The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

The Qur
an
260
30: 46

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31. LUQMAN
A Meccan sura that takes its title from Luqman the Wise, whose counsel to his
son is related in verses 
13–19. The sura opens with a description of the
believers, and it condemns those who attempt to lead others away from guid-
ance. It extols God’s power and warns the disbelievers of the consequences of
their actions. The Prophet is told not to be saddened by their disbelief.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Alif Lam Mim
2These are the verses of the wise Scripture, 3[with] guidance and
mercy for those who do good, 
4who keep up the prayer, pay the
prescribed alms, and are certain of the Hereafter: 
5these are rightly
guided by their Lord, and it is they who will prosper. 
6But there is
the sort of person who pays for distracting tales, intending, without
any knowledge, to lead others from God’s way, and to hold it up to
ridicule.
a
There will be humiliating torment for him! 
7When Our
verses are recited to him, he turns away disdainfully as if he had not
heard them, as if there were heaviness in his ears. Tell him that there
will be a painful torment! 
8But for those who believe and do right-
eous deeds, there will be Gardens of bliss 
9where they will stay: that
is God’s true promise, and He is the Almighty, the All Wise. 
10He
created the heavens without any visible support, and He placed 
firm
mountains on the earth –– in case it should shake under you –– and He
spread all kinds of animals around it. We sent down water from the
sky, with which We made every kind of good plant grow on earth:
11all this is God’s creation. Now, show Me what your other gods
have created. No, the disbelievers are clearly astray.
12We endowed Luqman with wisdom: ‘Be thankful to God:
whoever gives thanks bene
fits his own soul, and as for those
who are thankless –– God is self-su
fficient, worthy of all praise.’
13Luqman counselled his son, ‘My son, do not attribute any partners
to God: attributing partners to Him is a terrible wrong.’
a
Understood to refer to al-Nadr ibn al-Harith, who bought some ancient Persian
stories to distract the people of Quraysh from listening to the Qur
an.

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14We have commanded people to be good to their parents: their
mothers carried them, with strain upon strain, and it takes two years
to wean them. Give thanks to Me and to your parents –
– all will
return to Me. 
15If they strive to make you associate with Me any-
thing about which you have no knowledge,
a
then do not obey them.
Yet keep their company in this life according to what is right, and
follow the path of those who turn to Me. You will all return to Me in
the end, and I will tell you everything that you have done.
16[And Luqman continued], ‘My son, if even the weight of a
mustard seed were hidden in a rock or anywhere in the heavens or
earth, God would bring it [to light], for He is all subtle and all aware.
17Keep up the prayer, my son; command what is right; forbid what is
wrong; bear anything that happens to you steadfastly: these are
things to be aspired to. 
18Do not turn your nose up at people, nor
walk about the place arrogantly, for God does not love arrogant or
boastful people. 
19Go at a moderate pace and lower your voice, for
the ugliest of all voices is the braying of asses.’
20[People], do you not see how God has made what is in the
heavens and on the earth useful to you, and has lavished His bless-
ings on you both outwardly and inwardly? Yet some people argue
about God, without knowledge or guidance or an illuminating scrip-
ture. 
21When they are told, ‘Follow what God has sent down,’ they
say: ‘We shall follow what we saw our forefathers following.’ What!
Even if Satan is calling them to the su
ffering of the Blazing Flame?
22Whoever directs himself
b
wholly to God and does good work has
grasped the surest handhold, for the outcome of everything is with
God.
23As for those who refuse to do this, do not let their refusal
sadden you [Prophet] –
– they will return to Us and We shall tell them
what they have done: God knows all that hearts contain –
–
24We let
them enjoy themselves for a little while, but We shall drive them to
a harsh torment. 
25If you ask them who created the heavens and
earth, they are sure to say, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Praise belongs to God,’ but
most of them do not understand. 
26Everything in the heavens and
earth belongs to God. God is self-su
fficient and worthy of all praise.
27If all the trees on earth were pens and all the seas, with seven more
seas besides, [were ink,] still God’s words would not run out: God is
almighty and all wise. 
28Creating and resurrecting all of you is only