Tafseer of Surat Luqman (2)

Al Salam alaikum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatoh

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful



{ألم تروا أن الله سخر لكم ما في السماوات وما في الأرض وأسبغ عليكم نعمه ظاهرة وباطنة ومن الناس من يجادل في الله بغير علم ولا هدًى ولا كتاب منير}

See you not (O men) that Allah has subjected for you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and  has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, (both) apparent (i.e.  Islamic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks) and hidden [i.e. one's faith in Allah (of Islamic Monotheism), knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise]?  Yet of mankind is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge or guidance or a Book giving light!

{وإذا قيل لهم اتبعوا ما أنزل الله قالوا بل نتبع ما وجدنا عليه آباءنا أولو كان الشيطان يدعوهم إلى عذاب السعير}

And when it is said to them:  "Follow that which Allah has sent down," they say:  "Nay, we shall follow that which we found our fathers (following)." ( Would they do so) even if Shaitan (Satan) invites them to the torment of the Fire?

{ومن يسلم وجهه إلى الله وهو محسن فقد استمسك بالعروة الوثقى وإلى الله عاقبة الأمور}

And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allah, while he is a Muhsin (good-doer, i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allah's sake without any show-off or to gain praise or fame and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger Muhammad Salla Allah alaihi wa Sallam), then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold [La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)].  And to Allah return all matters for decision.

{ومن كفر فلا يحزنك كفره إلينا مرجعهم فننبئهم بما عملوا إن الله عليم بذات الصدور}

And whoever disbelieves, let not his disbelief grieve you (O Muhammad Salla Allah alaihi wa Sallam).  To Us is their return, and We shall inform them what is they have done.  Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men).

{نمتعهم قليلاً ثم نضطرهم إلى عذاب غليظ}

We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment.

{ولئن سألتهم من خلق السماوات والأرض ليقولن الله قل الحمد لله بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون}

And if you (O Muhammad Salla Allah alaihi wa Sallam) ask them:  "Who has created the heavens and the earth," they will certainly say:  "Allah.  "All praise and thanks are Allah's!"  But most of them know not. 

{لله ما في السماوات والأرض إن الله هو الغني الحميد}

To Allah belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth.  Verily, Allah, He is Al-Ghani (The Rich, Free of all needs), the Worthy of all praise.

{ولو أنما في الأرض من شجرة أقلام والبحر يمده من بعده سبعة أبحر ما نفدت كلمات الله إن الله عزيز حكيم}

And if all the trees on the earth were pens and the sea (were ink wherewith to write), with seven seas behind it to add to its (supply), yet the Words of Allah would not be exhausted.  Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, all-Wise.

{ما خلقكم ولا بعثكم إلا كنفس واحدة إن الله سميع بصير}

The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as (the creation and resurrection of) a single person.  Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer.

{ألم تر أن الله يولج الليل في النهار ويولج النهار في الليل وسخر الشمس والقمر كل يجري إلى أجل مسمًى وأن الله بما تعملون خبير}

See you not (O Muhammad Salla Allah alaihi wa Sallam) that Allah merges the night into the day (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the night are added to the hours of the day), and merges the day into the night (i.e. the decrease in the hours of day are added to the hours of night), and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running its course for a term appointed; and that Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.

{ذلك بأن الله هو الحق وأن ما يدعون من دونه الباطل وأن الله هو العلي الكبير}

That is because Allah, He is the Truth, and that which they invoke besides Him is Al-Batil (falsehood, Satan and all other false deities); and that Allah, He is the Most High, the Most Great.

{ألم تر أن الفلك تجري في البحر بنعمة الله ليريكم من آياته إن في ذلك لآيات لكل صبار شكور}

See you not that the ships sail through the sea by Allah's Grace that He may show you of His Signs?  Verily, in this are signs for every patient, grateful (person).

{وإذا غشيهم موج كالظلل دعوا الله مخلصين له الدين فلما نجاهم إلى البر فمنهم مقتصد وما يجحد بآياتنا إلا كل ختار كفور}

And when waves cover them like shades (i.e. like clouds or the mountains of sea water), they invoke Allah, making their invocations for Him only.  But when He brings them safe to land, there are among them those that stop in between (Belief and disbelief).  But none denies Our Signs except every perfidious ingrate.

{يا أيها الناس اتقوا ربكم واخشوا يومًا لا يجزي والد عن ولده ولا مولود هو جاز عن والده شيئًا إن وعد الله حق فلا تغرنكم الحياة الدنيا ولا يغرنكم بالله الغرور}

O mankind!  Be afraid of your Lord (by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all evil), and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father.  Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.

{إن الله عنده علم الساعة وينزل الغيث ويعلم ما في الأرحام وما تدري نفس ماذا تكسب غدًا وما تدري نفس بأي أرض تموت إن الله عليم خبير}

Verily, Allah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs.  No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die.  Verily, Allah is All-Knower, Well-Acquainted (with things).

سورة لقمان 20 - 34

The Source:

Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Qur'an In The English Language 

A Summarized Version of At-Tabari, Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir with comments from Sahih Al-Bukhari.

Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan

Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali

DARUSSALAM