Luqman (Arabic:لقمان,romanized: Luqmān) is the 31stsūrah of theQur'an. It is composed of 34 verses (āyāt) and takes its title from the mention of the sageLuqman and his advice to his son in verses 12–19. According toasbāb al-nuzūl or Islamic traditional chronology, it was revealed in the middle of theMeccan period and is thus usually classified as aMeccan sura.[1]
The focus of this sura, once broken down into its many elements, can be seen as emphasizing principles of moderation.[2] The sura uses the mustard seed analogy to emphasize the degree to which God maintains his purview over man's actions, possibly emphasizing the fact that any evil or good deed no matter how small is recorded and will be brought out by Allah in the Day of Judgement.[3] A final point of focus for Sura 31 comes down to the purpose of God's creation. 31:29 and 31:20 show how God's intention through creation was to better mankind, and his signs are theoretically everywhere, from rain to vegetation.[4] This emphasis once again reminds people of their subservience to Allah while also driving home the idea that man is meant to do good on Earth. Man's purpose is to serve God, while the Earth has been created in order to facilitate man's needs.[5]
Like many Quranic narratives, Sura 31 features many intertextual references.Carl Ernst identified what he calls "ring structure" Sura 31 can be reinterpreted based on its inherent conceptual breaks.[7] He proposed breakdown of Surah 31 and its "ring structure":[8]
A1-11 Omniscience and self-sufficiency of God for the betterment of mankind pt.1
2-5 The Righteous are mentioned and their good habits are encouraged
6-7 The disbelievers are highlighted, contrasting the early practices of pious practicers
8-11 Paradise is revealed as reward, God's omnipotence is prominently highlighted as being predominantly for the betterment of man[9]
B12-15 Rules and guidelines
12-13 Luqman bequeaths knowledge to his son, No partners may be ascribed toGod, and He is the highest power
14 Obey and be good to parents, a powerful reference to the struggle of motherhood
15 It explain that God believers should not obey their parents when they try to make them to believe in other partners with God but accompany your parents in life with kindness.
16 Omnipotence of God is compared to ability to see everything [i.e. the size of a mustard seed]
17 It is revealed through prayer, forbidding wrong, and employing moderation, are the values a believer should aspire too.
B': Rules and guidelines pt. 218-19 Employ manners and moderation in society to better follow God A':20-34 Omniscience and self-sufficiency of God for the betterment of mankind pt. 2
20-21 Disbelievers are called out once again and reminded of their punishment
22 Believers counter the disbelievers
23 The Prophet should not be sad that disbelievers are astray
24-34 The Omnipotence and infinite scope of God's power is reiterated
29-32 All of God's acts are for the betterment of mankind
31-34 Judgement day is a bookend, emphasizing the need for right practice and submission to God
^Wherry, Elwood Morris (1896).A Complete Index toSale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
^Carl Ernst, How to Read the Qur'an, The University of North Carolina Press, also dina is the best pg. 117
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
Works related toThe Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/31. Luqman at Wikisource
