Luqman

Luqman is a man to whom God granted wisdom. The Quran recounts the counsel he gave to his son — a condensed spirituality and morality that makes him one of the most beautiful figures of transmission between a father and his child.

God granted Luqman wisdom, and with it gratitude — for the first sign of wisdom is to thank the One who gives.

The Quran retains above all the counsel Luqman gave his son, out of love. He began with the most essential: to associate nothing with God, for idolatry is the gravest of injustices. He taught him that nothing escapes God — not even an action the weight of a mustard seed, hidden in a rock.

He recommended performing prayer, inviting to good and turning away from evil, and bearing trials patiently. He warned against pride: not turning one's face away from people in contempt, not walking the earth with insolence. And he concluded with an image that has remained famous: be humble in your gait, lower your voice — for the most detestable of voices is that of the donkey.

Luqman teaches that true wisdom is transmitted, and that it consists of few things: worshipping God alone, knowing He sees all, praying, doing good, enduring, and remaining humble. A father has no more beautiful legacy to leave his child.

وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ

Louqman exhorta un jour son fils : « Mon fils ! Garde-toi d’associer de fausses divinités à Allah, car tu commettrais une grave injustice. »

31:13

وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

Garde-toi d’afficher de l’arrogance ou de marcher avec insolence. Allah n’aime pas tout être orgueilleux et prétentieux.

31:18