Translation of the meanings Surah Luqmān - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Luqmān

1 : 31

الٓمٓ

1. Alif Laam Meem ^[1].

[1]. See footnote to Qur’an chapter2: Verse1.

2 : 31

تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ

2. These are Verses of the Wise Book ^[2].

[2]. I.e., the Qur’an, whose Verses are full of wisdom, fair rulings, and guidance to the Right Path.

3 : 31

هُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٗ لِّلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

3. A guidance and a mercy for the good-doers,

4 : 31

ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ هُمۡ يُوقِنُونَ

4. Who keep up the prayer and pay the poor-rate and are certain of the Hereafter.

5 : 31

أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدٗى مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ

5. These are on guidance from their Lord 'Allāh', and it is these who are successful.

6 : 31

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشۡتَرِي لَهۡوَ ٱلۡحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٖ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًاۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ

6. And of the people there is he who purchases idle talk ^[3] to mislead himself and others from God’s Path without knowledge, and takes it in mockery of it (the Qur’an). Those will have a humiliating torment.

[3]. and prefers such theatrics, games, singing, dancing, chanting, or distracting tales to the Divine Guidance.

7 : 31

وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِ ءَايَٰتُنَا وَلَّىٰ مُسۡتَكۡبِرٗا كَأَن لَّمۡ يَسۡمَعۡهَا كَأَنَّ فِيٓ أُذُنَيۡهِ وَقۡرٗاۖ فَبَشِّرۡهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

7. And when Our verses 'of the Qur’an' are recited to him, he turns away in pride, as if he had not heard, as if there is deafness in his ears. So announce to him a painful torment ^[4].

[4]. The Prophet Muhammad, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him said: "Everyone of my nation that is all the people will enter Paradise except those who refuse." It was said: "Who does refuse, O Messenger of God?" He said: "He who obeyed me, shall enter Paradise, and who disobeyed me, indeed he has refused.''  

8 : 31

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُمۡ جَنَّٰتُ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

8. Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds, they will have Gardens of Bliss,

9 : 31

خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۖ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٗاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

9. Abiding therein forever. It is a promise of Allah truly. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

10 : 31

خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ بِغَيۡرِ عَمَدٖ تَرَوۡنَهَاۖ وَأَلۡقَىٰ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٰسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمۡ وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٖۚ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوۡجٖ كَرِيمٍ

10. He has created the heavens without pillars that you see, and He cast in the earth placed mountains lest it should shake with you, and He spread therein animals of every kind. We send down water from the sky, then cause to grow therein (vegetation) of every kind noble.

11 : 31

هَٰذَا خَلۡقُ ٱللَّهِ فَأَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦۚ بَلِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٖ

11. This is the creation of Allāh. So show Me what those (whom you worship) besides Him have created ^[5]. Rather, the unjust are in manifest error.

[5]. The earth’s foundation and the stars and all the creatures, plants, and waters found between, point to Allāh —the God of amazing love, mercy, and power.
When doubts threaten your faith in Allāh, consider the magnificence of Allāh’s creation. He reveals Himself in it if we only have eyes to see.
Muhammad, God's Messenger ﷺ said, "When Allāh completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne, "My Mercy overpowers My Anger."

12 : 31

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا لُقۡمَٰنَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِلَّهِۚ وَمَن يَشۡكُرۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٞ

12. And indeed, We have gave Wisdom to Luqman, saying: "Be grateful to Allāh." Whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for (the benefit of) himself. And whoever is ungrateful (for Allah's Favor), then surely Allāh is All-Rich, Praiseworthy.

13 : 31

وَإِذۡ قَالَ لُقۡمَٰنُ لِٱبۡنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُۥ يَٰبُنَيَّ لَا تُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرۡكَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِيمٞ

13. When Luqman said to his son while he was advising him: "O my son, do not associate with Allāh 'in worship', indeed, associating others with Him is surely a grievous iniquity ^[6]."

[6]. Raise your child in the right way he should go, so that when he is an adult he will not depart from it.
Muhammad, God's Messenger ﷺ said: "Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for (not offering) it when they are ten, and separate them (boys and girls) in beds."  This hadith is an insight that the children will have a good outcome if raised in praying in the mosques. The children must be also raised in the Islamic Monotheism, warning them from idolatry and polytheism.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once saw a man with a brass ring on his hand and asked him, “What is this?” the man replied, “To overcome the weakness of old age.” He said, “Remove it, for, it can only add to your weakness. Should death overtake you while you are wearing it, you would never succeed.” The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also said: “Whoever wears talisman or an amulet (or cross for protection or cure) would never see his wish fulfilled by God. And whoever hangs a sea shell (for protection) would never get peace and rest.” The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said: “Whoever wears a talisman (or cross for protection) has committed polytheism.”
The Prophet saw a man with a piece of twine on his hand (as a protection or cure from fever) so he cut the twine and read the Verse: “Most of them believe in God while still practicing idolatry.”

14 : 31

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنٖ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ فِي عَامَيۡنِ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيۡكَ إِلَيَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

14. We have enjoined upon man (to honor, be kind, caring and good) to his parents - his mother bore him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents. To Me is the final return.

15 : 31

وَإِن جَٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشۡرِكَ بِي مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَاۖ وَصَاحِبۡهُمَا فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَعۡرُوفٗاۖ وَٱتَّبِعۡ سَبِيلَ مَنۡ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّۚ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

15. Yet if they strive with you to make you associate to Me 'in worship' that of which you have no 'Divine' knowledge, do not obey them. But keep company with them in this world kindly, and follow the way of him who turns (in repentance) to Me. Then to Me is your (final) return, then I will inform you of what you used to do.

16 : 31

يَٰبُنَيَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثۡقَالَ حَبَّةٖ مِّنۡ خَرۡدَلٖ فَتَكُن فِي صَخۡرَةٍ أَوۡ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ أَوۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَأۡتِ بِهَا ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٞ

16. O my son, indeed even if it is the very weight of the grain of a mustard seed, and it be hidden in a rock or in the heavens or in the earth, Allāh will bring it forth ^[7]. Indeed, Allāh is Most Subtle, All-Aware.

[7]. Allāh keeps the record of all the good and evil deeds of each and everyone.

17 : 31

يَٰبُنَيَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَٱنۡهَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ

17. O my son, keep up the prayer and enjoin what is right (and just) ^[8] and forbid what is wrong ^[9], and bear patiently whatever befalls you. Indeed, that is of the matters (requiring) determination.

[8]. Islâmic Monotheism and all that is good.
[9]. I.e., disbelief in the Oneness of God, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad.

18 : 31

وَلَا تُصَعِّرۡ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٖ فَخُورٖ

18. And do not (scornfully) turn your cheek away from people, and do not walk on the earth around puffed-up with pride. For Allāh does not like any self-conceited, boastful person.

19 : 31

وَٱقۡصِدۡ فِي مَشۡيِكَ وَٱغۡضُضۡ مِن صَوۡتِكَۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلۡأَصۡوَٰتِ لَصَوۡتُ ٱلۡحَمِيرِ

19. And be moderate in your pace, and lower your voice ^[10]. for the harshest of all sounds is surely the braying of donkeys."

[10]. By following the Qur’an and the way of Prophet Muhammad – anyone can become more disciplined and reap the rewards. Discipline can be defined as self-control over one’s actions and behaviors. Unlike punishment, imposed externally, discipline is self-directed and largely internal. It requires responsibility for your conduct and outcomes rather than blaming external factors. Cultivating discipline is thus an exercise in accountability and choice.

20 : 31

أَلَمۡ تَرَوۡاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَأَسۡبَغَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعَمَهُۥ ظَٰهِرَةٗ وَبَاطِنَةٗۗ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَٰدِلُ فِي ٱللَّهِ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٖ وَلَا هُدٗى وَلَا كِتَٰبٖ مُّنِيرٖ

20. Do you not see that Allāh has made all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, subservient to you, and completed and lavished upon you His favors outwardly and inwardly? Yet of the people there is he who disputes about Allāh without knowledge, guidance, or an enlightening Scripture.

21 : 31

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُواْ بَلۡ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَآۚ أَوَلَوۡ كَانَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ يَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

21. When they are told: "Follow what Allāh has sent down (of Revelation), they say: "Rather, we follow what we found our fathers (followin)." Even though if Satan were calling them to the torment of the blazing Fire?

22 : 31

۞ وَمَن يُسۡلِمۡ وَجۡهَهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٞ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ

22. Whoever submits his face to Allāh and is a good-doer, has indeed grasped the firmest and most trustworthy handhold ^[11]. To Allāh rests the outcome of all matters.

[11]. I.e., you shall take no other gods besides Allāh.

23 : 31

وَمَن كَفَرَ فَلَا يَحۡزُنكَ كُفۡرُهُۥٓۚ إِلَيۡنَا مَرۡجِعُهُمۡ فَنُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ

23. But whoever disbelieves (in the Oneness of God), let not their disbelief grieve you. To Us is their (final) return, then We shall inform them of what they have done. Indeed, Allāh is All-Knowing of what is in the chests (of mankind and jinn).

24 : 31

نُمَتِّعُهُمۡ قَلِيلٗا ثُمَّ نَضۡطَرُّهُمۡ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٖ

24. We let them (the pagans) enjoy for a little while, then We shall oblige them to a harsh torment.

25 : 31

وَلَئِن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُۚ قُلِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِۚ بَلۡ أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

25. If you ask them, "Who has created the heavens and the earth," they will certainly say: "Allāh". Say: 'All' praise be to Allāh." But most of them do not know.

26 : 31

لِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ

26. To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Indeed, Allāh is the All-Rich, the Praiseworthy.

27 : 31

وَلَوۡ أَنَّمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقۡلَٰمٞ وَٱلۡبَحۡرُ يَمُدُّهُۥ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ سَبۡعَةُ أَبۡحُرٖ مَّا نَفِدَتۡ كَلِمَٰتُ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٞ

27. And If whatever trees on earth were pens, and the sea (were ink), replenished after it by seven more seas, the Words of Allāh would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allāh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

28 : 31

مَّا خَلۡقُكُمۡ وَلَا بَعۡثُكُمۡ إِلَّا كَنَفۡسٖ وَٰحِدَةٍۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعُۢ بَصِيرٌ

28. Your creation is not and your resurrection (from the dead) but as (simple as the creation and resurrection of) one soul. Indeed, Allāh is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

29 : 31

أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيۡلَ فِي ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِي ٱلَّيۡلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَۖ كُلّٞ يَجۡرِيٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗى وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٞ

29. Do you not see that Allāh causes the night to merge into the day, and the day to merge into the night, and has subjected the sun and the moon, each pursues its course till an appointed time; and that Allah of what you do is All-Aware?

30 : 31

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلۡبَٰطِلُ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ

30. That is because Allāh, He is the (Absolute) Truth, and what they invoke besides Him is falsehood, and because Allāh is the Most High, the Most Great.

31 : 31

أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱلۡفُلۡكَ تَجۡرِي فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِنِعۡمَتِ ٱللَّهِ لِيُرِيَكُم مِّنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٖ شَكُورٖ

31. Do you not see that the ships sail through the sea by Allah’s favor that He may show you of His signs? There are certainly signs in this for everyone (who is) most patient, grateful.

32 : 31

وَإِذَا غَشِيَهُم مَّوۡجٞ كَٱلظُّلَلِ دَعَوُاْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّىٰهُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡبَرِّ فَمِنۡهُم مُّقۡتَصِدٞۚ وَمَا يَجۡحَدُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ إِلَّا كُلُّ خَتَّارٖ كَفُورٖ

32. And when a wave covers them, like canopies, they call out to Allāh (alone), being sincere to Him in devotion, but when He delivers them safe to the land, then among them (some are) moderate (while others persist in their denial). None rejects Our Verses except every traitor, ungrateful.

33 : 31

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمۡ وَٱخۡشَوۡاْ يَوۡمٗا لَّا يَجۡزِي وَالِدٌ عَن وَلَدِهِۦ وَلَا مَوۡلُودٌ هُوَ جَازٍ عَن وَالِدِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔاۚ إِنَّ وَعۡدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقّٞۖ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡغَرُورُ

33. O people, be mindful of (Allāh) your Lord and be in awe of a Day when no father will avail anything for his son, nor a son can avail for his father in any thing. The Promise of Allah is (always) true. So do not let the worldly life deceive you, nor let deceive you about Allāh the deceiver.

34 : 31

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلۡمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡغَيۡثَ وَيَعۡلَمُ مَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِۖ وَمَا تَدۡرِي نَفۡسٞ مَّاذَا تَكۡسِبُ غَدٗاۖ وَمَا تَدۡرِي نَفۡسُۢ بِأَيِّ أَرۡضٖ تَمُوتُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرُۢ

34. Indeed, Allāh (alone) has the Knowledge of the Hour 'of Doom' ^[12]. And He sends down the rain, and He knows what is in the wombs ^[13]. No soul is aware of what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in which land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is All-Knowing, All-Aware.

[12]. Jesus Christ, God's messenger to the Israelites, said: “But of that day or that hour [of God’s coming execution of judgment] no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor me, but only Allāh.”
[13]. Muhammad, God's messenger, may peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him, said: Verily the creation of each one of you is assembled in his mother's womb for forty days in the form of a drop, then he becomes a clot of blood for a like period, then a morsel of flesh for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows the breath of life into him and who is commanded with four decrees: to write down his provision, his life span, his deeds, and whether he will be among the wretched or the blessed. By Allāh, other than Whom there is no deity, one of you performs the deeds of the people of Paradise until there is but an arm's length between him and it, and that which has been written will overtake him, so that he performs the deeds of the people of the Hellfire and thus enters it; and verily one of you performs the deeds of the people of the Hellfire, until there is but an arm's length between him and it, and that which has been written will overtake him so that he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.