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In the name
of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful |
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SECTION: 1
Alif Lăm M'ďm.[1] These are verses of the Book of wisdom,[2] a
guide and a blessing for the righteous:[3] who establish Salah (Islamic
Prayers), give Zakah (obligatory Charity) and firmly
believe in the hereafter.[4] These are on true guidance from
their Rabb and these are the ones who will attain felicity.[5]
Among the people there are some who purchase frivolous tales so
that they may lead people away from the Way of Allah, without
any knowledge, and take the invitation to the Right Way
as a mockery. For such people there will be a humiliating
punishment.[6] When Our revelations are recited to such a
person, he turns his face away in arrogance as if he did not
hear them or as if his ears are sealed: announce to him the news
of a painful punishment.[7] As for those who believe and do good
deeds, there will be gardens of delight,[8] wherein they shall
live forever. The promise of Allah is true: He is the Almighty,
the Wise.[9] He created the heavens without visible pillars; He
set mountains on the earth lest it should shake with you; and
scattered through it all kinds of animals. We send down rain
from the sky with which We grow every type of noble species in
pairs.[10] This is Allah’s creation; now, show Me what is there
that others (gods) besides Him have created? - In fact
the wrongdoers are in manifest error.[11]
31:[1-11] |
The Qur'an is the Book of Wisdom, a Guide and a Blessing for the
Righteous |
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SECTION: 2
We gave wisdom to Luqmăn so that he may be grateful to Allah.
The one who pays thanks, does so for his own good; and the one
who denies His favors, should know that Allah is
certainly free of all wants, worthy of all praise.[12] When
Luqmăn, while advising his son, said to him: “O my son! Do not
ever commit shirk (associating anyone else with Allah);
surely committing shirk is the worst iniquity.”[13]
31:[12-13 |
Luqmăn advised his son not to commit Shirk |
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We have enjoined man concerning his parents -
his mother carries him in her womb while suffering weakness upon
weakness and then weans him in two years - That’s why We
commanded him: “Give thanks to Me and to your parents,
and keep in mind that, to Me is your final goal.[14] If they
argue with you to commit shirk, of which you have no knowledge,
then do not obey them; however you should still treat them
kindly in this world, but follow the way of that individual who
has turned to Me. After all, to Me is your return; then I
will inform you about the reality of all that you have
done.”[15]
31:[14-15] |
Rights of the mother and parents
Obey your parents but not in the matters of Shirk |
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Luqmăn further said: “O my son! Allah
will bring all things to light, be they as small as a
grain of a mustard seed, be they hidden inside a rock or high
above in the heavens or deep down in the earth. Allah
is well aware of all things to their finest details.[16] O my
son! Establish Salah, enjoin good and forbid the evil. Endure
with patience whatever befalls you, surely this shows your
determination in conducting the affairs.[17] Do not speak to the
people with your face turned away with pride, nor walk proudly
on earth; for Allah does not love any self-conceited
boaster.[18] Be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; for
the harshest of voices is the braying of a donkey.”[19]
31:[16-19] |
Advice of Luqmăn about moral behavior and interaction
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SECTION: 3
Do you not see that Allah has subjected to your benefit
all that is in the heavens and in the earth, and has lavished on
you His evident and hidden favors? Yet there are some people who
still argue about Allah without knowledge, without guidance or
an enlightening Book.[20] When they are asked to follow what
Allah has revealed, they reply: “Nay, we shall follow the ways
upon which we found our forefathers.” What! Will they still
follow them even though Shaităn invites them to the
punishment of the blazing fire.[21] He who surrenders himself to
Allah and leads a righteous life has indeed grasped the most
trustworthy hand-hold; as the ultimate disposal of affairs rests
with Allah.[22] As for he who disbelieves, let not his disbelief
grieve you. To Us is their return and We shall inform them the
reality of their deeds; surely Allah knows the secrets of the
breasts.[23] We let them enjoy for a while this life,
then in the hereafter We shall drive them to an
unrelenting punishment.[24]
31:[20-24] |
Main reason for misguidance is the blind following of one's
forefathers |
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If you ask them: “Who has created the heavens
and the earth?” They will certainly say: “Allah.” Say: “Praise
be to Allah!” But the fact is that most of them do not use
their common sense to understand.[25] To Allah belong all
that is in the heavens and earth; surely Allah is the One Who is
free of all wants, worthy of all praise.[26] If all the trees on
earth were pens, and the ocean were ink, replenished by
seven more oceans, the writing of Allah’s Words (His
wonderful signs and creations) would not be exhausted;
surely Allah is Mighty Wise.[27] Neither your creation nor your
resurrection is anything but as simple as the creation and
resurrection of a single soul; surely Allah is All-Hearing,
All-Seeing.[28] Do you not see that Allah causes the night to
pass into the day and the day into the night, that He has
subjected the sun and the moon to follow His law, each
pursuing its course for an appointed term, and that Allah is
well aware of all your actions?[29] This is because Allah is the
only Reality and because all those whom the people invoke
besides Him, are false, and because Allah is the One Who is the
Most High, the Great.[30]
31:[25-30] |
Mushrikďn admit that Allah is the Creator of the heavens and the
earth. If all the trees were pens and the oceans were ink, the
writing of Allah's words could not be exhausted
Allah is the only reality, all others to whom people invoke
besides Him are false |
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SECTION: 4
Do you not see how the ships sail through the ocean by the grace
of Allah so that He may show you some of His signs? Surely there
are signs in this for every patient, thankful person.[31] When
any giant wave covers them like a canopy, they pray to Allah
with all devotion making their faith pure for Him. But when He
delivers them safely to land, some of them falter between
belief and unbelief. None reject Our revelations except the
treacherous and the ungrateful.[32] O mankind! Have fear of your
Rabb and fear that Day when no father shall avail his son nor a
son his father. Surely the promise of Allah is true. Let not the
life of this world deceive you, nor let the Deceiver (Shaităn)
deceive you concerning Allah.[33] Surely Allah Alone has the
knowledge of the Hour, He is the One Who sends down the rain and
He knows what is in the wombs. No one knows what he will earn
the next day; and no one knows in what land he will die. Surely,
Allah knows all this and is aware of everything.[34]
31:[31-34]
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O
mankind, fear that Day when no father shall avail his son nor a
son his father. Let not the Shaităn deceive you concerning this
fact |
Major Issues, Divine
Law and Guidance:
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* The Qur’an is the Book of wisdom and a
blessing for the righteous.
* Luqmăn’s advise to his son not to commit Shirk (to associate
any one else with Allah in worship).
* Rights of the mother and the parents.
* Not to obey the parents if they ask you to commit shirk.
* Islamic moral behavior and interaction.
* The fact that the main reason of misguidance is the blind
following of one’s forefathers.
* If all trees were pens and oceans ink, Allah’s words could not
be put to writing.
* Allah is the only reality, all others whom people invoke
besides Him are false.
* O Mankind, fear that Day when not even a father shall avail
his son, nor a son his father, let not Shaităn deceive you
concerning this fact.
This Sürah also advises the young converts
to Islam that even though the rights of parents are paramount
they are not to supersede the rights of Allah, they should not
listen to the parents if they prevent them from accepting Islam,
or compel them to revert to the creed of Polytheism.
This Sürah also points out that Islam is not a new teaching
which is being presented for the first time. The learned and
wise people of the past ages said and taught the same message
which The Qur'an is presenting today. In other words, it is as
to say, “O People of Makkah: In your own area there lived a wise
man, named Luqmăn, whose wisdom has been well known among you,
whose proverbs and wise sayings are cited in your daily
conversation and who is often quoted by your poets and orators.
Now you should see precisely what creed and what morals he used
to teach.” |
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