honored. Whoever prefers this world over the Hereafter will be tempted by this world and will not attain the Hereafter.”

The angels were amazed by the excellence of his words. He then fell asleep and was granted wisdom; when he awoke, he was speaking with it. After him, David was called and accepted it, without imposing the conditions that Luqman had imposed. Thus, he fell into error more than once, yet Allah pardoned him in every instance. Luqman would support him with his wisdom. (1)

Khalid al-Raba‘i said: “Luqman was an Abyssinian slave and a carpenter.” (2) Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib said: “He was a tailor.” (3) It was also said that he was a shepherd. It is related that a man met him while he was speaking words of wisdom and said: “Are you not so-and-so, the shepherd? How did you attain what you have attained?” He replied: “Through truthful speech, fulfilling trusts, and leaving what does not concern me.” (4)

Mujahid said: “He was a black slave, with large lips and cracked feet.” (5)

His saying—Exalted is He—:

“Be grateful to Allah. Whoever is grateful is grateful only for his own benefit; and whoever is ungrateful, then Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.”

“And when Luqman said to his son, as he advised him, ‘O my dear son, do not associate anything with Allah. Indeed, associating others with Him is a tremendous wrong.’ (13) And We have enjoined upon man care for his parents. His mother carried him, weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the final return.” (14)

“And when Luqman said to his son”—whose name was An‘am, though it is also said to have been Mishkam—“as he advised him, ‘O my dear son, do not associate anything with Allah. Indeed, associating others with Him is a tremendous wrong.’”

Ibn Kathir recited the phrase, “O my dear son, do not associate anything with Allah,” with the final letter yā’ silent. Hafs recited it with an a-vowel, while the remaining reciters read it with an i-vowel. In the phrase, “O my dear son, indeed it is ...,” Hafs read the final yā’ with an a-vowel, while the remaining reciters read it with an i-vowel. In the phrase, “O my dear son, establish prayer,” al-Bazzi, reporting from Ibn Kathir, and Hafs read the final yā’ with an a-vowel; al-Qawwas read it silent; and the remaining reciters read it with an i-vowel.

“And We have enjoined upon man care for his parents. His mother carried him, weakness upon weakness.” Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Hardship after hardship.” Al-Dahhak said: “Weakness upon weakness.” Mujahid said: “Difficulty upon difficulty.” Al-Zajjaj said: “When a woman becomes pregnant, weakness and hardship come upon her one after another.” It is also said: Pregnancy is a weakness, labor is a weakness, and childbirth is a weakness.

“And his weaning”—that is, his being weaned—“is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the final return,” meaning, the return. Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah said concerning this verse: “Whoever performs the five daily prayers has thanked Allah, and whoever supplicates for his parents after the five daily prayers has thanked his parents.”