Luqman

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Luqmān (Arabic: لُقْمان) is among figures in the Qur'an who lived before Islam. Luqman was famous for his wisdom, consults, and moral stories, and a sura of the Qur'an is named after him. Monotheism, humility before people, the graceful manner in walking, moderate behavior in life, having characteristics of a good companion, and learning good manners from the impolite are among the famous wise sayings of Luqman. In hadiths, it has been mentioned that he was not a prophet.

Personality

Luqman is recognized as a famous moral and knowledgeable personality by historians;[1] even though he has been mistaken by some historical and legendary figures such as the legendary Luqman b. 'Ad, Aesop, Bal'am Ba'ura (Balaam son of Beor), Ahqyar[2] and Luqman Mu'ammir.[3] There is a disagreement about the lineage and race of Luqman. Some sources related him with the people of 'Ad. Some sources considered him from Israelites[4] and some others considered him an Abyssinian slave who belonged to a rich Israelite living at the time of Prophet David (a)[5] and that his master freed him because of his wisdom and knowledge.[6]

Luqman was also famous among Arabs before Islam. They had some of his sayings in written form.[7] It is said that Suwayd b. Samit responded to the invitation of the Prophet (s) to Islam by referring to the sayings of Luqman he had and said, "What I have is the same as what you have."[8]

The fame of Luqman among Muslims is due to the existence of a sura of the Qur'an named after him and the ten wise sayings God quoted from him telling his son.[9] Luqman's wills to his son[10] and his personality[11] are the topics of many Shi'a and Sunni hadiths. In hadiths, contemplation, faith and complete certainty, silence, trust-keeping, truthfulness, and reconciling between people are mentioned as the characteristics of Luqman. In hadiths, it is mentioned that he did not reach the prophethood, but collaborated with prophet David (a) in judgment.[12]

Wise Sayings

Luqman is known for his wise sayings and moral consults. Some of his sayings to his son are mentioned in the Qur'an and hadiths.

In verses 13 to 19 of Qur'an 31,[13] some consults are quoted from him. Luqman's wills to his son are ascribing no partner to God, establishing prayer, enjoining the good, forbidding from evil, being patient upon calamities, humility before people, graceful manner of walking, being moderate in life, and speaking in a low voice.

In hadith sources, in addition to describing the characteristics of Luqman, some of his wills to his son are mentioned:

  • Manners of traveling: consulting in works, always smiling, generosity in provisions, helping companions, accepting invitations, testifying upon the truth, and giving consultation to them are among the manners of traveling Luqman advised his son about.[14]
  • Good companion: in the views of Luqman, a good companion is a person who always remembers God, their knowledge is beneficial, and God's mercy upon him may include others as well.[15]
  • The preference for silence over speech is like the preference for gold over silver.[16]
  • To Luqman, having a thousand friends is considered few, and having one enemy is regarded as many.[17]

In Bihar al-anwar, al-'Allama al-Majlisi dedicated a chapter to the wills and wise sayings of Luqman.[19]

See Also

Notes

  1. ↑ Zarrīnkūb, Luqmān-i ḥakīm, p. 245; Muwaḥḥidī, Barrasī-yi shakhṣīyyat-i tārīkhī-yi Luqmān, p. 115.
  2. ↑ Muwaḥḥidī, Barrasī-yi shakhṣīyyat-i tārīkhī-yi Luqmān, p. 117-142.
  3. ↑ Zarrīnkūb, Luqmān-i ḥakīm, p. 245.
  4. ↑ Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, p. 70.
  5. ↑ Ibn Kathīr, al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya, p. 124; Suyūṭī, al-Durr al-manthūr, vol. 5, p. 160.
  6. ↑ Ibn Qutayba, al-Maʿārif, p. 55.
  7. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-nabawīyya, p. 427.
  8. ↑ Ibn Hishām, al-Sīra al-nabawīyya, p. 427.
  9. ↑ Qurʾān 31:12-19.
  10. ↑ Ṣadūq, Man lā yaḥḍuruḥ al-faqīh, vol. 2, p. 282; Mufīd, al-Amālī, p. 292.
  11. ↑ Suyūṭī, al-Durr al-manthūr, vol. 5, p. 160; Kulaynī, al-Kāfī, vol. 1, p. 16.
  12. ↑ Ṭabāṭabāyī, al-Mīzān, vol. 16, p. 222; Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 8, p. 494.
  13. ↑ When Luqman said to his son, as he advised him: 'O my son! Do not ascribe any partners to Allah. Polytheism is indeed a great injustice.' (13) We have enjoined man concerning his parents: His mother carried him through weakness upon weakness, and his weaning takes two years. Give thanks to Me and your parents. To Me is the return. (14) But if they urge you to ascribe to Me as a partner that of which you have no knowledge, then do not obey them. Keep their company honorably in this world and follow the way of those who turn to Me penitently. Then, You will be returned to me, where I will inform you about what you used to do. (15) 'O my son! Even if it should be the weight of a mustard seed, and [even though] it should be in a rock, the heavens, or the earth, Allah will produce it. Indeed, Allah is all-attentive and all-aware. (16) O my son! Maintain the prayer, bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and be patient through whatever may befall you. That is indeed the steadiest of courses. (17) Do not turn your cheek away disdainfully from the people, and do not walk exultantly on the earth. Indeed, Allah does not like any swaggering braggart. (18) Be modest in your bearing, and lower your voice. Indeed, the ungainliest of voices is the donkey's voice.' (19)
  14. ↑ Barqī, al-Maḥāsin, vol. 2, p. 374.
  15. ↑ Kulaynī, al-Kāfī, vol. 1, p. 39.
  16. ↑ Kulaynī, al-Kāfī, vol. 2, p. 114.
  17. ↑ Ṣadūq, al-Amālī, p. 669.
  18. ↑ Ṣadūq, al-Khiṣāl, vol. 1, p. 121.
  19. ↑ Majlisī, Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 13, p. 408.

References

  • Barqī, Aḥmad b. Muḥammad al-. Al-Maḥāsin. Edited by Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥaddith. Qom: Daftar-i Nashr-i Islāmī, 1371 AH.
  • Ibn Hishām, ʿAbd al-Malik. Al-Sīra al-nabawīyya. Beirut: Dār al-Maʿrifa, [n.d].
  • Ibn Kathīr, Ismāʿīl b. ʿUmar. Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1407 AH.
  • Ibn Qutayba, ʿAbd Allāh b. Muslim. Al-Maʿārif. Cairo: al-Hiyʾa al-Miṣrīyya al-ʿĀmma li-l-Kitāb, 1992.
  • Kulaynī, Muḥammad b. Yaʿqūb al-. Al-Kāfī. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffārī & Muḥammad Ākhūndī. Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmīyya, 1407 AH.
  • Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir al-. Biḥār al-anwār. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1403 AH.
  • Masʿūdī, ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn al-. Murūj al-dhahab. Qom: Dār al-Hijra, 1409 AH.
  • Mufīd, Muḥammad b. Muḥammad al-. Al-Amālī. Edited by Ḥusayn Ustād Walī. Qom: Kungira-yi Shaykh al-Mufīd, 1413 AH.
  • Muwaḥḥidī, ʿAbd Allāh. 1380 Sh. "Barrasī-yi shakhṣīyyat-i tārīkhī-yi Luqmān-i ḥakīm". Muṭāliʿāt Islāmī 53, 54:115-156.
  • Ṣadūq, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-. Al-Amālī. Tehran: Kitābchī, 1376 Sh.
  • Ṣadūq, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-. Al-Khiṣāl. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffārī. Qom: Daftar-i Nashr-i Islāmī, 1362 Sh.
  • Ṣadūq, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-. Man lā yaḥḍuruḥ al-faqīh. Edited by ʿAlī Akbar Ghaffārī. Qom: Daftar-i Nashr-i Islāmī, 1413 AH.
  • Suyūṭī, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Abī Bakr al-. Al-Durr al-manthūr. Qom: Kitābkhāna-yi Āyatollāh Marʿashī, 1404 AH.
  • Ṭabāṭabāyī, Muḥammad Ḥusayn al-. Al-Mīzān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān. Beirut: Muʾassisat al-Aʿlamī li-l-Maṭbūʿāt, 1390 AH.
  • Ṭabrisī, Faḍl b. al-Ḥasan al-. Majmaʿ al-bayān. Tehran: Nāṣir Khusru, 1372 Sh.
  • Zarrīnkūb, ʿAbd al-Ḥusayn. 1329 Sh. "Luqmān-i ḥakīm." Māhnāma-yi Yaghmā 27:245-249.
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