Revealed during the middle Makkan period, Surah Luqman focuses on establishing the core components of wisdom and correct belief through the touching advice of Luqman the Wise to his son. It addresses the pagans of Makkah who ridiculed the Quran by defining true wisdom as gratitude to God and the avoidance of polytheism (Shirk). The chapter chronicles Luqman's counsels, which include respect for parents, regular prayer, commanding good and forbidding evil, and walking upon the earth with humility rather than arrogance. It emphasizes the ultimate limitations of human knowledge, reminding humanity that only God knows the secrets of the womb, what tomorrow brings, and when a person will die.
Transliteration
Aliflammeem
Translation
Alif, Lam, Meem
These three disjointed letters ('Alif-Lam-Mim') are Huruf Muqatta'at, whose divine meaning rests with Allah alone. They introduce a chapter rich in timeless parental wisdom and moral character.
Transliteration
Tilka ayatu alkitabi alhakeemi
Translation
These are the Verses of the Wise Book
Transliteration
Hudan warahmatan lilmuhsineena
Translation
A guide and a mercy for the righteous
Transliteration
Allatheena yuqeemoona alssalata wayutoona alzzakata wahum bialakhirati hum yooqinoona
Translation
Those who observe the prayer, and pay the obligatory charity, and are certain of the Hereafter
Transliteration
Olaika AAala hudan min rabbihim waolaika humu almuflihoona
Translation
These are upon guidance from their Lord. These are the successful
Transliteration
Wamina alnnasi man yashtaree lahwa alhadeethi liyudilla AAan sabeeli Allahi bighayri AAilmin wayattakhithaha huzuwan olaika lahum AAathabun muheenun
Translation
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
Revealed concerning the pagan merchant al-Nadr ibn al-Harith, who purchased popular Persian fantasy epics and hired singing girls to host loud drinking parties to distract Meccans whenever the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ began reciting the Quran.
Transliteration
Waitha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna walla mustakbiran kaan lam yasmaAAha kaanna fee othunayhi waqran fabashshirhu biAAathabin aleemin
Translation
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
Transliteration
Inna allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati lahum jannatu alnnaAAeemi
Translation
As for those who believe and do good deeds—for them are the Gardens of Bliss
Transliteration
Khalideena feeha waAAda Allahi haqqan wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu
Translation
Dwelling therein forever. The promise of God is true. He is the Mighty, the Wise
Transliteration
Khalaqa alssamawati bighayri AAamadin tarawnaha waalqa fee alardi rawasiya an tameeda bikum wabaththa feeha min kulli dabbatin waanzalna mina alssamai maan faanbatna feeha min kulli zawjin kareemin
Translation
He created the heavens without pillars that you can see, and placed stabilizers 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
Transliteration
Hatha khalqu Allahi faaroonee matha khalaqa allatheena min doonihi bali alththalimoona fee dalalin mubeenin
Translation
Such is God’s creation. Now show me what those besides Him have created. In fact, the wicked are in obvious error
Transliteration
Walaqad atayna luqmana alhikmata ani oshkur lillahi waman yashkur fainnama yashkuru linafsihi waman kafara fainna Allaha ghaniyyun hameedun
Translation
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
Introduces Luqman, an ancient, renowned sage blessed with profound practical wisdom ('Hikmah'). Though not a prophet, his ethical guidance is preserved in the Quran as an enduring model of righteous parenting.
Transliteration
Waith qala luqmanu liibnihi wahuwa yaAAithuhu ya bunayya la tushrik biAllahi inna alshshirka lathulmun AAatheemun
Translation
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.”
Luqman's foremost counsel to his son: never associate partners with God, explaining that polytheism is the ultimate injustice ('Dhulm') because it attributes the gifts of the Creator to created objects.
Transliteration
Wawassayna alinsana biwalidayhi hamalathu ommuhu wahnan AAala wahnin wafisaluhu fee AAamayni ani oshkur lee waliwalidayka ilayya almaseeru
Translation
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
Honors the immense physical sacrifice of mothers: enduring pregnancy through 'weakness upon weakness' followed by two full years of breastfeeding, commanding lifelong gratitude to parents alongside devotion to God.
Transliteration
Wain jahadaka AAala an tushrika bee ma laysa laka bihi AAilmun fala tutiAAhuma wasahibhuma fee alddunya maAAroofan waittabiAA sabeela man anaba ilayya thumma ilayya marjiAAukum faonabbiokum bima kuntum taAAmaloona
Translation
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
Transliteration
Ya bunayya innaha in taku mithqala habbatin min khardalin fatakun fee sakhratin aw fee alssamawati aw fee alardi yati biha Allahu inna Allaha lateefun khabeerun
Translation
“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
Illustrates God's absolute omniscience: even an atom-sized deed buried inside a solid granite rock or lost in the outer expanses of the heavens will be brought forward on the Day of Judgment.
Transliteration
Ya bunayya aqimi alssalata wamur bialmaAAroofi wainha AAani almunkari waisbir AAala ma asabaka inna thalika min AAazmi alomoori
Translation
O my son, observe the prayer, advocate righteousness, forbid evil, and be patient over what has befallen you. These are of the most honorable traits
The core pillars of active righteous living: establishing prayer, encouraging good, opposing wrongdoing, and maintaining calm resilience when facing inevitable social blowback.
Transliteration
Wala tusaAAAAir khaddaka lilnnasi wala tamshi fee alardi marahan inna Allaha la yuhibbu kulla mukhtalin fakhoorin
Translation
And do not treat people with arrogance, nor walk proudly on earth. God does not love the arrogant showoffs
Condemns social snobbery and haughtiness: forbids turning one's cheek away in contempt or walking with arrogant swagger, reminding humans that boastful arrogance is despised by God.
Transliteration
Waiqsid fee mashyika waoghdud min sawtika inna ankara alaswati lasawtu alhameeri
Translation
And moderate your stride, and lower your voice. The most repulsive of voices is the donkey’s voice.”
Commands modesty in pace and vocal restraint, humorously comparing aggressive yelling or loud, coarse speech to the braying of a donkey.
Transliteration
Alam taraw anna Allaha sakhkhara lakum ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi waasbagha AAalaykum niAAamahu thahiratan wabatinatan wamina alnnasi man yujadilu fee Allahi bighayri AAilmin wala hudan wala kitabin muneerin
Translation
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
Transliteration
Waitha qeela lahumu ittabiAAoo ma anzala Allahu qaloo bal nattabiAAu ma wajadna AAalayhi abaana awalaw kana alshshaytanu yadAAoohum ila AAathabi alssaAAeeri
Translation
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
Transliteration
Waman yuslim wajhahu ila Allahi wahuwa muhsinun faqadi istamsaka bialAAurwati alwuthqa waila Allahi AAaqibatu alomoori
Translation
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
Transliteration
Waman kafara fala yahzunka kufruhu ilayna marjiAAuhum fanunabbiohum bima AAamiloo inna Allaha AAaleemun bithati alssudoori
Translation
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
Transliteration
NumattiAAuhum qaleelan thumma nadtarruhum ila AAathabin ghaleethin
Translation
We give them a little comfort; then We compel them to a harsh torment
Transliteration
Walain saaltahum man khalaqa alssamawati waalarda layaqoolunna Allahu quli alhamdu lillahi bal aktharuhum la yaAAlamoona
Translation
And if you ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth?” They will say, “God.” Say, “Praise be to God.” But most of them do not know
Transliteration
Lillahi ma fee alssamawati waalardi inna Allaha huwa alghaniyyu alhameedu
Translation
To God belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. God is the Rich, the Praised
Transliteration
Walaw annama fee alardi min shajaratin aqlamun waalbahru yamudduhu min baAAdihi sabAAatu abhurin ma nafidat kalimatu Allahi inna Allaha AAazeezun hakeemun
Translation
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
A poetic depiction of God's limitless wisdom: even if every tree on earth were carved into writing pens and all oceans were filled with ink—supplemented by seven more oceans—they would completely run out before God's words and knowledge could be depleted.
Transliteration
Ma khalqukum wala baAAthukum illa kanafsin wahidatin inna Allaha sameeAAun baseerun
Translation
Your creation and your resurrection are only as a single soul. God is Hearing and Seeing
Transliteration
Alam tara anna Allaha yooliju allayla fee alnnahari wayooliju alnnahara fee allayli wasakhkhara alshshamsa waalqamara kullun yajree ila ajalin musamman waanna Allaha bima taAAmaloona khabeerun
Translation
Have you not seen how God merges the night into the day, and merges the day into the night? That He subjected the sun and the moon, each running for a stated term? And that God is Cognizant of everything you do
Transliteration
Thalika bianna Allaha huwa alhaqqu waanna ma yadAAoona min doonihi albatilu waanna Allaha huwa alAAaliyyu alkabeeru
Translation
That is because God is the Reality, and what they worship besides Him is falsehood, and because God is the Exalted, the Supreme
Transliteration
Alam tara anna alfulka tajree fee albahri biniAAmati Allahi liyuriyakum min ayatihi inna fee thalika laayatin likulli sabbarin shakoorin
Translation
Have you not seen how the ships sail through the sea, by the grace of God, to show you of His wonders? In that are signs for every persevering, thankful person
Transliteration
Waitha ghashiyahum mawjun kaalththulali daAAawoo Allaha mukhliseena lahu alddeena falamma najjahum ila albarri faminhum muqtasidun wama yajhadu biayatina illa kullu khattarin kafoorin
Translation
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
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alnnasu ittaqoo rabbakum waikhshaw yawman la yajzee walidun AAan waladihi wala mawloodun huwa jazin AAan walidihi shayan inna waAAda Allahi haqqun fala taghurrannakumu alhayatu alddunya wala yaghurrannakum biAllahi algharooru
Translation
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
Transliteration
Inna Allaha AAindahu AAilmu alssaAAati wayunazzilu alghaytha wayaAAlamu ma fee alarhami wama tadree nafsun matha taksibu ghadan wama tadree nafsun biayyi ardin tamootu inna Allaha AAaleemun khabeerun
Translation
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
Lists the 'Five Keys to the Unseen' (Mafatih al-Ghayb) known comprehensively only to God: the exact moment of the Last Hour, the timing of rain, the ultimate destiny of what is inside the womb, what a person will earn tomorrow, and in which land a person will take their final breath.