Who Was Luqman?
من هو لقمان؟
According to Ibn Kathir and most Islamic scholars, Luqman was not a prophet but a wise man that Allah had blessed with wisdom. Other scholars say he was a prophet.
ابن كثير وكثير من العلماء المسلمين ذهبوا إلى أن لقمان ليس نبيا، بينما قال بعضهم إنه نبي.
1. A Man Named as One of the Quran's Four Debated Figures | أحد الأربعة المختلف في نبوتهم
Luqman is one of four figures mentioned in the Quran whose prophetic status scholars have long debated, alongside Dhul-Qarnain, Uzair, and Tubba, covered in How Many Prophets and Messengers Were Mentioned in the Quran? The majority view, held by Ibn Kathir and most scholars, is that Allah granted him wisdom (hikmah) without granting him the rank of Nabi. Ibn Kathir's account of the two views is set out in whether Luqman was a prophet.
لقمان أحد أربعة ذُكروا في القرآن الكريم واختلف العلماء في نبوتهم، مع ذي القرنين وعُزير وتُبَّع، كما بيّنا في جواب: كم عدد الأنبياء والرسل الذين ذُكروا في القرآن الكريم؟ وقول جمهور العلماء، ومنهم ابن كثير، أن الله آتاه الحكمة ولم يجعله نبيًّا. وقد عرضنا القولين كما نقلهما ابن كثير في الجواب عن نبوة لقمان.
2. An Entire Surah Carries His Name | سورة سُمّيت باسمه
Surah Luqman is named directly after him, yet it is not counted among the six surahs named after Prophets, covered in Which Surahs Are Named After Prophets?, precisely because he is not considered a Prophet by the majority of scholars. His inclusion in the Quran by name, despite this, reflects how highly Allah regarded his wisdom.
وسُمّيت باسمه سورة لقمان، ومع ذلك لا تُعدّ من السور الست المسمّاة بأسماء الأنبياء، كما بيّنا في جواب: ما السور التي سُمّيت بأسماء الأنبياء؟ لأن أكثر العلماء لا يعدّونه نبيًّا. وفي ذكر اسمه في القرآن مع ذلك دلالة على منزلة حكمته عند الله.
3. Wisdom Granted, Named Directly by Allah | وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ
The Quran opens its description of him plainly: "And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom, saying, 'Be grateful to Allah.' And whoever is grateful is grateful for the benefit of himself. And whoever denies His favor, then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy" (Surah Luqman 31:12). This wisdom is what the following passage of the surah goes on to illustrate through his advice to his son.
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ (سورة لقمان: 12)
افتتح الله تعالى ذكره بقوله: (وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ) (لقمان 31: 12). ثم بيّنت الآيات بعدها هذه الحكمة في وصيته لابنه.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Was Luqman a prophet?
Most scholars, including Ibn Kathir, hold that he was not a prophet but a wise man granted wisdom by Allah; a minority view holds otherwise.
Is there a surah named after Luqman?
Yes, Surah Luqman, though it is not counted among the surahs named after Prophets since the majority view is that he was not one.
What did Allah grant Luqman?
Wisdom (hikmah), as stated directly in Surah Luqman 31:12.