Beginning a Quran research Type 1: Short investigation Shahnaaz Alidina

Choosing a Topic Being able to choose a topic that is of Interest : LUQMAN Reason for choosing that particular topic Have heard a lot of his wisdom so I want to know exactly how Quran describes it

Background Knowledge What do I know about this topic Luqman’s advice to his son: the donkey story Luqman not a Prophet

What I would like to know from this research The character of Luqman and what made him wise

Search for Ayats 31:12;13;16-19 Advices of 31:13; 16-19 Son of Luqman 31:13 Wisdom of 31:12

Other sources of Hadith/ sayings / stories The donkey story of Luqman and his son Quran Tafsir The scale of Wisdom Hadith Qudsi

(31:12) وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ and, indeed, we granted this wisdom unto Luq­man: “Be grateful unto God - for he who is grateful [unto Him] is but grateful for the good of his own self; whereas he who chooses to be ungrateful [ought to know that], verily, God is self-sufficient, ever to be praised!”

Points God grants wisdom Being thankful to Allah benefits me only Allah does not need our thanks

(31:13) وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ And, lo, Luqman spoke thus unto his son, admonishing him: “O my dear son! Do not ascribe divine powers to aught beside God: for, behold, such [a false] ascribing of divinity is indeed an awesome wrong! -

Points Do not associate partners with Allah Shirk is a grave sin ; a great injustice

(31:16) يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهَا إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِي صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَوْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ “O my dear son,” [continued Luqman,] “verily, if there be but the weight of a mustard-seed, and though it be [hidden] in a rock, or in the skies, or in the earth, God will bring it to light: for, behold, God is unfathomable [in His wisdom], all-aware

Points Even a small deed (size of mustard seed) will be accountable on Day of Judgement Nothing remains hidden from Allah; His knowledge penetrates even in the deepest sides of the earth and skies

(31:17) يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ “O my dear son! Be constant in prayer, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and bear in patience whatever [ill] may befall thee: this, behold, is something to set one’s heart upon! -

Points Being constant in prayer Enjoining what is just/good and forbidding what is evil Being patient during hard times This is the strong (best) path

(31:18) وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ “And turn not thy cheek away from people in [false] pride, and walk not haughtily on earth: for, behold, God does not love anyone who, out of self- conceit, acts in a boastful manner. -

Points Do not be rude, arrogant to others, Do not turn your cheek away Do not stomp your feet on the ground with arrogance (earth will report about this Surah Zilzal) Allah does not love anyone who is self conceited and boastful

(31:19) وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ الْأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ “Hence, be modest in thy bearing, and lower thy voice: for, behold, the ugliest of all voices is the [loud] voice of asses…”

Points Moderation Talk in low tones (no need to raise one‘s voice) Ungainliest voice is that of a donkey

Hadith on 5 Lessons Learnt VOICE : The Prophet (saw) said in his advice to Abu Dharr, “O Abu Dharr, lower your voice at funerals, during a battle and when the Quran is being recited. Imam Ali (a.s) said: Three actions are considered to be gallant: lowering one’s gaze, lowering one’s voice and walking with deliberation.

Arrogance (fakhr) Imam Ali (a.s) said: “How man surprises me! His origin is a sperm and his end is a carcass, and between these two he is a vessel for excrement, and he is still arrogant!”

The Right of the child upon the parent The Prophet (saw) said: “the right of the child upon the parent is that he gives him a good name, disciplines him with good manners, and teaches him the Quran”

Humility The Prophet (saw) said: “There are four distinguishing marks of the humble ones; they pay constant attention to Allah in private and in public, they carry out good works, they contemplate about the Day of Resurrection, and they engage in intimate supplication with Allah”.

Being constant in Prayer The Prophet (saw) said: “As long as you are praying, (know that) verily you are knocking at the door of the Almighty King, and the King’s door opens for whoever knocks persistently thereat”

What I learnt that I did not know Luqman was the nephew of Prophet Ayyub He lived for 1000 yrs from the time of P. Dawood to P. Yunus His feared sins (such that he never rejoiced over any gain nor grieved over any loss, even at the death of his children) He was obedient to God, modest and mostly remained silent engrossed in higher thoughts. ( these points have answered what I was looking for at the beginning of this investigation)

From Hadithe Qudsi O son of Adam! You do not practice according to whatever knowledge you gain. Then how could you be a seeker of knowledge when you do not practice?

How to apply this knowledge Listen to Parental advice, value them Remind myself of the 10 advices and observe myself and improve on areas learnt Practice speaking in low tones, to remind myself everytime I speak loudly I will put a quarter aside for the poor Pray to grant me wisdom Walk softly on the ground by looking at it Continue to thank Allah (swt)

NEXT STEPS (How to go from here) Advice my children on such issues Include in will as advice Look up at Prophet Ibrahim’s relation with his son and also Prophet Yaqub from Quran

In conclusion I say…. O my Sustainer! Inspire me so that I may forever be grateful for those blessings of Thine with which Thou hast graced me and my parents, and that I may do what is right [in a manner] that will please Thee; and include me, by Thy grace, among Thy righteous servants!” -        رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ (27:19)

And …….. Open my heart towards reading your Holy Quran so that it continues to guide and inspire me ………….ameen Ya Rabbal alaameen