MUSLIM VILLA - QURAN ONLY

Category 6 => Great personalities - => Topic started by: Ruhi_Rose on March 15, 2010, 03:20:50 am



Title: Who was Luqman? (لقمان) 
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on March 15, 2010, 03:20:50 am


Salams everyone.  A Chapter in the Glorious Quran, Surah 31 is named 'Luqman' where this wise person advises to his son with his words of great wisdom.  Can anyone throw some light as to who Luqman was according to authentic sources?


Title: Re: Who was Luqman?  (لقمان) 
Post by: Zainab_M on March 15, 2010, 03:57:12 am



Salaams sis!  how are you :)

The only authentic source to know about Luqman is the Quran.

Often referred to as Luqman-al-Hakeem, he was a very pious man.  There is a Surah in the Noble Quran in his name, Chapter 31 (Verses 12 to 19).  The Quran does not state whether or not Luqman was a prophet.  Yet some people presume he was, which cannot be taken as confirmed information.  The Noble Quran describes Luqman as a wise and visionary man who imparted beautiful teachings to his son.  Luqman was a man with strong faith in The Almighty and completely rejected the idea of shirk.  The name 'Luqman' means 'wise one.' 

"And verily We gave Luqman wisdom, saying: Give thanks unto Allah; and whosoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his soul. And whosoever refuses - Lo! Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise."  (31:12).  

The teachings of Luqman which he taught his son, stated in the Noble Quran are as follows:

-  "Ascribe no partners unto Allah. Lo! to ascribe partners (unto Him) is a tremendous wrong" (31:13).

-  Allah is All-Knowing: " .. Lo! though it be but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth."  (31:16).  

-  To observe regular worship, show kindness, be patient and avoid injustice:  " .. Establish worship and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and persevere whatever may befall you."  (31:17).  

-  Do not be arrogant and boastful, be humble (modest) and keep your voice mild:  "Turn not your cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land. Lo!  Allah loves not each braggart boaster.   Be modest in your bearing and subdue your voice.  Lo! the harshest of all voices is the voice of the donkey."  (31:18-19).


That's as much as the Noble Quran speaks on Luqman.   Anything beyond this comes from extra-Quranic sources which you can read if you wish, but those aren't confirmed information.

Let us take a quick glance at a few such examples from Hadith sources that are unconfirmed and conflicting.

'He was dark-skinned, short with a flat nose from Nubia' (ancient name of the region stretching along the shores of the Red Sea from Egypt to Sudan).  This was narrated by some Qatadah. Also according to a hadith source called Al-Ash’ath narrated by Ikrimah, Luqman was an Ethiopian slave who worked as a carpenter.  I recall this name "Ikrimah" in Bukhari hadiths connected with plenty of fabrications.   Ethiopia is quite far south from Sudan and Egypt.  Then again, narrators named Ibn Jarir and Al-Qutaibi (no idea who they were) claim Luqman was from Aylah which is located in Jordan, south of Aqaba.   Thus, Nubia, Ethiopia and Aylah ... different ahadith claim Luqman's ethnicity from three different places.   Only Allah Almighty knows the truth.

Hadith doesn't even agree with the same full name of Luqman.  Some hadith sources claim his name was Luqman Ibn ‘Anqa’ Ibn Sadun.   Ibn Jarir and Al-Qutaibi claim he was Luqman Ibn Tharan.  

Ibn Kathir's book "Stories of Prophets" is said to mention much about Luqman.  I haven't read this book nor am I in a hurry to read it.  It will no doubt be filled with Hadith-like extra-Quranic stories we aren't obligated to accept.

Some jurists also say that Luqman was the cousin of Job.  Some claim that Luqman lived during the time Prophet Daud.  Again, these presumptions cannot be confirmed.  Only Allah knows best. 

No need to mention more on these man-written stories.  They go on and on, leaving your head spinning, with unconfirmed narrations no need to focus on.  To know everything on Luqman, just focus on Verses 12 to 19 of Surah 31 - Luqman.  




Title: Re: Who was Luqman? (لقمان) 
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on January 19, 2020, 12:39:56 am


Oh my!  I now recall I had put this query nearly a decade ago, and then we got into another discussion and completely forgot.  Since then I've read Surah Luqman so many times but didn't remember of this thread.  Only this evening while reading Surah 31 again, I suddenly thought writing on Luqman from the Quranic perspective  ... and then remembered I had already put a question.

Wow!  me getting old, memory failing  :D

Many thanks dear Sister Zeynab for this very well perceived read. 

Btw, would anyone know if the following guesswork hadith from Mr. Abu Huraira is supposed to be attributed to Luqman?

When you hear the crowing of roosters, ask for Allah’s Blessings for (their crowing indicates that) they have seen an angel. And when you hear the braying of donkeys, seek refuge with Allah from Satan for (their braying indicates) that they have seen a Satan” 
 

 


Title: Re: Who was Luqman? (لقمان) 
Post by: N. Truth Seeker on January 19, 2020, 12:47:46 am


Walaykum As-Salam


Oh my!  I now recall I had put this query nearly a decade ago, and then we got into another discussion and completely forgot.  ......  Wow!  me getting old, memory failing  :D    

Ahaa ha ha  ;D   No problem sister.  Forgetfulness happens with everyone everyday.


It's possible that Mr. Huraira has attributed it and this is not reliable information.  Everyone knows what Abu Huraira's habits were like.  According to some man-written source, don't know which one, but I have that narration saved for reference, quote: “My son, do not be weaker than the rooster which crows at dawn while you are sleeping in your bed.”   Some narrator (don't know his name either, might be Huraira) attributed this one to Luqman.   It's possible that Abu Huraira's hadith on roosters seeing an angel and donkeys braying seeing Satan is an extension of this.  The one you quoted isn't attributed to Luqman directly, but maybe he fabricated it into a different hadith in his own name, getting the idea from the other one.  Nothing unusual for Abu Huraira.  



Title: Re: Who was Luqman? (لقمان) 
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on January 19, 2020, 12:50:17 am


lol ..... right brother, got the point.  Big thanks.


Title: Re: Who was Luqman? (لقمان) 
Post by: N. Truth Seeker on January 19, 2020, 12:51:46 am


Very welcome sister.