This article talks about the Islamic ethics through Luqman’s advice to his son, highlighting faith, gratitude, prayer, humility, patience, kindness to parents, and noble character.

By Dr. Ahmed Al-Khalidi

Muslim society normally enjoys ethical values, principles and codes that enable people to live in peace and harmony to a great extent. Muslims who have already learned and assimilated the Islamic teachings often respect and follow such ethical codes willingly and self-confidently. Such confidence emits out of people’s deep faith in the Islamic doctrine and their great fear of Allah who enjoins them to cling to such codes and values without violating them. Thus, they become strong and united as if they were one body. On the authority of An-Nu’man ibn Basheer (Sahih al-Bukhari: 6011) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The example of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body; when any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.” Luqman’s paternal advice forms a part of the Islamic ethics that help young Muslims (YMs) to be faithful and moderate in their life.

Luqman’s educational advice

Undoubtedly, Luqman’s paternal advice to his son is considered to be one of the most educational lessons ever presented from father to son. It, indeed, displays the peak of human wisdom, the summit of Islamic ethics and the topmost of polite manners. These verses gather issues of belief, worship, morals and enjoining good and forbidding evil. To cite Sahih International.com, “Allaah mentions His favours upon Luqman the wise. He is known with this characteristic. He isn’t mentioned except that it is said ‘the wise’ because Allaah bore witness that He had given him wisdom.” To quote (Luqman: 13) “And indeed We bestowed upon Luqman Al-Hikmah (wisdom)”
Not only does Luqman forbid his son to commit evil; but he also guides him to do righteous deeds. He forbids his son to associate anything with Allah (Glory be to Him). He also enjoins his son, thus other young Muslims, to deal with their parents kindly and tenderly especially their mothers even though they urge them to shirk. At the same time, Luqman elucidates to his son the supreme power of Allah’s knowledge and His absolute might over all His creatures whatever and wherever they are. Besides, Luqman recommends his son gently to perform the prayer, to enjoin what is just and to forbid what is wrong. Moreover, he directs him to be patient when he is hurt and not to be arrogant with people. Not only this, Luqman advises his son to be moderate in the way he talks and walks.

Educational paternal advice

First of all, Luqman the wise addresses his son in a kind paternal manner “My Son” so as to catch his son’s attention and make him accept what he enjoins and forbids him. He also warns his son against the greatest injustice man can do: “shirk”; which is associating another deity with Allah. Sa’di, (1985) elucidates that Luqman the sage advises his son to avoid shirk; as it is a great injustice to the Mushrik himself who subjects himself to Allah’s anger and eternal punishment in Hell, for he puts his noble self in the meanest ranks and makes himself worship a trifle creature “which is worth nothing”.

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, “O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice.”(31: 13)

Fostering ethical concepts in children

Luqman’s son is reminded of the rights of his parents on him, of the hardships mothers face while bearing and weaning their children and of the total dependence of infants on their mothers for two years. However, Man should be thankful to Allah (Glory be to Him) first, then to his parents. S’adi (1985) points out that one has to be respectful to his parents and that he should treat them gently, speak with them modestly using kind words, deal with them sympathetically and avoid ill-treating them, particularly his mother as she has faced difficulty after difficulty since he was a clot until he was born, enduring his weight in her body, her sufferings from weakness and illness as well as pains of delivery.

And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. (31: 14)

Allah (Glory be to Him) commands Man to obey his parents and treat them kindly; however, he should not follow their way in case they try to make him associate anything with Allah. True scientific discoveries usually agree with the Noble Quran verses, so Al Tawashi (2006: 265) mentions what scientists have discovered about the importance of mother’s milk, “Every day, a new benefit of mother’s milk to the baby is discovered.” He adds, “one of the facts that science has discovered about mother’s milk is that suckling up to two years after birth is very beneficial.” Moreover, “Mother’s milk is an unmatched mixture that is created by God as both an excellent food source for the newborn baby, and a substance that increases its resistance to malady. Even artificial baby food produced by today’s technology cannot substitute for this miraculous source of nutrition.”

“But if they endeavour to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do” (31: 15)

Children should be kind, grateful and obedient to their parents; however, in case parents call their children to shirk, they should not obey them; yet they should keep kind and benevolent for them. This, indeed, reflects the extent of mercy of Allah upon parents even though they were disbelievers.
To cite Sahih International.com, If they help you in the obedience to Allaah, guide and cultivate you with a correct upbringing then they deserve to be obeyed. If, however, they both deviate and strive with much effort with you to fall into Shirk with Allaah then there is no obedience to them (in that). However, the general righteousness that you should have towards them does not become void even if they try and strive against you and harm you to disbelieve in Allaah, it is upon you not to forget their rights; for you must be a good companion to them in this life.

The absolute knowledge of Allah (Glory be to Him)

To impress upon his son and guide him to obey Allah’s enjoinments and prohibitions, Luqman points out that Allah is All-Knowing, Almighty. His knowledge is so perfect that He (Glory be to Him) has absolute control over His kingdom. He knows everything in his vast universe whether it is big or tiny, public or secret. To cite (Surah Yunus: 61) “And nothing is hidden from your Lord, so much as the weight of an atom (or small ant) on the earth or in the heaven. Not what is less than that or what is greater than that but is (written) in a Clear Record.”
See (Surah Ghafir: 19) “He knows the treacherous look of the eyes and what the chests conceal.” It is said that Allah hears the movement of the black ant on the solid rock at the dark night.
To cite poet Sayyid, “He knows whatever we think or act. By Him is seen the real fact.”

O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted. (31: 16)

Luqman is teaching his son good deeds

Wise Luqman commands his son to perform the prayer, to enjoin good, to forbid what is evil and to be patient when hurt.

O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination. (31:17)

Disinclining children against bad manners

Luqman the wise forbids his son to show contempt for people or to be arrogant with them; as Allah (Glory be to Him) does not like those who are arrogant and proud of themselves. Allah forbids man from walking proudly for he will be despised by Allah and scorned by people without achieving his goals.
And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. (31: 18)
Man should not be arrogant; he should walk modestly on the earth because he is too little compared to the earth and mountains. To cite (Al-Isra: 37), “And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height”.

Instructing children on Moderate conduct

Luqman, being a sage father, guides his son to be moderate in walk and talk and enjoins him not to shout; for shouting will not win the hearts of people; it will be like the braying of a donkey. Besides, if shouting is useful, Allah (Glory be to Him) would not allot it for the donkey.

“And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass.” (31: 19)

Luqman’s advice sums up in a few words the sublime social manners that lead to success in this life and to salvation in the Hereafter. Luqman the wise offered his son ten precious pieces of advice. Teachers and advisers can put these manners into practice among their students; parents among their children and social leaders among their society members. If such valuable advice is followed and well implemented in a society, then people will all enjoy a happy life in a civilized environment. To quote Sahih International.com, “if every Muslim observes this duty, then evil and mischief will have no place in Muslim society.”

From the sagacious Luqman’s speech dialogue with his son, YMs can learn; as Ali (1934) has elicited from the Noble Quranic Speech Dialogue context these manners, “to be moderate in all things; not to be loud and not to be timid or half-hearted; not to be too confident and not to be cowed down. Ali adds, “if you have patience it is to give you constancy and determination, that you may bravely carry the struggle of life. If you have humility, it is to save you from unseemly swagger not to curb your right spirit and your reasoned determination”.

To cite Sa’di (1985: 762) “the one who commands such pieces of advice deserves to be granted wisdom and distinguished with it “; he adds that it is a part of Allah’s blessing upon mankind that “He (Glory be to Him) narrated upon them a part of Luqman’s wisdom which may make him a model example for them”.

These Verses are from the greatest Verses which must be thought over and benefited from; because we learn knowledge for action and for improving our manners with what we know from the Book of Allah (Glory be to Him) and the Sunnah of the Messenger (AS). Thus, Islam offers a code of conduct in every aspect of life; it also offers guidelines in this regard that will produce the best behaviour and generate respect. Even the way Muslims walk and talk are regulated.

A practical model of wisdom

Luqman was not only effective by words but also by action. He drew an alive good example to his son and others during his life. Islam religion website reports that “In some traditions it is said that Luqman himself said that he maintained his honorable and noble qualities by, “Lowering my gaze, watching my tongue, eating what is lawful, keeping my chastity, undertaking my promises, fulfilling my commitments, being hospitable to guests, respecting my neighbors, and discarding what does not concern me. All these made me the one you are looking at.”
Educational lessons:

• YMs should not associate anything with Allah (Glory be to Him) nor commit evil.
• They should do right deeds, deal with their parents kindly and tenderly especially their mothers even though they urge them to shirk.
• Giving details about mother’s suffering during prenatal period and delivery requires children to be more benevolent with her.
• They should recognize the supreme power of Allah’s knowledge and His absolute might over all His creatures whatever and wherever they are; which will create piety in their hearts.
• They should also perform the prayer, enjoin what is just and forbid what is wrong.
• They should be patient when they are hurt and not to be arrogant with people.
• They should be moderate in the way they talk and walk.