Luqman

“And, we bestowed wisdom on Luqman, so that he could show his gratitude to God. Anyone, who is grateful to God, does so to his own benefit but if any is ungrateful, verily, God is free of all wants, worthy of all praises.”

“And, advising his son, Luqman said, “Behold! O my son! Join not partners with God, for joining others with God, is indeed a wrongdoing of the highest order. ”

“And, We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents; in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning.‘ hear the command, Show gratitude to me and to thy parents: to Me is thy final goal. But if they strive to make thee join others with me, things thou hast no knowledge, obey them not, yet bear them company in this life with justice and I consideration, and follow the way of those who turn to Me in love and adoration, in the end the return of you all is to me. And, I will tell you the truth and meanings of all that ye did, O my dear son, said Luqman, “But if there is the weight of a mustered seed, and it were hidden in a rock or anywhere in the heavens or on earth, God will bring it forth: for God understands the finest mysteries and is well acquainted with them. ”

"O my dear son, “Have an establish link with thy Lord, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee, for this is firmness in affairs. And, swell not thy cheek with pride at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth for God loves not any arrogant boaster. And, be moderate in thy pace and lower thy voice, for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass. "

(S: 31, V: 12-19)

Luqman was a wise person blessed with prophetic qualities. A complete Surah in the holy Quran has been named after him. History has no trace of his person and times in which he existed. According to some, he belonged to Ad and he was the king of Yemen, but according to many, he belonged to the black race of Sudan. This also is reported that he was a contemporary of David and was appointed as judge. Evidences suggest that in the times of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), a collection of his statements was found by the name of ‘Book of Luqman.’ The holy Quran declares him to be a monotheist and a wise doctor.

“And, we bestowed wisdom on Luqman, so that he could show his gratitude to God. (S: 31, V: 12)

Teachings of Luqman:

Teachings of Luqman can be summed up in these words:  “O my son, when you come across a gathering of people join them invoking peace upon them. If they are discussing about God, stay with them but if they are busy in vain talking, get up and leave them.”

“O my son, seek refuge of God from the company of bad People and be aware of those as well who are good. Don’t involve yourself in the worldly affairs, for you are not created for the world only."

“O my son, one who is sympathetic about others, is worthy of mercy. One, who is silent, remains in peace, and if anything good is told to him his makes a good use of it. Anyone who commits sin. Those who have no control over their tongue, have to repent.”

            “O my son go to the learned crawling and listen to them respectfully, for heart becomes alive from the light of their knowledge just as dead earth becomes alive by the rain from the heavens.”

It has been stated in the holy Quran:

“And, we bestowed wisdom on Luqman, so that he could show his gratitude to God. Anyone, who is grateful to God, does so to his own benefit but any is ungrateful, verily, God is free of all wants, worthy of all praises "

            “And, advising his son, Luqman said, “Behold! O my son! Join not others with God, for joining others with God, is indeed a wrongdoing of the highest order. "

“And, We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents; in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: hear the command, Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is thy final goal. ”

True Meanings of Gratitude

Teachings of Luqman indicate that he was blessed with Prophetic Knowledge. He lived for about a thousand years. It is told that God had granted the knowledge of the properties of the herbs. Herbs used to inform him about their medicinal effects. He gave an organized form to the therapeutics and medicinal knowledge and described the properties of many medicines and prescribed their usage.

The story of Luqman suggests that true mean. of gratitude is to make proper use of the granted thing. Had hi: not utilized the granted wisdom and sagacity and had not strived to pass his knowledge onto the people and had only expressed his gratitude verbally; the actual gratification would have remained unfulfilled. If, for instance, God grants you the best clothes, and you put them in your wardrobe instead of wearing them, then it would not be the proper way to be thankful to God. The propet, way to feel grateful to God for His granted dress is to wear it, feel comfort and be obliged to God.

The story of Khizar:

Someone borrowed some money from Luqman. After sometime that man sent a word to Luqman that since he himself was busy and could not find a trustworthy person who could carry his money to him so if that could be possible, he should send his son to collect that money from him.

Luqman did send his son after giving him three advises. He told his son not to stay under the large oak tree on the first leg of his journey. On the second leg of his journey he would come across a city and he should not be staying in that city. Alter having his meal in the city he should go out to the nearby jungle for the night. And, thirdly that he should not be staying in the house of the person from whom he was supposed to get the money. He also said that if he would find a person who was familiar with the passage and advised him contrary to his advice then he might follow him.

Luqman’s son set on his journey. He met an old man. That old man asked him as to where was he heading. He told him that he was going to collect his father’s loan. That old man suggested that he was also heading for that city where he had to go, so he would also go with him.

On the first leg of their journey, when they reached that large oak tree, the old man said, “We would stay under this tree so that we could be safe from the dew at night.” The lad said, “But Sir, my father had advised me not to stay under this tree.”

            “What else did your father advise you?” The old man inquired.

“Sir, he had told me to obey the person familiar with this land.”

The old man said that he was well acquainted with that path and he should follow him as advised by his father.

            So the lad agreed and they stayed under the tree for the night. After mid night a snake descended from the tree. The old man killed that snake and covered its body with his shield. After awakening in the morning, the lad thought that his father advice had nosense as nothing had happened.

            The old man, reading his mind, told him to pick up his shield. When the lad picked up the shield, he found a dead snake underneath. He felt grateful and admired his father’s wisdom. The old man told him to cut off the head of the snake and to keep it with him. The lad did so as instructed.

Next day when they reached the city, the old man said that they would stay in that city. They both went to an inn to stay there for the night.

King of that, city had a young daughter. It was her misfortune that whosoever married her, next day the dead body of that person would be found in the princess’s chamber, So the king had arranged to marry his daughter with anyone young entering the W)’ at night. When the king came to know of young lad’s Presence in the city, he summoned him and married him with his daughter. When the lad was about to go to the bride, the old man told him to place the cut head of the snake on fire in such a way that its smoke should reach the princess. The lad did as was instructed and survived. Actually the princess was suffering from the disease of having cancerous boil in her uterus. It was such a case that when any man mated her, he would die of the poisonous effect of that boil. The smoke of the snake’s head cured her disease and the lad survived.

After staying in that city for few days, they both started for the debtor’s residence. The old man suggested staying in the debtor’s house, if they were invited to stay. The debtor had planned to kill them so that he could save himself from paying his debt.

            Their host asked them that whether they would like to sleep in the room or in the veranda. The old man said, “Since it is hot we would prefer to sleep in the open.”

They both were provided with beds in the open. After mid- night the old man awoke the lad and took him along in the room, where two sons of the host were sleeping. He woke them up and requested them to exchange, as they were feeling cold in the out. Before dawn the host came stealthily and slew his two sons taking them as his guests.

In the morning when he found what had he done he was shocked but he couldn’t do anything. So he paid his debt and bade good-bye to his guests.

On their return when they reached where they had met the first time, the old man said to the lad, “Now we depart, give my regards to your father.”

  The lad asked the name of his kind companion. He said, “Your father knows it.” When Luqman’s son reached his father and told him about the events of his journey and that he had met an Old man, who had guided him through the journey and had said that his father knew his name.

Luqman informed his son. “He was Khizar.”

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