with pride, as if they did not hear it or there is deafness in their ears. Inform them of a painful consequence! (v. 6-7)
Those who believe and do good
Is the Garden of bliss
Reside in it - a promise from God in truth
God is the Mighty, the Wise! (v. 8-9)
God created the heavens without any support structure that you can see, cast mountains on earth lest it shakes under you, spread animals of all kinds, and sends down water from clouds to cause all kinds of wholesome growth. This is God’s creation! Now show Me what the deities that you worship other than God have created? Indeed, the deniers are in a state of plain misguidance! (v. 10-11)
We (God) endowed Luqman with wisdom and instructed: ‘Be thankful to God – whoever gives thanks, they do it for their own souls, whereas those who deny should know that God is self-sufficient, always praised!’ Luqman said to his children, as he cautioned them, “My children, do not ascribe partners to God – it is an act of grave injustice!” (v. 12-13)
We (God) have instructed humankind regarding their parents – the mother carries (the child) with strain after strain and weans after two years – “Give thanks to Me and to your parents. To Me is your eventual return! If your parents strive to make you associate any deities with Me, do not obey them in that matter but still keep good company with them in this world. But do follow the way of those who turn to Me. Your final return is to Me, and I shall inform you about your activities.” (v. 14-15)
(Luqman continued), “O my children, even if a mustard seed is hidden in a rock, or somewhere in the heavens or in the earth, God will find it – surely God is the Knower of all subtleties, fully Aware!”
“O my children, establish worship of God, enjoin and encourage good, forbid and discourage evil, and exercise patience when difficulties come your way. Such pursuit and forbearance are a matter of great character! Do not turn away from people in contempt or walk on land with arrogance – God does not approve of arrogance or show of excess pride in people! Pursue the proper courses in your daily living and moderate your voice and speech – indeed the most annoying of all voices is that of a braying ass!” (v. 16-19)
Do you not see that God had made – all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth – subservient to your needs and granted God’s favors to you both inwardly and outwardly? Yet there are people among humankind who dispute about God without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening scripture! (v. 20)
When they are told, “Follow what God has revealed,” they say, “No, we follow our forefathers in what they did.” What! Did they not know that the Devil was calling them to a consequence of burning torment? Whoever submits to God wholeheartedly and shows genuine goodness to others is sure to take hold of the firmest handle one can find! All matters find resolution with God alone! (v. 21-22)
(O Prophet), whoever disbelieves, let not their denials cause you grief. To Us is their eventual return, and We shall inform them of their conducts. God surely knows what they did, as God knows what is in the hearts. We give them time to enjoy a little, but then We will drive them to their serious consequences! If you were to ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth?”, they will say, “God.” Say, “Praise be to God,” yet most of them are ignorant. (v. 23-25)
All that is in the heavens and on earth belong to God. God is indeed Self-Sufficient, Praised! If all the trees on earth were to become pens and all the seas, including seven more, were to become ink, God’s words would not be exhausted. God is Mighty, Wise! Your collective creations and your resurrections are just like a single soul. God is Hearing, Seeing! (v. 26-28)
Do you not see that God makes the night enter the day and makes the day enter the night? God has subjected the sun and the moon to run their respective courses, till a time appointed. In like manner, God is aware of what you do! That is because God is the truth and all that is worshiped besides God are falsehood! God is the Most High, the Great! (v. 29-30)
Do you not see how ships glide through the seas with God’s grace so that God can show you evidence from God? Surely those who are patient and those who are grateful will see these signs. When giant waves tower over them, they resort to God in obedience and sincerity, but as soon as God brings them to safety, they vacillate. No one denies God’s sign except the treacherous, the thankless! (v. 31-32)
O humankind! Be mindful of your responsibility to your Sustainer God and beware of the day when parents cannot help their children and children cannot help parents in any way. Indeed, God’s promise is ever true! Therefore, do not let this earthly life deceive you, nor let the arch-deceiver1 delude you about God. With God is the knowledge and the execution – the Hour2, the sending of rains, the content of what is in the womb, what one will earn tomorrow, and what land one will die in – God is indeed Knowing, Aware! (v. 33-34)
1Gharur – implies the Devil but also human conditions that lead to arrogance and denial of God such as greed, lust, corruption, excess power, excess wealth, lack of purpose and patience, and seeking undue fame
2The Hour (Sha’at) is time of death, resurrection, the Day of Judgment or any moment in our lives when we begin to question ourselves
