Some Aspects of Luqmans Personality and Wisdom

4:1:59

2023-11-13

1978

The historians are not unanimous as to the status of Luqman. Was he a Prophet? When did he live? Nobody knows for sure. Most of the historians are of the belief that Luqman was a man from Nubia (in the Northern part of Sudan between Ethiopia and Egypt), living at the time of the Prophet David. Because of his noble thoughts, Allah gave him highest degree of wisdom. It is narrated from the Prophet (PBUH) who said, "I rightfully say Luqman was not a Prophet, but he was a thoughtful obedient servant of Allah. He had strong faith and certainty. He loved Allah and Allah loved him, too. That is why he received the asset of wisdom from Allah. Luqman was sleeping when suddenly heard: ‘O Luqman, do you want to be Allah’s representative on earth so that you may judge among people’?

Luqman replied: ‘If Allah gives me option, I will not accept such a huge responsibility. But if He orders me to do so, I will whole-heartedly accept because I know if I accept such a task, He will help me not to go astray.’

The angels, whom he couldn’t see, asked Luqman: Why?

He answered: “It is the most hazardous job to judge between people. For a judge it is a formidable job. If a person is protected by Allah, he is saved and if he does not go the right path, he will lose the way to paradise.

A person who is ashamed here but raises his head in the Hereafter is better than a person who keeps his head high here, but is ashamed in the Hereafter. A man who sells the Hereafter for this world will have neither here nor there”.

The angels were surprised at Luqman’s reasoning. Luqman said this and fell asleep. Allah put the light of wisdom in his heart. When he awoke, he started talking wisely. He helped David with his wisdom. David told him, "I envy you Luqman. Now you have passed your test"

Thus, because of Luqman’s obedience to Allah, he received the treasure of wisdom. Allah named one of the Surahs of Qur’an after him. In that surah Allah put some of Luqman’s advice to his children. One of which is the following:

“And when Luqman said to his son while he admonished him: O my son! do not associate aught with Allah; most surely polytheism is a grievous iniquity” [Qur’an 31:13]

“O my son! Surely if it is the very weight of the grain of a mustard-seed, even though it is in (the heart of) rock, or (high above) in the heaven or (deep down) in the earth, Allah will bring it to light; Surely Allah is Knower of subtleties, Aware.

O my son! Keep up prayer and enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and bear patiently that which befalls you; surely these acts require courage. And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting overmuch; surely Allah does not love any self-conceited boaster. And pursue the right course in your going about and lower your voice; surely the most hateful of voices is braying of the asses” [Qur’an 31:16-18].