Surah Name: Luqman (سورة لقمان)
Translation: Luqman
Origin of name: The Surah is named after Luqman, a wise man mentioned in verses 12–19, known for giving his son valuable moral and religious advice.
Surah Number: 31
Number of Ayahs (Verses): 34
Makki or Madani: Makki
Approximate Time of Revelation: Late Makkan Period, after the revelation of Surah As-Saffat.
Historical Context
Surah Luqman was revealed during the Makkan period, a time of growing tension between the early Muslim community and the Quraysh elite. By then, the Prophet Muhammad had been delivering the message of Islam for several years, and the Quraysh were actively opposing him both socially and ideologically.
During this phase, the pressure on Muslims intensified. The marginalized and small Muslim community was dealing with persecution, ridicule, and public rejection. The Quraysh sought to discredit the Qur’an by comparing it to tales and fables, mocking its divine origin and using cultural traditions to resist the message. They aimed not only to reject the message themselves but also to turn others away from it, attempting to strengthen their idolatrous beliefs against the growing call of monotheism.
The Surah was revealed in an atmosphere where belief in the afterlife, divine creation, and the oneness of God were major points of contention. Traditional tribal customs and reverence for ancestral beliefs formed a significant barrier to the acceptance of Islam. The Quraysh held tightly to their inherited practices and saw the new faith as a threat to their societal and religious norms.
Against this backdrop, Surah Luqman provided moral guidance, highlighted the greatness of divine wisdom, and encouraged reflection on creation. It presented Luqman’s advice to his son as a model of wise and dignified conduct rooted in Tawhid (the oneness of God) and righteous living, offering Muslims a moral framework amid the environment of disbelief and opposition. The Surah also emphasized the deep knowledge and power of Allah, calling people to recognize divine signs in nature and the universe.
This context shows that the Surah was not only spiritually uplifting for believers under pressure but also a rational rebuttal to those clinging to blind traditions and rejecting the call of Islam.
Main Themes
- The Wisdom of the Qur’an:
The surah begins by emphasizing that the Qur’an is a source of wisdom, guidance, and mercy, especially for those who establish prayer, give charity, and have faith in the Hereafter. - Warnings to the Arrogant Disbelievers:
Some people mock the Qur’an and lead others away from Allah’s path using false stories. The surah highlights their arrogance and refusal to listen when Allah’s verses are recited to them. - The Wise Advice of Luqman:
Luqman, a wise man, is mentioned for his valuable advice to his son. These include: never associate partners with Allah (shirk), being kind to parents, maintaining prayer, encouraging good, avoiding evil, being patient, and showing humility. These teachings reflect strong moral and religious principles. - Signs of Allah’s Power in Creation:
The surah points to various signs in the universe as proof of Allah’s greatness. It reminds humans to reflect on the world around them—how everything in the heavens and earth has been made beneficial for them. - True Submissiveness to Allah:
Those who submit completely to Allah follow the right path. In contrast, those who cling blindly to their ancestors’ false beliefs are likened to people following Satan, leading only to destruction. - God’s Infinite Knowledge and Power:
Allah’s knowledge covers everything. Creating and resurrecting all of humanity is as easy for Allah as creating a single soul. No one can match His power or understanding. - Warning About the Day of Judgment:
On the Day of Judgment, no one can help another. Believers are warned not to be deceived by the temporary life of this world or by Satan. - The Five Unknowns (Al-Mughayyabat al-Khams):
Surah Luqmān ends (31:34) with a powerful statement summarizing the perfection of Allah’s knowledge and the limits of human understanding. It mentions five matters that are known only to Allah: the exact time of the Hour (Day of Judgment), the sending down of rain, what is in the wombs, what a person will earn tomorrow, and the place where they will die. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) referred to these five as the “keys to the unseen” (mafātīḥ al-ghayb), and recited this verse to emphasize their exclusivity to divine knowledge (Bukhārī). While humans may guess or predict some aspects (e.g., using weather forecasts or ultrasound), Allah knows all these matters in perfect detail, with absolute certainty, beyond any technological or scientific means.This verse does not merely list unknowns—it highlights the miraculous wording of the Quran: Indeed, Allah ˹alone˺ has the knowledge of the Hour. He sends down the rain, and knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn for tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
The verse uses nuanced wording: for rain and the womb, it says Allah sends down and knows—without explicitly denying human access. But for the other three (the Hour, future earnings, and place of death), it directly negates any human knowledge. This shows that even a small amount of reflection of the word of Allah can reveal miracles hidden between the lines.
Key Lessons from Surah Luqman
- The Quran is a source of wisdom, guidance, and mercy for believers.
- True belief is shown by prayer, charity, and faith in the afterlife.
- Worshiping anything besides Allah is both illogical and unjust.
- Luqman’s advice teaches important values like worshiping only Allah, being grateful to parents, humility, and patience.
- Parents must be respected, but Allah’s command takes priority if they lead to shirk.
- Allah has given many visible and hidden blessings to humanity, showing His power and care.
- Following family traditions blindly can lead away from the truth.
- Only Allah knows the unseen fully, including the time of the Hour and each person’s fate.
- The temporary world should not distract from the eternal life; prepare for the Hereafter through sincere faith and good deeds.
Notable Ayahs from Surah Luqman
- Verse 3-4:
˹It is˺ a guide and mercy for the good-doers—those who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and have sure faith in the Hereafter.
A clear reminder that the Qur’an is a source of guidance and mercy for those who do good. - Verse 6:
“But there are some who employ theatrics, only to lead others away from Allah’s Way—without any knowledge—and to make a mockery of it. They will suffer a humiliating punishment.”
A warning against using empty entertainment to distract people from the truth of Islam. - Verse 12:
“Indeed, We blessed Luqmân with wisdom, ˹saying˺, “Be grateful to Allah, for whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. And whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.”
Introduction to Luqman’s character and the wisdom given to him. - Verse 13:
“And ˹remember˺ when Luqmân said to his son, while advising him, “O my dear son! Never associate ˹anything˺ with Allah ˹in worship˺, for associating ˹others with Him˺ is truly the worst of all wrongs.””
Luqman’s first and most important advice: do not commit shirk (idolatry). - Verse 14:
“And We have commanded people to ˹honour˺ their parents. Their mothers bore them through hardship upon hardship, and their weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return.”
A central command to respect and be grateful to one’s parents, alongside gratitude to Allah. - Verse 17:
“O my dear son! Establish prayer, encourage what is good and forbid what is evil, and endure patiently whatever befalls you. Surely this is a resolve to aspire to.”
Luqman’s powerful advice to lead a life of worship, moral courage, and patience. - Verse 18-19:
“And do not turn your nose up to people, nor walk pridefully upon the earth. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, boastful. Be moderate in your pace. And lower your voice, for the ugliest of all voices is certainly the braying of donkeys.”
Pride and arrogance are condemned; humility and good manners are encouraged. - Verse 27:
“If all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean ˹were ink˺, refilled by seven other oceans, the Words of Allah would not be exhausted. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”
A vivid expression of the limitless knowledge and power of Allah. - Verse 28:
“The creation and resurrection of you ˹all˺ is as simple ˹for Him˺ as that of a single soul. Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.”
A powerful reminder of Allah’s ease in resurrecting all humanity just as He created them. - Verse 34:
“Indeed, Allah ˹alone˺ has the knowledge of the Hour. He sends down the rain, and knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn for tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
A summary of five matters of the unseen that only Allah fully knows—known as the “Five Unknowns (Mugayyebât-ı Hams)”.
