Story 6 of 12

Luqman the Wise

لقمان الحكيم

Not a prophet. A father, given wisdom, with a surah in his name

Be grateful to Allah. And whoever is grateful, is grateful for himself

Luqman was not a prophet. He was a man Allah gave hikmah, wisdom, and the Quran gave him a surah anyway. That fact alone is worth pausing on: a whole chapter carries the name of an ordinary servant, and what it preserves of him is not a miracle or a conquest, but a conversation with his son.

The advice runs about seven verses and covers everything: do not associate anything with Allah, be good to your parents, know that Allah will bring out a deed the weight of a mustard seed even if it is hidden inside a rock, establish the prayer, enjoin good and forbid wrong, be patient with what hits you, do not turn your cheek away from people in arrogance, do not walk the earth exultantly, be moderate in your pace, and lower your voice (31:13-19). It is the shortest complete parenting curriculum ever written, and it starts with creed and ends with not being loud.

The lesson to keep

Lesson: Wisdom is not clever talk. It is knowing what to say to your own child.
Quran 31:12-19
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