In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah Luqman.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Alif, Lam, Mim.
These are the verses of the Wise Book.
A guidance and a mercy for the righteous.
Those who establish prayer and give zakat.
And they are certain of the Hereafter.
They are upon guidance from their Lord.
And it is they who are the successful.
Alif, Lam, Mim.
These are the verses of the Wise Book, providing clarification and detail.
They are verses of guidance and mercy from Allah.
Through them, He has shown mercy to those who excel in acting upon what Allah has revealed in this Qur'an.
Those who perform the obligatory prayers according to their prescribed limits.
And who give the obligatory zakat from their wealth.
And they are certain of Allah’s recompense and reward in the Hereafter.
These are the ones whose qualities we have described.
They are upon clear guidance and light from their Lord.
And these are the successful ones who shall attain the reward of their Lord.
And among the people is he who buys idle talk to lead others astray from the way of Allah.
“And of mankind is he who payeth for mere pastime of discourse, that he may mislead from Allah's way without knowledge, and maketh it the butt of mockery. For such there is a shameful doom.” (31:6)
For them is a humiliating punishment.
And among the people is he who buys idle talk.
This refers to everything that distracts from the way of Allah, which Allah or His Messenger has forbidden us to listen to.
Singing and polytheism are included in this.
The one who buys this idle talk does so to divert people from the religion of Allah and obedience to Him, without knowledge.
And in his ignorance of the burden and sin that awaits him in the end before Allah.
And he takes the verses of Allah in mockery.
These people, whom we have described as buying idle talk to lead others astray from the way of Allah,
Shall have on the Day of Resurrection a humiliating and disgraceful punishment in the Fire of Hell.
“And when Our revelations are recited unto him he turneth away in pride as if he heard them not, as if there were a deafness in his ears. So give him tidings of a painful doom.” (31:7)
Then give him tidings of a painful punishment.
And when the verses of the Book of Allah are recited to this person who bought idle talk,
He turns away from them as if he did not hear them.
As if there were deafness in his ears, such that he cannot bear to listen to them.
So give tidings of a grievous punishment to this person who turns away, and that is the punishment of the Fire.
“Lo! those who believe and do good works, for them are the gardens of delight,” (31:8)
“Wherein they will abide. It is a promise of Allah in truth. He is the Mighty, the Wise.” (31:9)
Indeed, those who believe in Allah and affirm His Oneness.
And act upon what He commanded them in His Book and upon the tongue of His Messenger.
For them are the Gardens of Bliss.
Abiding therein, a true promise from Allah in which there is no doubt.
And He is the Mighty in His retribution against those who associate partners with Him, and the Wise in the management of His creation.
“He hath created the heavens without supports that ye can see, and hath cast into the earth firm hills, so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersed therein all kinds of beasts. And We send down water from the sky and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein.” (31:10)
And He cast into the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with you, and He dispersed therein every kind of creature.
“He hath created the heavens without supports that ye can see, and hath cast into the earth firm hills, so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersed therein all kinds of beasts. And We send down water from the sky and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein.” (31:10)
Among His wisdom is that He created the seven heavens with pillars you cannot see.
And He placed firm mountains upon the surface of the earth so that it would not sway with you.
And it does not move to the right or to the left.
And He dispersed upon the earth every kind of creature.
And We sent down rain from the sky.
And by that rain, We caused to grow every kind of good and beautiful plant.
“This is the Creation of Allah. Now show me that which those (ye worship) beside Him have created. Nay, but the wrong-doers are in error manifest!” (31:11)
But the wrongdoers are in clear error.
This which I have enumerated for you, O people,
Is the creation of Allah, to Whom belongs the divinity of all things.
And for Whom worship is not appropriate for anyone else.
Nor is it fitting for anything other than Him.
So show me, O polytheists, what have those whom you worship besides Him—your idols—created?
That they should deserve worship from you, so you worshipped them?
Rather, the polytheists are in clear deviation from the truth and far from the straight path.
It is made clear to whoever contemplates it, looks into it, and reflects with intellect.
That it is error, not guidance.
And We certainly gave Luqman wisdom, saying: "Give thanks to Allah."
“And verily We gave Luqman wisdom, saying: Give thanks unto Allah; and whosoever giveth thanks, he giveth thanks for (the good of) his soul. And whosoever refuseth - Lo! Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.” (31:12)
“And verily We gave Luqman wisdom, saying: Give thanks unto Allah; and whosoever giveth thanks, he giveth thanks for (the good of) his soul. And whosoever refuseth - Lo! Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.” (31:12)
And We certainly gave Luqman understanding of the religion and intellect.
And correctness in speech.
"Give thanks to Allah for what He has given you of His bounty."
And whoever gives thanks to Allah for His blessings, he only gives thanks for his own soul.
Because Allah multiplies the reward for him for his gratitude to Him.
And saves him thereby from destruction.
And whoever denies the blessing of Allah upon him, he has wronged his own soul.
Because Allah will punish him for his ingratitude toward Him.
And Allah is free of need of his gratitude for His blessings.
He has no need of it.
He is praised in every circumstance.
Whether the servant denies His blessing or gives thanks for it.
And when Luqman said to his son while he was advising him:
“And (remember) when Luqman said unto his son, when he was exhorting him: O my dear son! Ascribe no partners unto Allah. Lo! to ascribe partners (unto Him) is a tremendous wrong -” (31:13)
“And (remember) when Luqman said unto his son, when he was exhorting him: O my dear son! Ascribe no partners unto Allah. Lo! to ascribe partners (unto Him) is a tremendous wrong -” (31:13)
And remember, O Muhammad,
When Luqman said to his son while he was advising him:
“And (remember) when Luqman said unto his son, when he was exhorting him: O my dear son! Ascribe no partners unto Allah. Lo! to ascribe partners (unto Him) is a tremendous wrong -” (31:13)
Indeed, polytheism is a great injustice in speech.
And We have enjoined upon man concerning his parents.
“And We have enjoined upon man concerning his partners - His mother beareth him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years - Give thanks unto Me and unto thy parents. Unto Me is the journeying.” (31:14)
“And We have enjoined upon man concerning his partners - His mother beareth him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years - Give thanks unto Me and unto thy parents. Unto Me is the journeying.” (31:14)
And his weaning is in two years.
"Give thanks to Me."
"Give thanks to Me."
"And to your parents; to Me is the final destination."
And We commanded man to be dutiful to his parents.
His mother carried him, weakness upon weakness.
And hardship upon hardship.
And his weaning is at the end of two years.
And We made a covenant with him: "Give thanks to Me."
For My blessings upon you.
And to your parents for their raising of you.
To Allah is your return, O man.
And He will ask you about your gratitude.
To Him for His blessings upon you.
And about your gratitude to your parents.
“But if they strive with thee to make thee ascribe unto Me as partner that of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Consort with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who repenteth unto Me. Then unto Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what ye used to do -” (31:15)
That of which you have no knowledge.
Then do not obey them.
“But if they strive with thee to make thee ascribe unto Me as partner that of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Consort with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who repenteth unto Me. Then unto Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what ye used to do -” (31:15)
“But if they strive with thee to make thee ascribe unto Me as partner that of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Consort with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who repenteth unto Me. Then unto Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what ye used to do -” (31:15)
Then to Me is your return.
And I will inform you of what you used to do.
And if they strive against you, O man,
And your parents, that you should associate with Me.
In your worship of Me, someone other than Me.
Of which you have no knowledge that I have a partner.
Then do not obey them.
But accompany them in the world with kindness.
In matters where there is no sin upon you.
And follow the path of those who have repented from their polytheism.
And returned to Islam.
For to Me is your return after your death.
And I will inform you of everything you used to do in the world.
Of good and evil.
“O my dear son! Lo! though it be but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.” (31:16)
“O my dear son! Lo! though it be but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.” (31:16)
Or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth.
Indeed, Allah is Subtle, Acquainted.
"O my son, indeed, if an act is the weight of a mustard seed,"
"Of good or evil that you have done,"
“O my dear son! Lo! though it be but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.” (31:16)
"Allah will bring it forth on the Day of Resurrection."
So that He may give you your full recompense.
Indeed, Allah is Subtle in extracting the seed from its place.
Wherever it may be, and He is Acquainted with its location.
“O my dear son! Establish worship and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and persevere whatever may befall thee. Lo! that is of the steadfast heart of things.” (31:17)
And enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you.
Indeed, that is of the matters requiring determination.
O my son, establish prayer according to its limits.
And command people to obey Allah and follow His command.
And forbid people from the disobedience of Allah and committing His prohibitions.
And be patient over what befalls you from the people for the sake of Allah.
Indeed, that is among the matters that Allah has commanded as a sign of determination.
“Turn not thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land. Lo! Allah loveth not each braggart boaster.” (31:18)
“Turn not thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land. Lo! Allah loveth not each braggart boaster.” (31:18)
And do not turn your cheek away from those you speak to, out of arrogance and contempt for them.
And do not walk upon the earth exultantly.
Indeed, Allah does not like everyone who is arrogant and boastful.
And be moderate in your walking and lower your voice.
“Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! the harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass.” (31:19)
And be humble in your walking when you walk.
Do not be arrogant and do not be hasty.
But be composed and lower your voice.
Indeed, the harshest of sounds is the voice of donkeys.
“See ye not how Allah hath made serviceable unto you whatsoever is in the skies and whatsoever is in the earth and hath loaded you with His favours both without and within? Yet of mankind is he who disputeth concerning Allah, without knowledge or guidance or a scripture giving light.” (31:20)
“See ye not how Allah hath made serviceable unto you whatsoever is in the skies and whatsoever is in the earth and hath loaded you with His favours both without and within? Yet of mankind is he who disputeth concerning Allah, without knowledge or guidance or a scripture giving light.” (31:20)
And among the people is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge, without guidance, and without an illuminating book.
Do you not see, O people, that Allah has subjected for you whatever is in the heavens, such as the sun and the moon?
And the stars and the clouds.
And whatever is on the earth of creatures and trees.
And water, the sea, and ships.
All of that runs for your benefit and your sustenance.
And He has bestowed upon you His blessings, which He has subjected for His servants, from what is in the heavens and the earth.
Manifest upon the tongues and the limbs.
And hidden in the hearts as belief and knowledge.
And among the people is he who disputes concerning the Oneness of Allah and the sincerity of obedience and worship to Him.
Without any knowledge on his part regarding what he disputes.
Nor any evidence by which he can clarify the truth of what he says.
Nor any revelation from Allah that came with what he claims to clarify the truth of his claim.
And when it is said to those who dispute about the Oneness of Allah:
"Follow, O people, what Allah has revealed to His Messenger."
They say:
“And if it be said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, they say: Nay, but we follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though the devil were inviting them unto the doom of flame?” (31:21)
Even if Satan is inviting them, by his beautification of their evil deeds to them,
To the punishment of the Fire that rages and blazes.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.