The Majestic Quran

31. Luqman Luqman the Wise This chapter was revealed in the middle Makkan period. It bears the name of the legendary sage, the wise Luqman from Southern Egypt. By narrating his polite and educational teachings, the Quran is promoting diversity of cultures, races and languages. The central theme of the chapter is: be thankful to God for His gifts. The chapter starts with a vivid description of the “devout Muslim”: he benefits from the teachings of the Quran; stays away from useless activities that distract from the worship of God. Sometimes the blessed Messenger r would teach the Quran sitting around the Kaaba. A Makkan storyteller, Nadhar ibn Harith, would also gather people around himself to distract people from the Messenger r . He would tell Persian stories, and to entertain his audience he hired dancers. Verse 7 was revealed to condemn him. God’s visible and hidden gifts that people enjoy are mentioned, and the question is asked: “What have the idols created?” Luqman the wise teaches his son the correct beliefs about God: how to worship Him, how to behave justly with others, especially parents, and how to be humble. The final passage describes the natural world and several signs of God’s creative power and contrasts it with human feebleness. In the name of God, the Kind, the Caring. 1 Alif Lam Meem . T Q