Surah Luq’maan is an initialed surah prefixed with Alif.Laam.Meem, a set of Quranic initials being a sign of the wise scripture, which is a guidance and mercy for the good-doers. In this surah, God has highlighted the advices of Luqman to his son and has confirmed His words what are given us in our guidance are accurate and enough that we can praise and pray Him. Thus, He has given us every word what we need to believe to do the righteous deeds to deserve the blissful Paradise if the given words are studied, and understood and followed making our priority to obey His commands and laws.
Properties of Luqmaan
- Surah name: Luqmaan (Luqman in English).
- No of verses: 34.
- Revelation order: 57.
- Placement in the physical arrangement: # 31.
- Quranic initials prefixed to it: Alif (A).Laam (L).Meem (M).
- Earlier revelation among 6 ALM prefixed initialed surahs.
- Its revelation before the ALM initialed surah al-Baqarah.
Count of Alef.Laam.Meem (ALM) prefixed to 6 surahs
There are 6 ALM prefixed surahs in the Quran and the count of ALM in all 6 ALM initialed is shown in the table below, while the order of revelation of surah Luqmaan is the first among the 6 ALM initialed surahs, which is marked with asterisk, and their total count is a multiple of 19 =>19874(19x1046):
Note: Data obtained from the updated count of Quranic initials published in the submission.org.
It is noteworthy that the total occurrences of ALM as counted in the six surahs is a multiple of 19 which means that they occur at certain frequencies as maintained by the Author along with literary excellence in His book, and if any of these letters in these six surahs is altered where they belong to, it would destroy this mathematical phenomenon. Thus, these letters are not only mathematical proofs of the Quran that the Quran is from God but are also protecting it from any distortion being letter level invisible guards (15:9), which was hidden to the people in the past even many who witness the truth now.
Details of the surah
Surah Luq’maan is an Alif.Laam.Meem prefixed short surah but if we can reflect to its verses, we should not have any confusion to worship God without associating partners with Him to deserve gardens of the Bliss with God being grateful to Him. However, here is an attempt to detail out its verses in the English translation going through the Arabic text and grammar to reflect the word for word translation in the translation having subtitles including short notes to understand the messages in the surah:
A sign of the wise scripture, which is guidance and mercy for the good-doers
- [I swear by] Alif.Laam.Meem (31:1). That is of signs of the wise scripture (31:2). A guidance and a mercy for the good-doers (31:3).
Note: Alif.Laam.Meem, a set of Quranic initials, is a sign of the wise scripture, which is a guidance and a mercy for the good-doers. The word, til’ka in (31:2), is a demonstrative pronoun in singular feminine form meaning “that” refers to alif.laam.meem in (31:1) which is a set instead of individual Arabic letters indicating a special role in the scripture, and the word, aayaatu in plural feminine form meaning “signs” refer to 14 sets of Quranic initials as mentioned in (15:87). Thus, the interpretation of til’ka to “these” even in singular form considering aayaatu in plural form and Alif.Laam.Meem to “letters” by many translators are misinterpretation, while there are such 14 sets in the Quran prefixed to 29 Surahs.
Winners are those who have been on guidance from their Lord
- Those who establish the salat prayer and give the zakat, and they ascertain of the Hereafter (31:4). Those are on guidance from their Lord, and those—they are the successful ones (31:5).
Note: (1) Establishing the Salat prayer, (2) giving the Zakat, (3) to be certain about the Hereafter and (4) to be on God’s guidance are the ways to be winners in the Hereafter.
Losers are those who have accepted and followed baseless Hadith
- And among the people is whoever purchases the idle talk of Hadith to mislead from the path of God without knowledge and takes it in mockery; those—for them is a humiliating punishment (31:6). And when our revelations are recited to him, he has turned away as an arrogant one, as if he never heard them, as if there were deafness in his ears. So give him a news of a painful punishment (31:7).
Note: Those who accept and follow baseless Hadiths disregarding God’s revelations behave like a deaf, for them there is a painful punishment in the Hereafter.
The righteous deserve gardens of the Bliss
- Indeed, those who have believed and have done the righteous deeds, for them are the gardens of Bliss (31:8). Dwellers therein forever. God’s promise is true. And He is the Almighty, the Wise (31:9).
Note: God’s promise for those who have believed and have done the righteous deed are gardens of the bliss wherein they will be abiding forever.
The righteous reflect to God’s creations
- He has created the heavens without pillars that you can see, and has placed firm mountains in the earth lest it tremble with you, and He has scattered throughout it every kind of creature. And We have sent down water from the sky, causing every beautiful kind to grow within it (31:10). This is a creation of God. So show Me what those other than Him have created. Nay, the wrongdoers are in clear straying (31:11).
Note:We can see what God has created while the wrongdoers are far astray cannot see His creations.
Association of partners with God is a great injustice
- And certainly, We had given Luqman wisdom, saying: “Be grateful to God.” And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for the benefit of his own soul. And whoever is ungrateful, then indeed, God is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy (31:12). And when Luqman said to his son, while advising him, “O my son, do not associate partners with God; indeed, association of partners is surely a great injustice.” (31:13).
Note: Luqman was given wisdom what he used to be grateful to God and he also asked his son to do the same letting him know that association of partners with God is a great injustice.
God has commanded us to treat our parents with kindness
- And We have enjoined the human being concerning his parents. His mother has borne him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years, that: “Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the destination.” (31:14). And if they both strive against you to make you associate partners with Me that of which you have no knowledge, then do not obey them. But accompany them in this world with kindness, and follow the path of whoever has turned to Me. Then to Me is the return of you all, and I will inform you of what you have been doing (31:15).
Note: God has commanded us to treat our parents with kindness but to avoid them if they insist us on associating partners with Him.
Luqman’s advices to his son
- “O my son, indeed if it is the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, God brings it out. Indeed, God is Subtle, Cognizant. (31:16). O my son, establish the salat prayer, enjoin the right and forbid the evil, and be steadfast over what has befallen you. Indeed, that is from the determination of the matters (31:17). And do not turn your cheek from the people, and do not walk in the earth in exultation. Indeed, God does not love any arrogant boaster.(31:18). And be moderate in your walking and lower your voice; indeed, the most repulsive of all voices is surely the voice of the donkeys.” (31:19).
Note: Luqman’s advice to his son was that God knows everything whether it does not matter how small it is and where it is, while he should establish the salat prayer and should advocate the right and should forbid from the evil, and he should speak and walk humbly and should lower his voice not turning away from the people.
Blindly following forefathers is a call of the Satan to the Hellfire
- Do you not see that God has subjected for you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and has lavished upon you His bounties, both apparent and hidden? Yet among the people is whoever disputes about God without knowledge, without guidance, and without an enlightening scripture (31:20). And when it has been said to them, “Follow what God has sent down,” they said, “Nay, we follow what we have found the forefathers of us upon.” Even if Satan has been calling them to the punishment of the Blazing fire?(31:21).
Note: Despite God’s blessings around us, those who follow forefathers without having knowledge nor accepting guidance and an enlightening scripture, the Satan has invited them to the punishment of the blazing fire.
The disbelievers are granted temporary enjoyment in the earth
- And whoever submits himself to God while he is a good-doer, then he has certainly grasped the trustworthy handhold. And to God is the end of the matters (31:22). And whoever has disbelieved, let not the disbelief of him sadden you. To Us is the return of them, then We inform them of what they had done. Indeed, God is Knower of what is in the breasts (31:23). We grant them temporary enjoyment, then We compel them to a severe punishment (31:24).
Note: Those who submitted to God have grasped the trustworthy support while those who disbelieved and their disbelief should not sadden them. To God is their return and He will inform them of what they used to do as He knows what is in their hearts. They have been granted temporary enjoyment but will suffer a painful when they meet their Lord, even though they were aware that God is a Creator of the heavens and the earth but were not sure that all praise belongs to Him.
God has given us all His words that need to follow to praise Him
- And if you have asked them, “Who has created the heavens and the earth?” they surely say, “God.” Say, “All praise belongs to God.” Still, most of them do not know (31:25). To God belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Indeed, God is the Self-sufficient, the Praiseworthy (31:26). And if whatever trees are in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven more seas to supply it, the words of God would not have run out. Indeed, God is Almighty, Wise (31:27).
Note: Even the disbelievers know that God is a Creator of the heavens and the earth but has failed to praise Him while He has confirmed that all our praise belongs to Him, and He is being Almighty and Wise has given us all His words that we need to praise Him, the Self-sufficient and the Praiseworthy.
God’s signs help a steadfast grateful but not an ungrateful traitor
- The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all is nothing but like that of a single soul. Indeed, God is Hearer, Seer (31:28). Do you not see that God causes the night to enter into the day and causes the day to enter into the night, and that He has subjected the sun and the moon, each running to an appointed term, and that God is Cognizant of what you do? (31:29). That is because God is the Truth, and whatever they call other than Him is the falsehood, and that God—He is the High, the Great (31:30). Do you not see that the ship sails in the sea by the grace of God, that He shows you of His signs? Indeed, in that are surely signs for every steadfast, grateful one (31:31). And when waves had covered them like canopies, they called upon God, being sincere to Him in the religion. But when He has delivered them to the shore, then among them is a moderate one. And none denies our revelations except every ungrateful traitor (31:32).
Note: Those who reflect to God’s signs know that He is the truth and to Him is their return, they call Him being sincere in His religion to be steadfast grateful while those who call other than Him is the falsehood, who deny His revelations to be ungrateful traitors.
The life of the world should not deceive us nor should the deceiver deceive us about God
- O the people, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father can avail anything for his son, nor can a son avail anything for his father. Indeed, the promise of God is truth. So let not the life of this world deceive you, nor let the deceiver deceive you concerning God (31:33).
Note: Here is a warning that a day is surely coming even father cannot help his son nor can son help his father on that day. Thus, the life of the world should not deceive us nor should the deceiver deceive us about God, we know the Satan a great decever of the mankind.
God is Knower of whatever is unknown to us
- Indeed God, with Him alone is the knowledge of the Hour. He sends down the rain, and He knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it earns tomorrow, and no soul knows in which land it dies. Indeed, God is Knower, Cognizant (31:34).
Note: God has blessed us with ways to know certain events which were only known to Him, but there is no way for us to know when and where we will die.
Summary
- Surah Luqmaan is a short surah consisting of 34 verses being the first among 6 Alif.Laam.Meem prefixed surahs.
- Alif.Laam.Meem is a set of Quranic initials, which is a sign of the wise scripture, a guidance and a mercy for the good-doers. The word, til’ka in singular feminine form meaning “this” refers to a set instead of individual Arabic letters indicating a special role in the scripture being feminine form.
- God has defined our ways to become successful with Him – (1) observing Salat, (2) giving Zakat, (3) ascertaining the Hereafter and (4) following His guidance.
- Those who followed baseless Hadiths disregarding God’s revelations behaving like a deaf will be losers and suffer a painful punishment in the Hereafter.
- God has promised for those who believed and have done the righteous deed are gardens of the bliss wherein they will be abiding forever.
- The righteous can reflect to what God has created while the wrongdoers being astray cannot reflect.
- Luqman was given wisdom letting him know that whoever is grateful to God is grateful for himself, and he became grateful to God and advised his son not to associate partners with God as the association of partners with Him is a great injustice.
- God has commanded human being to honor his parents but to avoid them if they insist him on associating partners with Him.
- Luqman informed his son that God knows which is small and where it is, and to observe Salat, and advocate the right and forbid from the evil, and to speak and walk humbly and lower his voice.
- It is a human tragedy that there are those who follow parents blindly without knowledge or accepting guidance and enlightening scripture, the Satan has invited them to the punishment of the Fire.
- God has given us all His words that we need to praise and pray Him but it is unfortunate that we accept words from other sources to corrupt our praise and prayers insisting us on going to astray.
- The sincere in God’s religion are grateful but those who call other than Him are ungrateful traitors.
- A day is surely coming when father cannot help his son nor can son help his father on that day; thus, believing in intercession is a satanic trick to make us losers.
- No soul knows it will earn tomorrow nor does it know in which land it will die.
In conclusion, the straightforward verses in this sura may help us to be righteous like Luqman who was neither a messenger nor a prophet focusing on association of partners with God is great injustice, following parents blindly is a human tragedy, accepting of Hadiths is misguidance, divine words given in the Quran are enough for us to praise and pray God, concept of intercession is a satanic trick and interpretation of Quranic initials reflecting to Arabic grammar and understanding of their multiple roles.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (2/14/2020).