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Surah 31 · Makkah · 34 āyāt
Phase 04 · Ṭāʾif, al-Isrāʾ and the final Makkan years(c. 5–1 BH) — view in timelineLuqmānLuqmān
لقمان
Revealed 57th. A short surah built around the advice of a wise man — not a prophet — to his son: do not associate anything with Allah, be grateful, know that nothing is too small or hidden for Allah to bring forth, establish prayer, enjoin good, forbid wrong, be patient, do not turn your cheek to people in scorn, be moderate in your walk and lower your voice. Around this counsel the surah places gratitude to parents with a firm limit on obedience, and closes with the five matters whose knowledge belongs to Allah alone.
Why it was revealed
Many early Muslims were being pressured by their own parents to return to idolatry. The surah answers that exact tension: excellence to parents is obligatory, obedience in shirk is not.
Drawn fromMuslim 1748 (Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ and his mother); al-Qurṭubī on 31:15; Al-Qurṭubī on 31:6, citing Ibn Masʿūd and Ibn ʿAbbās; Ibn Kathīr on 31:13–19; Ibn Kathīr on 31:14–15
Reports connect āyāt 14–15 to the Muslims whose parents pressured them to abandon Islam; the most detailed narration of that kind concerns Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ and his mother's hunger strike, recorded in Muslim regarding a parallel āyah, and mentioned by the mufassirūn here as illustrating the same ruling.
Cited toMuslim 1748 (Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ and his mother); Ibn Kathīr on 31:14–15; al-Qurṭubī on 31:15
In the Prophet's ﷺ life
Muslim converts pressured by their families
New Muslims in Makkah faced their closest relatives demanding they abandon the faith; the surah defines the boundary — kindness in the world, no obedience in shirk.
Recalled in āyah 14, 15
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.
وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا ۖ وَٱتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَىَّ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.
Cited toIbn Kathīr on 31:14–15
- Madd — 2 vowels
- Madd — 2, 4 or 6 vowels
- Madd — 6 vowels (lāzim)
- Madd — 4 or 5 vowels (wājib)
- Ghunnah — 2 vowels
- Qalqalah
- Ikhfāʾ
- Ikhfāʾ shafawī
- Idghām shafawī
- Idghām with ghunnah
- Idghām without ghunnah
- Idghām mutajānisayn
- Idghām mutaqāribayn
- Iqlāb
- Hamzat al-waṣl
- Lām shamsiyyah
- Silent letter
Tajwīd markup and colour convention: Quran.com API (v4) — text_uthmani_tajweed. Recitation audio: Quran.com / Quran Foundation Audio API (v4).
We gave Luqmān wisdom — be grateful
And We had certainly given Luqmān wisdom: be grateful to Allah. Whoever is grateful is grateful for his own benefit, and whoever denies — then Allah is free of need, praiseworthy. And when Luqmān said to his son, admonishing him: O my son, do not associate anything with Allah; indeed association is a great injustice.
Drawn fromBukhārī 32 and Muslim 124; Ibn Kathīr on 31:12
وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَـٰنُ لِٱبْنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُۥ يَـٰبُنَىَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
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And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Luqmān said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allāh. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice."
From the tafsīr
Luqmān is described by most of the salaf as a righteous wise man, not a prophet — showing wisdom is granted to sincere servants, not only to prophets.
Cited toIbn Kathīr on 31:12
When 'those who believed and did not mix their faith with injustice' was revealed the Companions were alarmed, and the Prophet ﷺ explained the injustice meant is shirk, citing this very āyah of Luqmān.
Cited toBukhārī 32 and Muslim 124
Key takeaways
- Wisdom is a gift open to any sincere servant.
Drawn fromBukhārī 32 and Muslim 124; Ibn Kathīr on 31:12
- Gratitude is defined as benefiting the grateful, not Allah.
Drawn fromBukhārī 32 and Muslim 124; Ibn Kathīr on 31:12
- Shirk is classified as injustice — misplacing a right that belongs to Allah.
Drawn fromBukhārī 32 and Muslim 124; Ibn Kathīr on 31:12
Reflect
Write down three blessings you have never explicitly thanked Allah for by name.
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Question 1 of 2
How did the Prophet ﷺ explain 'injustice' when the Companions were alarmed?
Question 2 of 2
Was Luqmān a prophet?
Excellence to parents, obedience only within obedience to Allah
We enjoined upon man care for his parents — his mother carried him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years — be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the destination. But if they strive to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them, and accompany them in this world with kindness.
Drawn fromAl-Saʿdī on 31:14; Ibn Kathīr on 31:15
وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
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And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.
وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا ۖ وَٱتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَىَّ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
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But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.
From the tafsīr
The refusal to obey in shirk does not cancel excellent companionship; the two commands stand together — no obedience in disobedience to Allah, and no harshness towards parents.
Cited toIbn Kathīr on 31:15
Gratitude to Allah is placed before gratitude to parents, and the mother's specific hardship is named because her right is heavier.
Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 31:14
Key takeaways
- The boundary is precise: obedience stops at shirk, kindness does not stop at all.
Drawn fromAl-Saʿdī on 31:14; Ibn Kathīr on 31:15
- Thanks to Allah is mentioned first; thanks to parents flows from it.
Drawn fromAl-Saʿdī on 31:14; Ibn Kathīr on 31:15
- The mother's hardship is named explicitly as the reason for her greater right.
Drawn fromAl-Saʿdī on 31:14; Ibn Kathīr on 31:15
Reflect
Is there a place where you have confused refusing a parent's demand with treating them badly?
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Question 1 of 2
What does 31:15 command towards parents who demand shirk?
Question 2 of 2
Why is the mother's condition described in 31:14?
O my son: the counsel in full
O my son, if it should be the weight of a mustard seed, within a rock or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you — that is of the matters requiring determination. And do not turn your cheek in contempt towards people, nor walk through the earth exultantly. Be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; the harshest of sounds is the voice of donkeys.
Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 31:18; Al-Saʿdī on 31:16; Ibn Kathīr on 31:17
يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ أَوْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ
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[And Luqmān said], "O my son, indeed if it [i.e., a wrong] should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allāh will bring it forth. Indeed, Allāh is Subtle and Aware.
يَـٰبُنَىَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱنْهَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ
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O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] resolve.
وَٱقْصِدْ فِى مَشْيِكَ وَٱغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلْأَصْوَٰتِ لَصَوْتُ ٱلْحَمِيرِ
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And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys."
From the tafsīr
Patience is placed immediately after enjoining good and forbidding wrong, because the one who does this will inevitably be harmed and must be prepared for it.
Cited toIbn Kathīr on 31:17
'Do not turn your cheek' describes the gesture of a person who turns his face away from others out of pride; the surah legislates against arrogance in body language, not only in belief.
Cited toAl-Qurṭubī on 31:18
Awareness that nothing escapes Allah — down to a mustard seed inside a rock — is presented as the foundation of every act of obedience that follows.
Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 31:16
Key takeaways
- Belief in Allah's total awareness precedes and powers every command.
Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 31:18; Al-Saʿdī on 31:16; Ibn Kathīr on 31:17
- Whoever calls to good must budget for the harm that follows.
Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 31:18; Al-Saʿdī on 31:16; Ibn Kathīr on 31:17
- Arrogance is regulated in gait, gaze and volume — not just in the heart.
Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 31:18; Al-Saʿdī on 31:16; Ibn Kathīr on 31:17
Reflect
Which of Luqmān's five instructions is weakest in you right now?
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Why does patience follow enjoining good in 31:17, per Ibn Kathīr?
Question 2 of 2
What does 'do not turn your cheek' address per al-Qurṭubī?
The five whose knowledge is with Allah alone
If all the trees on earth were pens and the sea were ink, replenished by seven more seas, the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Then the warning not to let the deceiver deceive you about Allah, and the closing āyah: with Allah alone is knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, He knows what is in the wombs, no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die.
Drawn fromBukhārī 4697; Ibn Kathīr on 31:27
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ
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Indeed, Allāh [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.
From the tafsīr
The Prophet ﷺ identified these five as the keys of the unseen which none knows but Allah, citing this closing āyah.
Cited toBukhārī 4697
The parable of the pens and seas concerns the limitlessness of Allah's words and knowledge, not the quantity of any book.
Cited toIbn Kathīr on 31:27
Key takeaways
- Five specific matters are fenced off from all human claim to knowledge.
Drawn fromBukhārī 4697; Ibn Kathīr on 31:27
- Allah's knowledge is presented as inexhaustible by any measure of ink or pens.
Drawn fromBukhārī 4697; Ibn Kathīr on 31:27
- False confidence about the future is treated as a form of being deceived.
Drawn fromBukhārī 4697; Ibn Kathīr on 31:27
Reflect
What are you planning as if tomorrow were guaranteed to you?
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Question 1 of 2
What did the Prophet ﷺ call the five matters in 31:34?
Question 2 of 2
What does the parable of pens and seas in 31:27 describe?
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Roots from this surah
Learn the three-letter root and you unlock every word built from it — across the whole Qur'an, not just this surah.
ح ك م
āyāt 12wisdom: putting each thing in its right place
- حِكْمَةwisdom
- حَكِيمwise
- أَحْكَمَhe made firm
ش ك ر
āyāt 12, 14to acknowledge a favour and act upon it
- شُكْرgratitude
- شَاكِرgrateful
- شَكُورdeeply appreciative
ظ ل م
āyāt 13to place something where it does not belong; injustice
- ظُلْمinjustice
- ظَالِمa wrongdoer
- مَظْلُومone wronged
و ه ن
āyāt 14weakness, frailty
- وَهْنweakness
- وَاهِنweak
- أَوْهَنُweaker
ق ص د
āyāt 19to aim; to keep to the middle course
- ٱقْصِدْbe moderate
- مُقْتَصِدone on a middle course
- قَصْدmoderation, intent
ص ب ر
āyāt 17to restrain the self under difficulty
- ٱصْبِرْbe patient
- صَبْرpatience
- صَابِرpatient one
Carry this with you
- Wisdom is granted to sincere servants, not reserved for prophets.
- Gratitude benefits the grateful; Allah is free of need.
- Shirk is named injustice because it misplaces what belongs to Allah alone.
- Be excellent to parents always; obey them in everything except disobedience to Allah.
- Nothing is too small or too hidden for Allah to produce on the Day of Judgement.
- Whoever calls to good must plan for the harm that follows it.
- Humility is measured in your walk, your gaze and the volume of your voice.
- Five things are known to Allah alone — plan tomorrow without pretending to own it.
Where this surah connects
Cross-surah threads
Parts of the Qurʾān explain other parts. Each thread below opens the same subject as it is argued across every other surah you have studied, in revelation order.
Sources behind Sūrah Luqmān
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Ḥadīth5
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Luqmān · Excellence to parents, obedience only within obedience to Allah
Why is the mother's condition described in 31:14?
Arabic (Uthmānī script) and the Ṣaḥīḥ International translation are fetched live from the Quran.com API (v4), sourced from the King Fahd Complex muṣḥaf — api.quran.com API docs · Translation: Ṣaḥīḥ International · Integrity & testing protocol