and it is the rock mentioned by Luqman, which is neither in heaven nor on earth; and the rock is upon the wind. (1) “Or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Most Subtle” in bringing it out, “All-Aware” of its location. Al-Hasan said: “The meaning of the verse is that He encompasses all things, both small and great.” It is stated in some books that these were the last words Luqman spoke; such was their awe-inspiring gravity that his gallbladder burst, and he died.

“O my dear son, establish the prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and bear patiently whatever befalls you. Indeed, that is among the matters requiring firm resolve. (17) Do not turn your cheek away from people in contempt, nor walk arrogantly upon the earth. Indeed, Allah does not love anyone who is self-conceited and boastful. (18) Be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most repulsive of voices is the braying of donkeys. (19)”

“O my dear son, establish the prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and bear patiently whatever befalls you,” meaning, the harm you suffer. “Indeed, that is among the matters requiring firm resolve,” referring to enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and patiently bearing the harm entailed by them. These are among the obligatory matters Allah has commanded, or among the matters which one must firmly undertake because of their obligatory nature.

“Do not turn your cheek away from people in contempt.” Ibn Kathir, Ibn ‘Amir, ‘Asim, Abu Ja‘far, and Ya‘qub recited it as tuṣa‘‘ir, with the second radical doubled and without an alif, while the others recited tuṣā‘ir, with an alif. One says ṣa‘‘ara wajhahu and ṣā‘ara when someone turns his face aside and away arrogantly. A man described as aṣ‘ar is one whose neck is bent to one side. Ibn ‘Abbas said: “It means: Do not be arrogant, looking down on people and turning your face away from them when they speak to you.” Mujahid said: “It is when there is enmity between you and another man, and when you meet him, he turns his face away from you.” ‘Ikrimah said: “It is the one who twists his neck arrogantly when greeted.” Al-Rabi‘ ibn Anas and Qatadah said: “Do not look down on the poor; let ⦗73/a⦘ the poor and the wealthy be equal in your sight.”

“Nor walk arrogantly upon the earth,” that is, with haughty pride. “Indeed, Allah does not love anyone who is self-conceited” in his manner of walking, “and boastful” toward people. “Be moderate in your pace,” meaning: let your walk be measured, neither swaggering nor hurried. ‘Ata’ said: “Walk with dignity and composure, as in His saying: ‘They walk humbly upon the earth’ (al-Furqan, 63).” “And lower your voice,” that is, reduce your voice. Muqatil said: “Lower your voice.” “Indeed, the most repulsive of voices,” meaning the ugliest of voices, “is the braying of donkeys”: its beginning is a harsh exhalation and its end is a gasping inhalation, and these are the sounds of the people of the Fire.