Wisdom of Hazrat Luqman
Wisdom provides us with the capacity
to solve real life problems. So, acquiring wisdom becomes a must if we want to
live meaningful lives. As we live through life and its experiences, it is vital
that we reflect on such experiences to make our subsequent steps in life
easier. As Immanuel Kant, a famous philosopher said that “Science is
organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.”
So, if wisdom enables a person to
make more sound decisions, take a shortcut path to success, recalibrate values
for the better, and simply live a better life, then why not spend time
reflecting on our own experiences as well as learning from others? As Will
Durant, a renowned philosopher and Pulitzer Prize winner stated, “A wise
man can learn from another man’s experience; a fool cannot learn even from his
own.”
The words of the Quran and teachings
of our prophet Muhammad guide us to a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. In fact, Allah calls Quran the “Book of wisdom” in many places in
the Quran. He says: “A.L.R. These are the ayats of the Book of wisdom.”
(Yunus, Chapter #10, Verse #1). The Almighty also says: “We have sent it
down as an Arabic Quran, in order that ye may learn wisdom.” (Yusuf,
Chapter #12, Verse #2)
Quran emphasizes the importance of
wisdom throughout its text. Allah sent prophets and messengers to propagate
that wisdom. He says in one of such verses: “A similar (favor have ye
already received) is that We have sent among you a Messenger of your own,
rehearsing to you Our Signs, and sanctifying you, and instructing you in
Scripture and wisdom, and in new knowledge.” (Al-Baqara, Chapter #2,
Verse #151)”
In its text, Quran also teaches
wisdom through the words of a person named Luqman. Although not a prophet,
Allah had granted him enormous wisdom. He was wise enough to have an entire
chapter named after him. He was a pious person and according to the Quran was
granted wisdom by Allah. As Allah says in the Quran: And indeed We
bestowed upon Luqman AlHikmah (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 unthankful, then verily, Allah is All
Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise. (Luqman: 12)
In his book “Stories of the Prophet”,
Ibn Katheer writes that Luqman’s real name was known as “Luqman Ibn ‘Anqa’ Ibn
Sadun” or according to some “Luqman Ibn Tharan” who was from among the people
of Aylah (Jerusalem) (Stated by As-Suhaili from Ibn Jarir and Al-Qutaibi). Some
accounts describe him as an Ethiopian slave who worked as a carpenter. Because
of his wisdom people went to him to settle their affairs and therefore he was
also known to be a judge.
Although Quran makes no reference
regarding him being as a prophet, it is narrated by some as described by Ibn
Katheer in his book “Stories of the Prophet” that he was offered to become one.
Ibn Katheer mentions, Sa’id said: I heard Qatadah as saying: It was said to
Luqman: “How did you prefer wisdom to Prophethood when you were enabled to
choose between them?” He said: “If Allah were to assign me with Prophethood, I
would accept it and try hard to win His Pleasure, but He enabled me to choose.
I feared of being too weak for Prophethood, so I chose wisdom.”
Luqman’s Wisdom
The following are the words of wisdom
of Luqman as described in the Quran. Later, another section quotes his wisdom
as narrated by other reliable narrators as mentioned by Ibn Katheer in his book
“Stories of the Prophets”.
Luqman’s wisdom in
the Quran
Luqman’s wisdom in the Quran is
described in the context of him explaining it to his son. It is described in
the Quran in the following verses.
- Regarding not to associate anyone in the worship and oneness of Allah –
And (remember) when Luqman said to
his son when he was advising him: “O my son! Join not in worship others with
Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zoolm (wrong)
indeed. (Quran: Luqman: 13)
- Being dutiful to ones parents –
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. (Quran: Luqman: 14)
- Being dutiful to ones parents except where they tell you to deviate from the Right path –
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. (Quran: Luqman: 15)
- Every person is accountable for everything that he does –
“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), WellAware (of its place). (Quran: Luqman: 16)
- Enjoining Prayers
“O my son! perform AsSalat (prayers),
enjoin (people) for Al-Maroof (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), and bear with
patience whatever befalls you. Verily! These are some of the important commandments
ordered by Allah with no exemption. (Quran: Luqman: 17)
- Do not be arrogant and proud
“And turn not your face away from men
with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not
each arrogant boaster. (Quran: Luqman: 18)
- Be humble and lower your voice
“And be moderate (or show no
insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all
voices is the voice (braying) of the donkey.” (Quran: Luqman: 19)
Other words of
wisdom from Luqman (not narrated in the Quran) [ibn Katheer]
- Luqman on being granted respect and honor
Narrated Ibn Wahb: I was told by
‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Ayyash Al-Fityani after’ Umar, the freed slave of ‘Afrah as
saying: “A man came to Luqman, the wise and asked: Are you Luqman? Are you the slave
of so and so? He said: “Yes!” The man said: You are the black shepherd! Luqman
said: As for my black color, it is obviously apparent, so what makes you so
astonished? The man said: You became frequently visited by the people who
pleasingly accept your judgments! Luqman said: 0 cousin! If you do what I am
telling you, you will be like this. The man said: What is it? Luqman said:
Lowering my gaze, watching my tongue, eating what is lawful, keeping my
chastity, undertaking my promises, fulfilling my commitments, being hospitable
to guests, respecting my neighbors, and discarding what does not concern me.
All these made me the one you are looking at.”
Lowering of the gaze usually refers
to not looking at men / women (other than your spouse) with a bad desire and to
look at them only for valid reasons as prescribed in the religion. Refer to Islam-qa.com
for detailed explanation on this topic.
- Luqman on the value of Wisdom
Narrated Damurah after As-Sariy Ibn
Yahia as saying: Luqman said to his son: “O my son! Verily, wisdom has brought
the indigent to the courts of kings. ”
- Luqman on propagating wisdom to others and to take it seriously when given by others
I was told by my father after ‘Amr
Ibn ‘Uthman after Damurah Ibn Hafs Ibn ‘Umar as saying: “Luqman placed a bag of
mustards beside him and started to advise his son, giving him with every piece
of advice a mustard till it all ran out. He said: O my son! I gave you advice
that if a mountain was given, it would split………”
- Luqman on the need to have a pleasing tongue and sound heart
Yazid Ibn Hamn and Waki’ told us
after Abul AShhab after Khalid Ar-Rab’i as saying: “Luqman was an Ethiopian
slave who worked as a carpenter. One day, his master ordered him to slaughter a
goat and bring him the most pleasant and delicious two parts thereof. Luqman
did so and brought him the tongue and heart. The master asked: Did not you find
anything more pleasant than these? Luqman said: No! After a while, the master
ordered him to slaughter a goat and to throw the most malignant two parts
thereof. Luqman slaughtered the goat and threw the tongue and heart. The master
exclaimed and said: I ordered you to bring me the most delicious parts thereof
and you brought me the tongue and heart, and I ordered you to throwaway the
most malignant parts thereof and you threw the tongue and heart, how can this
be? Luqman said: Nothing can be more pleasing than these if they were good, and
nothing can be more malicious than these if they were malignant.”
- Luqman on “Speech is silver and slince is golden”
Luqman said to his son: “O my son! I
have never regretted because of keeping silent. If words are silver, silence is
golden.”
- Luqman on the need to have kindness, mercy and love for others
Abu Mu’awiyah told us after Hisham
Ibn ‘Urwah after his father as saying: “Wisdom dictates: O my son: Let your
speech be good and your face be smiling, you will be more loved by the people
than those who give them provisions.” And, he said: “It is stated in the wisdom
-or the Torah – : “Kindness is the head of wisdom.” And, he said: “It is stated
in the Torah: “As you show mercy (to others), mercy will be shown to you.”
- Luqman on giving
And, he said: “It is stated in the
wisdom: “You will gain what you give (or, harvest what you grow).”
- Luqman on friendships
And, he said: “It is stated in the
wisdom: “Love your friend and the friend of your father.”
- Luqman on patience, knowledge, and goodness
`Abdur Razzaq told us after Mu’amir
after Ayyub after Abu Qulabah as saying: Luqman was once asked: Who is the best
one in terms of patience? He said: It is the one who practices no harm after
observing patience. Those who asked him said: Who is the best one in terms of
knowledge? He said: It is he who adds to his own knowledge through the
knowledge of others. They asked: Who is the best from among the whole people?
He said: It is the wealthy. They said: Is it the one who has properties and
riches? He said: No! But, it is the one if whose good was sought, he would not
hold it back or prevent it. And, it is the one who does not need anything from
others.
- Luqman on the need to keep good company and to consult scholars
‘Abdullah Ibn Ahmed said: I was told
by Al-Hakam Ibn Abu Zuhair Ibn Musa after Al-Faraj Ibn Fudalah after Abu Sa’id
as saying: Luqman said to his son: “O my son! Let only the pious men eat your
food, and consult the scholars over your affairs.”
Finally, wisdom in matters is one of
the blessings that Allah grants to His creation. The Almighty says in the
Quran: “He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is
granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive
admonition) except men of understanding.” (Quran: Al-Baqara: 269)
Note: Hikmah here refers to “Wisdom”
