What was Hazrat Luqman advice to his son?

Allah has sent 124,000 Prophets out of which one was Hazrat Luqman عليه السلام famously known for 10 pieces of advice to his son as quoted in Quran.

• Full Name: Luqman Ibn ‘Anqa’ Ibn Sadun.

Hazrat Luqman Birth

Hazrat Luqman عليه السلام was born in 1100 BC in present-day Egypt. There are many stories about Luqman in Persian, Arabic, and Turkish literature.

He was indeed a pious and wise man as Allah also admires his wisdom in the Holy Quran. He was an Ethiopian slave who worked as a carpenter or shepherd.

Source of Luqman wisdom

Prophet Luqman عليه السلام was black in color, short in height, and had a flat nose and thick lips.

• Once someone asked Hazrat Luqman: What raised you to this high state I see?
• Luqman said: The Divine Decree, repaying the trust, telling the truth and discarding and keeping silent regarding what does not concern me.”
• Source: Mutawwa Malik

Was Hazrat Luqman a prophet?

Historians describe the character of Hazrat Luqman as a wise man, a self-restrained person, a deep thinker, very serious, very reserved, fluent in speaking and writing, and someone who never slept during the day.

No one had ever seen Hazrat Luqman as making fun of others, acting foolishly, or laughing. He did not weep or cry when all his children died.

Some religious scholars treat him as a Prophet while others say that he was a pious man of Allah. After reviewing the arguments of both sides and the way the Quran has talked about Hazrat Luqman’s advice to his son, we are of the opinion that he was indeed a Prophet of Allah.

Prophet Luqman

The name of Prophet Luqman عليه السلام is mentioned two times in the holy Quran while describing the 10 pieces of advise to his son.

Prophet Luqman advice to his son

Hazrat Luqman gave 10 pieces of advice to his son Tharan. Allah liked it so much that he made it part of the Holy Quran and we are talking about it after thousands of years. This advice in the Holy Qur’an is suitable for all periods of time.

Worship Allah alone

Never associate ˹anything˺ with Allah in worship, for associating others with Him is truly the worst of all wrongs. – Luqman 31:13

Hazrat Luqman, first of all, emphasized the basis of our religion, and that is to have faith in One God and not worship anyone other than Allah.

He says that Shirk would be the biggest sin in the eyes of God and that the person would have to face the wrath of God and punishment in this life and the hereafter.

Respect your parents

• We have commanded people to honor their parents. – Luqman 31:14

Here Hazrat Luqman advises his son to be respectful of his parents as mothers take a lot of pain while delivering a baby and later they breastfeed them for 2 years. The struggle of parents continues for a lifetime.

Allah watches everything

If it is (anything) equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it is in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. – Luqman 31:16

Hazrat Luqman further advises his son to keep faith in God and His matters. He says that God is all-knowing and all-seeing and he knows every little thing that goes on in this world. He advises his son not to question God’s might in any way and to always keep faith in Him.

Offer prayers on time

• O, my dear son! Establish prayer. – Luqman 31:17

Praying in the right way and at the right time changes the character of a person in a positive way. By praying a person does not forget God and why he sent us into this world. Prayer is a way to connect with God who has blessed us with infinite blessings.

Amr bil Ma’ruf

• Encourage what is good and forbid what is evil. – Luqman 31:17

Hazrat Luqman further advises his son that being a Muslim it is our duty to bring good into our society. We should do good deeds and if someone is doing something wrong, it is our duty to stop it.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart- and that is the weakest of Faith. – Sunan an-Nasa’i 5008

Be Patient

• Bear patiently whatever befalls you. – Luqman 31:17

He recommended dealing with people with patience. Allah also mentions several times in the Holy Quran that Allah is with those who have patience.

Be Humble

• Do not turn your nose up to people. – Luqman 31:18

Hazrat Luqman advises his son not to act as if you are better than others. We should try not to think of ourselves as better than anybody else humility leads us to Paradise whereas arrogance and pride lead us to Hell.

Don’t be arrogant

Do not walk pridefully upon the earth. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant, and boastful.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Whoever has a mustard seed’s weight of pride (arrogance) in his heart, shall not be admitted into Paradise. – Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1998

Be Moderate

• Be moderate in your pace. – Luqman 31:19

Hazrat Luqman advised his son that humility and patients should be in a person’s nature. Those who believe in Allah should possess humility, patience, gentleness, and mercy in their behavior. We should not walk on this earth with insolence.

Lower your voice

Lower your voice, for the ugliest of all voices, is certainly the braying of donkeys. – Luqman 31:19

Between the lines, Prophet Luqman عليه السلام told his son not to raise his voice but to improve his argument. He said being loud and harsh makes one voice like the braying of donkeys if it is not supported by an argument.

Prophet Luqman slaughtered a sheep

Prophet Luqman عليه السلام spent the first half of his life in a miserable situation as a slave but with patience. Then, another person bought him and felt that he is wise and started treating him differently.

Once the master of Prophet Luqman عليه السلام asked him to slaughter a sheep and bring its best part to him, and Luqman brought the heart and tongue to his master. The master smiled as he understood what Luqman wanted to convey.

Another time, he once again asked Hazrat Luqman عليه السلام to slaughter a sheep and bring its worst part to him, and Luqman brought the heart and tongue to his master.

Upon question, he explained that the tongue and the heart are the sweetest parts if they are good, and nothing can be worse than these if they are wicked.