Explore Surah 31: Luqman (A Wise Man) with clear English translation and insightful commentary. Discover Luqman’s timeless wisdom, guidance on gratitude, humility, and faith, and the reminders of Allah’s signs in creation and life.
Surah 31: Luqman (A Wise Man)
Introduction
Surah Luqman is the 31st chapter of the Holy Qur’an and was revealed in Makkah. It contains 34 verses and focuses on themes of wisdom, gratitude, the importance of sincere belief in Allah, and the responsibilities of both individuals and families in leading a righteous life. The Surah is named after Luqman, a wise man to whom Allah gave wisdom, and who advised his son with heartfelt and powerful words. His advice touches on major moral and spiritual values such as monotheism, prayer, patience, humility, and respectful behavior toward parents.
The Surah begins by emphasizing the Qur’an as a book full of wisdom, guidance, and mercy for those who do good. It then contrasts the attitudes of believers with those who follow vain distractions and ignore divine truth. Through the story of Luqman, Allah teaches deep lessons about worship, gratitude, the unseen knowledge of Allah, and how to live a meaningful life. The chapter also reminds people of the signs of Allah in creation, the fleeting nature of this world, and the reality of the Hereafter. It ends with a powerful verse stating that only Allah has complete knowledge of the unseen, including the Hour, the future, and every human destiny. 0 0 0
Surah 31: Luqman (A Wise Man): Text
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
1. Alif, Lam, Meem.
2. These are verses of the Wise Book.
3. A guide and a mercy for those who do good,
4. Those who pray regularly, give charity, and are certain of the Hereafter.
5. They are the ones who are truly guided by their Lord, and they are the successful ones.
6. But some people choose idle talk to mislead others from Allah’s path, without knowledge, and they take it as a joke. For them is a shameful punishment.
7. When Our verses are recited to such a person, he turns away arrogantly as if he did not hear them, as if his ears were deaf. So give him news of a painful punishment.
8. Those who believe and do good deeds will have Gardens of Delight,
9. To live in forever. This is Allah’s true promise—and He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.
10. He created the heavens without any visible pillars. He placed firm mountains on the earth so it wouldn’t shake beneath you. And He scattered all kinds of creatures throughout it. And We sent down rain from the sky and caused all kinds of good plants to grow in it.
11. This is the creation of Allah. So show Me—what have those besides Him created? In fact, the wrongdoers are clearly lost.
12. We surely gave Luqman wisdom, saying, ‘Be thankful to Allah.’ Whoever gives thanks does so for their own benefit. And whoever is ungrateful—surely Allah is free of all needs, worthy of all praise.
13. And when Luqman said to his son, as he advised him, ‘O my dear son, do not associate anything with Allah. Associating partners with Him is truly a terrible wrong.’
14. And We commanded the human being to honour his parents. His mother carried him in hardship upon hardship, and weaned him in two years. (Be grateful to Me and to your parents. To Me is the final return.)
15. But if they pressure you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, then do not obey them. Still, keep good company with them in this world, and follow the path of those who turn to Me. In the end, you will return to Me, and I will tell you what you used to do.
16. (Luqman continued): ‘O my dear son, even if something is as small as a mustard seed, hidden inside a rock or in the heavens or the earth—Allah will bring it forth. Truly, Allah is Most Subtle, All-Aware.’
17. ‘O my son, establish prayer, encourage what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient with whatever happens to you. Indeed, that is a matter of strong determination.’
18. ‘And do not turn your face away from people out of pride, and do not walk arrogantly on the earth. Surely, Allah does not like any proud, boastful person.’
19. ‘Be moderate in your walk and lower your voice. Truly, the harshest of all sounds is the braying of a donkey.’
20. Do you not see that Allah has made everything in the heavens and the earth useful for you, and has showered His blessings on you—both seen and unseen? Yet some people argue about Allah without knowledge, guidance, or a clear book.
21. When they are told, ‘Follow what Allah has revealed,’ they say, ‘No, we follow what we found our forefathers doing.’What! Even if Satan is calling them to the punishment of the blazing fire?
22. Whoever submits themselves fully to Allah and does good—indeed, they have held firmly to the strongest rope. And with Allah rests the outcome of all matters.
23. But if anyone denies the truth—let them not grieve you. To Us is their return, and We will tell them everything they did.
Surely Allah knows what is hidden in people’s hearts.
24. We let them enjoy themselves for a little while, then We will drag them into a severe punishment.
25. If you ask them, ‘Who created the heavens and the earth?’ they will definitely say, ‘Allah.’ Say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah!’ But most of them do not understand.
26. To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Indeed, Allah is Free of all needs, Praiseworthy.
27. If every tree on earth were made into pens, and the sea were ink, with seven more seas added to it—still the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Surely, Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
28. Your creation and resurrection are just like that of a single soul. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
29. Do you not see that Allah causes the night to enter into the day, and the day into the night? And He made the sun and the moon serve you, each running for an appointed time. And Allah is fully aware of what you do.
30. That is because Allah is the Truth, and whatever they call upon besides Him is falsehood. Indeed, Allah is the Most High, the Greatest.
31. Do you not see that ships sail through the sea by Allah’s grace, so that He may show you some of His signs? Surely, in this are signs for every steadfast and thankful person.
32. When waves cover them like mountains, they call upon Allah, being sincere to Him in faith. But when He brings them safely to land, some of them stay moderate. Yet no one denies Our signs except those who are deceitful and ungrateful.
33. O people! Be mindful of your Lord, and fear a Day when no parent can help their child, nor can a child help their parent in any way. Surely, Allah’s promise is true. So do not let the worldly life deceive you, nor let the deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.
34. Indeed, Allah alone has knowledge of the Hour. He sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. 0 0 0
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Comment
Surah Luqman is a profound chapter that combines spiritual wisdom, moral instruction, and reflections on the reality of human life. Its message is delivered uniquely, especially through the example of Luqman, a wise and righteous man whose gentle and insightful advice to his son serves as a model for parenting, education, and moral guidance. The Surah emphasizes the importance of monotheism, prayer, kindness to parents, and humility in behavior. It warns against arrogance, pride, and being misled by worldly pleasures or false beliefs.
One of the central themes of the Surah is the concept of gratitude—especially gratitude to Allah and to one’s parents. It teaches that true wisdom begins with recognizing Allah’s greatness and submitting to Him sincerely. The verses also explore the signs of Allah found in nature and human life, encouraging people to reflect on creation as a way to understand divine truth.
Another powerful aspect of the Surah is its focus on the unseen—things only known to Allah, such as the timing of the Day of Judgment, the future of every soul, and the exact place of one’s death. These reminders aim to awaken a sense of humility in the reader and inspire a life of purpose, responsibility, and devotion.
Overall, Surah Luqman offers a complete picture of what it means to live wisely and righteously, not just through rules, but through deep reflection, heartfelt advice, and an awareness of one’s place in the universe. It calls upon every human being to seek knowledge, be grateful, stay sincere, and walk the path of faith with humility and trust in Allah. 0 0 0
Note: Luqman, as mentioned in the Qur’an, was a wise and righteous man to whom Allah granted special wisdom. Although he was not a prophet, his example is honored in the Qur’an for his deep insight, moral clarity, and spiritual awareness. He is best known for the advice he gave to his son, which is recorded in Surah Luqman. His guidance emphasizes monotheism, gratitude to Allah, respectful behavior toward parents, prayer, patience, humility, and avoiding arrogance.
The Qur’an does not provide detailed information about his background, nationality, or time period, but Islamic tradition holds that Luqman may have been of African origin, possibly from Nubia or Sudan. Some scholars believe he was a carpenter, tailor, or shepherd by profession. Despite his ordinary status in society, his wisdom and piety earned him great respect, showing that closeness to Allah is not based on social rank but on faith and righteous conduct.
Luqman’s story in the Qur’an serves as a reminder that wisdom is a divine gift, and that sincere advice, grounded in truth and compassion, is a powerful way to guide others—especially one’s own children. His legacy is that of a humble servant of Allah, whose words continue to guide believers in moral and spiritual development. 0 0 0
Luqman (A Wise Man): Additional Study
Frequently Asked Questions on Luqman (A Wise Man)
Q1. What is Surah Luqman about?
Ans: Surah Luqman focuses on wisdom, guidance for righteous living, the importance of gratitude, avoiding arrogance, and recognizing Allah’s signs in creation.
Q2. Why is the surah named Luqman?
Ans: It is named after Luqman, a wise man whose advice to his son is recorded in the surah, teaching lessons on faith, humility, and moral conduct.
Q3. How many verses are there in Surah Luqman?
Ans: Surah Luqman has 34 verses.
Q4. Where was Surah Luqman revealed?
Ans: Surah Luqman is a Makkan surah, revealed in Makkah before the migration to Madinah.
Q5. What are the key themes of Surah Luqman?
Ans: The key themes include the value of wisdom, the duty of gratitude to Allah, the rejection of shirk (associating partners with Allah), respect for parents, and awareness of the Hereafter.
Q6. What advice did Luqman give to his son in this surah?
Ans: Luqman advised his son to worship Allah alone, establish prayer, be patient in hardships, avoid arrogance, and walk humbly upon the earth.
Q7. What lessons can Muslims learn from Surah Luqman?
Ans: Lessons include living with humility, being thankful to Allah, respecting parents, staying firm in prayer, and trusting Allah’s knowledge of the unseen. 0 0 0
The Timeless Wisdom of Luqman – A Poem
In the pages of truth, we hear Luqman’s voice,
Guiding his son with a gentle choice.
“Worship Allah, the One, Most High,
For false gods fade, and truths never die.”
Luqman spoke of patience deep,
Of prayer to guard, of vows to keep.
“Be humble, my child, in the way you tread,
Let kindness live in all you’ve said.”
He warned of pride, of hearts that stray,
And taught gratitude every day.
Luqman’s wisdom, a lantern bright,
Leads weary souls toward the light.
Though the world is vast and time will fade,
The counsel of Luqman shall never degrade.
For in his words, believers see,
The path to faith and dignity. 0 0 0
