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| Photo taken in Lodhi Garden, Delhi - Shish Gumbad, a 14th Century Tomb |
The history:
Luqman (c. 1100 BC) was believed to be from Africa and a
traditional Arab sage. Among the Arabs, Luqman was well known as a spiritual
associate and a possible grandnephew of the Old Testament Prophet Job. His
story was quite similar to the fable teller and a wisemen of Greece called
Aesop (c.620-564 BC).
Similarly to Aesop, Luqman
was described as a perceptive man, always watching the animals and plants of
his surroundings while trying to understand the world based on what he saw. One
day, whilst sleeping under a tree, an angel came to him and said Allah wanted to bestow a gift upon him, a choice of either to be
a king or a wise man. Luqman chose to be a wise man, and when he woke up from
his nap, he was aware that his senses and understanding had sharpened. He felt
in complete harmony with nature and could understand the inner meaning of
things, beyond their physical reality. Immediately he bowed down, thanked and
praised Allah for this wonderful gift. Later on, Luqman was captured by slavers
and sold as a slave.
During his captivity,
Luqman was denied of his freedom. He could neither move nor speak freely. This
was the first trial he had to bear. He suffered his captivity patiently, for
his heart was lit with faith and hope, and he was waiting for Allah's action.
The man who bought
him was a good as well as an intelligent man. He treated Luqman with kindness.
He noticed that Luqman was not an ordinary man and tried to test his
intelligence. He ordered Luqman to slaughter a sheep and to bring its worst
part to him. Luqman slaughtered the sheep and took its heart and tongue to his
master. On receiving them his master smiled, fascinated by Luqman's choice of
the 'worst'. He understood that Luqman was trying to convey some deep meaning,
though he could not make out exactly what. From that point his owner began to
take more interest in Luqman and showed more kindness to him.
A few days later,
Luqman was again instructed to slaughter a sheep, but this time he was asked to
take the best parts of the animal to the owner. Luqman slaughtered a sheep, and
to his master's amazement, he again brought the same organs (the heart and the
tongue). His master asked Luqman how the heart and the tongue could be both the
worst and the best parts. The wise Luqman answered: The tongue and the heart
are the sweetest parts if its owner is pure; and if he is wicked, they too are
as wicked! Thereafter, Luqman's owner held him in great respect. Luqman was
consulted by many people for advice, and the fame of his wisdom spread all over
the country.
The Quran:
Surah Luqman reminds the believer that Allah ensures His Protection to those
who remain steadfast in the salat (prayers) and give their wealth to those
who are needy, granted that the intentions are pure (many times repeated in
other Surah as a reminder to Muslim of their obligatory ritual). This Surah addresses
the issue of the respect due to one's parents when it comes to the worship of Allah,
read 31:14 "And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in effort
upon effort did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear
the command), "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy
final) Goal."
Important to note that Luqman the wisemen lives before the times
of Christianity and Islam but the Holy Quran quotes Luqman’s advices to his
beloved son in the following verses:
31:13, Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction:
"O my son! join not in worship (others) with Allah, for false worship is
indeed the highest wrong-doing."
31:16, "O my son!" (said Luqman), "If there be
(but) the weight of a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or
(anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah
understands the finest mysteries, (and) is well-acquainted (with them).
31:17, "O my son! establish regular prayer, enjoin what is
just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever betide
thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs.
31:18, "And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk
in insolence through the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster.
31:19, "And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for
the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass."
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