Surah 31: Luqman | Original English Commentary | Project Illumine

[@timur2398]

Relistened to it again and came away with even more notes. Simply fascinating.

[@donomar4815]

Thank you for this tafssir

[@stephenconnolly1830]

[PART 2 - Surah Luqman timestamps continued] 2:03:30 the opinion of the Fuqaha \ scholars: no excuse for blindly following leaders/rulers, as despicable as blind obedience to parents. 2:05:20 Ayah #33: "ya-ayyuh an-nas uttaqu rabbakum wakh'shaw yawma la yajzee walidun aw waladihi wala mawludoon hoowa jazin aw walidihi shaya inna wa'd al-laahi haqq fala taghurrannakum ul-hayat ud-dun'ya wala yaghurrannakum bil-lah il-gharoor" (O people! Be conscious of your Lord, and dread a Day when no parent can avail his child, nor can a child avail his parent, in anything. The promise of God is true. Therefore, do not let this life deceive you, nor let illusions deceive you regarding God). 2:07:25 Ayah #34: "inn al-laaha indahu il'm us-sa'ati wayunazzil ul-ghaytha waya'lamu ma fil-arham wama tadri nafsun madha taksibu ghada wama tadri nafsun bi-ayyi ardin tamut inn al-laaha alimun khabeer" (With God rests the knowledge of the Hour. He sends down the rain, and He knows what the wombs contain. No soul knows what it will reap tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. God is All-Knowing, Well-Informed). 2:08:54 Surah Luqman summarised: the role of Hikma \ wisdom anchored on gratitude, goodness/virtue and knowledge; that without humility knowledge cannot be obtained; a late Meccan Surah; Dar al-Hikma \ the House of Knowledge in Baghdad adorned with Ayah #27 from Surah Luqman; wisdom being the knowledge of priorities among things with gratitude to Allah being first in any system. Amen

[@stephenconnolly1830]

TIMESTAMPS Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem [Grace Song's preamble focusing on Palestine, the most recent Friday Khutbah and community activities until 6:25] 7:05 Surah Luqman, #31, Chapter Luqman; its occurrence (a Meccan chapter) in the revelation. 11:40 positioning in the revelation. 12:45 exploration of the name of the chapter and origin of its namesake. 18:10 the emphasis of Hikma \ wisdom in the chapter. 19:17 emphasis on Ihsan \ goodness - the dynamic between Ihsan and Hikma. 22:44 the additional key information provided in the Qur'an beyond the existing mythical accounts about Luqman. 25:13 Ayah #1: "alif, lam, meem" (A L M). 25:45 Ayah #2: "til'ka ayat ul-kitab il-hakeem" (These are the Verses of the Wise Book). 26:00 Ayah #3: "hudan warahmata lil'muh'sineen" (A guide and a mercy for the righteous). 26:27 Ayah #4: "alladheena yuqeemoon as-salata wayu'toon az-zakata wahum bil-akhirati hum yuqinoon" (Those who observe the prayer, and pay the obligatory charity, and are certain of the Hereafter). 29:05 Ayah #5: "oola-ika ala hudan min rabbihim wa-oola-ika hum ul-muf'lihoon" (These are upon guidance from their Lord. These are the successful). 29:33 Ayah #6: "wamin an-nasi may yashtari lahw al-hadeethi liyudilla an sabeel il-laahi bighayri il'min wayattakhidhaha huzoowa oola-ika lahum adhabun muheen" (Among the people is he who trades in distracting tales; intending, without knowledge, to lead away from God's way, and to make a mockery of it. These will have a humiliating punishment) Ayah #7: "wa-idha tut'la alayhi ayatuna walla mus'takbiran ka-a lam yasma'ha ka-anna fi udhunayhi waqra fabashir'hu bi'adhabin aleem" (And when Our Verses are recited to him, he turns away in pride, as though he did not hear them, as though there is deafness in his ears. So inform him of a painful punishment). 31:50 the famous Hadith where the angel Gabriel approaches the Prophet as a man asking him about the meaning of Ihsan. 35:30 the concept of Lahwa al-Hadeeth \ idle talk, not necessarily revealed to deal with the claims of a particular individual at a specific time in Mecca - its broader applicability. 43:50 the hypocrites of Medina's consistent recitation of Surah al-Abasa because of the presumed detriment to the Prophet - the applicability of Ayah #6 from Surah Luqman in this and similar situations. 46:00 the various schools of thought, including the Wahhabis, citing Ayah #6 as an evidence for proscribing music with an exploration of the problems with this view and associated nuances. 49:25 the broader scope of Ayah #6 in reality - sophistry of all kinds employed to sow confusion. 51:22 juristic discourse concerning Ayah #7 - the additional offence of pride. 54:08 Ayah #8: "inn alladheena amanoo wa'amil oos-salihati lahum jannat un-na'eem" (As for those who believe and do good deeds-for them are the Gardens of Bliss). 54:23 Ayah #9: "khalideena feeha wa'd al-laahi haqqa wahoow al-'azeez ul-hakeem" (Dwelling therein forever. The promise of God is true. He is the Mighty, the Wise). 55:07 Ayah #10: "khalaq as-samawati bighayri amadin tarawnaha wa-alqa fil-ardi rawasiya an tameeda bikum wabatha feeha min kulli dabba wa-anzalna min as-samai ma-an fa-anbatna feeha min kulli zawjin kareem" (He created the heavens without pillars that you can see, and placed stabilisers on earth lest it shifts with you, and scattered throughout it all kinds of creatures. And from the sky We sent down water, and caused to grow therein of every noble pair) - taking the information contained in this verse for granted in the present era, not so in the pre-modern age. 58:30 Ayah #11: "hadha khalq ul-laahi fa-arooni madha khalaqa alladheena min dooni bal ith-thalimoona fi dalalin mubeen" (Such is God's creation. Now show me what those besides Him have created. In fact, the wicked are in obvious error). 59:10 Ayah #12: "walaqad atayna luq'man al-hik'mata ani ush'kur lillah wamay yashkur fa-innama yashkuru linafsih waman kafara fa-inn al-laaha ghaniyyun hameed" (We endowed Luqman with wisdom: "Give thanks to God." Whoever is appreciative-is appreciative for the benefit of his own soul. And whoever is unappreciative-God is Sufficient and Praiseworthy) - virtue and revelation in the context of, for example, Robinson Crusoe shipwrecked on a deserted island. 1:07:07 the beginning of virtue being gratitude - ingratitude consonant with immorality. 1:12:30 Ayah #13: "wa-idh qala luq'manu li-ib'nihi wahoowa ya'ithuhu yabunayya la tush'rik bil-laahi inn ash-shir'ka lathul'mun atheem" (When Luqman said to his son, as he advised him, "O my son, do not associate anything with God, for idolatry is a terrible wrong") - parenting with wisdom a key institution. 1:16:25 Ayah #14: "wawassayna al-insana biwalidayhi hamalathu ummuhu wahnan ala wahnin wafisaluhu fi amayni ani ush'kur li waliwalidayka ilayy al-maseer" (We have entrusted the human being with the care of his parents. His mother carried him through hardship upon hardship, weaning him in two years. So give thanks to Me, and to your parents. To Me is the destination). 1:17:30 Ayah #15: "wa-in jahadaka ala an tush'rika bi ma laysa laka bihi il'mun fala tuti'huma wasahib'huma fid-dun'ya ma'roofa wa-ittabi' sabeela man anaba ilayy thumma ilayya marji'ukum fa-unabbi-ukum bima kuntum ta'maloon" (But if they strive to have you associate with Me something of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. But keep them company in this life, in kindness, and follow the path of him who turns to Me. Then to Me is your return; and I will inform you of what you used to do). 1:19:40 the reports about Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas possibly being the occasion of revelation of the Ayah. 1:22:30 the relationship of gratitude not trumping ethical/moral considerations and righteous injunctions. 1:23:43 Ayah #16: "yabunayya innaha in taku mith'qala habbatin min khardalin fatakun fi sakhratin aw fis-samawati aw fil-ardi yati biha al-laah inn al-laaha latifun khabeer" ("O my son, even if it were the weight of a mustard-seed, in a rock, or in the heavens, or on earth, God will bring it to light. God is Kind and Expert"). 1:25:08 Ayah #17: "yabunayya aqim is-salata wamur bil-ma'roofi wa-in'ha an il-munkari was'bir ala ma asabak inna dhalika min azm il-umoor" (O my son, observe the prayer, advocate righteousness, forbid evil, and be patient over what has befallen you. These are of the most honourable traits) - holding steadfast when confronting the inevitable hardship requiring perseverance and a powerful resolve to adhere to this path. 1:30:25 with reference to the later work of Thomas Aquinas, e.g. Summa Theologica ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Theologica ). 1:31:11 Ayah #18: "wala tusa'ir khaddaka linnasi wala tamshi fil-ardi maraha inn al-laaha lay yuhibbu kulla mukh'talin fakhoor" (And do not treat people with arrogance, nor walk proudly on earth. God does not love the arrogant showoffs) - with reference to the subconscious turning of one's cheek away from others; vainglory/narcism; travelling (with an entourage) to show off. 1:37:52 Ayah #19: "wa-iq'sid fi mashyika wa-ugh'dud min sawtik inna ankar al-aswati lasawt ul-hameer" (And moderate your stride, and lower your voice. The most repulsive of voices is the donkey's voice") - meaning, yelling and screaming equal to the unpleasant, unbecoming noise of the braying of a donkey. 1:40:20 the end of Luqman's lesson to his son. 1:44:30 Ayah #20: "alam taraw ann al-laha sakhara lakum ma fis-samawati wama fil-ardi wa-asbagh alaykum ni'amahu thahirata wabatina wamin an-nasi may yujadilu fil-laahi bighayri il'min wala huda wala kitabin muneer" (Do you not see how God placed at your service everything in the heavens and the earth? How He showered you with His blessings, both outward and inward? Yet among the people is he who argues about God without knowledge, without guidance, and without an enlightening Scripture). 1:45:35 Ayah #21: "wa-idha qila lahumu ittabi'oo ma anzal al-laahu qaloo bal nattabi'u ma wajadna alayhi abaana awalaw kana ash-shaytanu yad'oohum ila adhab is-sa'eer" (And when it is said to them, "Follow what God has revealed," they say, "Rather, we follow what we found our parents devoted to." Even if Satan is calling them to the suffering of the Blaze?). 1:46:40 Ayah #22: "waman yus'lim wajhahu ila al-laahi wahoowa muh'sinun faqadi is'tamsaka bil-'ur'wat il-wuth'qa wa-il al-laahi aqibat ul-umoor" (Whoever submits himself wholly to God, and is a doer of good, has grasped the most trustworthy handle. With God rests the outcome of all events). 1:48:30 Ayah #23: (Whoever disbelieves-let not his disbelief sadden you. To Us is their return. Then We will inform them of what they did. God knows what lies within the hearts). 1:49:18 Ayah #27: "walaw annama fil-ardi min shajaratin aqlamun wal-bahru yamudduhu min ba'dihi sab'atu abhurin ma nafidat kalimatu al-laahi inn al-laaha azeezun hakeem" (If all the trees on earth were pens, filled by the ocean, with seven more oceans besides, the Words of God would not run out. God is Majestic and Wise) - the miniscule knowledge of man in comparison to God's. The reported supposed disputations with Quraysh and, also, the Jews of Madinah over this Ayah discussed. 1:55:05 the response to the Jewish assertion not to need any reference beyond the Torah - God's knowledge transcending any one book/revelation. 1:58:14 Ayah #32: "wa-idha ghashiyahum mawjun kath-thulali da'aw ul-laaha mukh'liseena lah ud-deena falamma najjahum il al-bari famin'hum muq'tasid wama yajhadu biayatina illa kullu khattarin kafoor" (When waves, like canopies, cover them, they call upon God, devoting their religion to Him. But when He has delivered them to dry land, some of them waver. No one renounces Our revelations except the treacherous blasphemer). [Surah Luqman timestamps continued - PART 2]