Advice from Luqman the wise to his son

By Khalid ait belarbi

;Preface :

The Islamic characters are a treasure which is not symbolized in money, gold or wealth, but they are an art which can be explained to behave rightly towards ourselves first and towards others second, these characters are more important in our social life, thanks to them, each one can know his rights as well as his duties for example: It is your due that the people have to treat kindly with you , but it is your duty to deal gently with others.

We can not be aware of the fruits of our Islamic characters without practice, in history we read the most of the population of Asia like Malaysia, Indonesia, Chine and so on… were believed in Islam thanks to the good characters of the Muslim traders.

It has been related of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) that  he had a Jewish neighbor who put always rubbish next to his door house, one day the prophet did not find rubbish, so he went to pay him a visit, he found him sick in his house, this action let the Jewish man believe in Islam.

It is known that we will not please people with our money, but with our high characters (moral acts). Verily, The good characters are the bases of any society, without them, any nation will be worthless and the best person who has the best manners and characters.

Moreover, thanks to them we will be able to attract people to us, in order to guide them and ourselves towards the right way, and to give a true image of our religion Islam the religion of all humankind, but our primordial purpose by behaving with the Islamic characters, it is not only to attract people, but also to obey Allah first.

Insha Allah, in these remembering advice from Luqman the wise to his son, we will discover one drop of our Islamic characters mentioned in Muslim holy book, which is Qur’an the perfect way to educate our children as well as all humankind.

A general view about the advice :

« Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction:

O my son! Join not in worship (others) with god: for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing And we have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years Twain was his weaning (hear the command),” Show  gratitude to me and to thy parents: to me is (thy final) goal, but if they strive to make thee join in worship with me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey theme not; yet bear theme company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to me (in love): in the end the return of you all is to me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did. 

“ My son! (Said Luqman) “ If there be (but) the weight of a mustard – seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, god will bring it forth: for god understands the finest mysteries, (and) is well – acquainted (with them)

“ O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: And bear with patient constancy whate’er betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs, “ And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for god loveth not any arrogant boaster, “ And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass ».  (Qur’an) CH. XXXI: Verses from 13 until 19  

Who is Luqman

Luqman is Ibn Baôraa Ibn Nahur Ibn Tarah who is Azar Abraham’s father (Abraham is a father’s prophet), his title is Mu’ammar, he Lived 1000 years, his job was discussed: as a carpenter, as a tailor, as a shepherd, or as a judge in children of Israel. He was asked by God to choose between Prophecy and wisdom, but he chose the wisdom, which was explained to a profitable science and good deeds. Luqman was not a prophet as some people think, but a wise and a saint slave, he was also one of the Egyptian blacks.

It was related that a black man came to Said ibn Musaib Radiyallahu’ anhu (A wise man too) for asking him advice and SAID told him to not worry for being black and he reminded him as follows: “ The best of men are three blacks whose names are: Bilal, Mahjaâ and Luqman the wise. “.  Luqman was described as a very silent and quiet person, long in his thinking, deep in his sight and no one saw him spiting, blowing his nose or crapping and urinating.

Between his sayings which are not mentioned in the holy Qur’an are:

· He was asked: To bring the best and the worst thing from an Ewe; and he brought its heart and its tongue; that is why our prophet Mouhammed (PBUH)said:

“ God does not look at your faces or your bodies but cares about your hearts and deeds ” and for the tongue the prophet (PBUH) said ” who God preserves him from two evils, he will enter to the Garden: what is between his lips and his feet….”

· Luqman told a person, who looked at him: “ Although

i have big lips, very compassionate words passe through them and even if my color is black, my heart is white.”

· he said ” to keep quiet is a wisdom ”

· he said to his son: I have regretted to talk but I have never regretted to be quiet.

· He said: they are three kinds of brothers:

- Who profits your kindness and he does not reward you.

- Who gives you a hand as much as this help can be more profitable for him.

- Who likes to be always in touch with you without greediness.

·  He said to his son: he is a liar who said: Evil with Evil and if he is truthful tell him to light two fires, and see if one of them can extinguish the other, but the good deeds can extinguish Evil as the water extinguishes fire.

· He also said to his  son: We know three kind of person during three  situations:

- The mild person when he is angry.

- The brave person in the war

- Your brother in need

He said to his son: better for you to have one thousand friends who are little than to have one enemy, who is a lot.

Shirk

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayer be upon Muhammad (PBUH) [who Allah told him:

(” And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.” CH. LXVIII Verse 04)] his family, his companions and all those who follow him until the last day amen!

A) Allah, the Most High, says,

“ Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction: “ O my son! Join not in worship (others) with god: for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing ”  CH. XXXI Verse: 13

In this verse Luqman (PBUH) prohibits his son to not commit shirk, which is an Arabic word for worshipping other along with Allah Almighty, but the question is: what is the real meaning of worship in Islam? The answer takes place in the following way:

The Worship gathers all sayings, actions which are permitted by Share’ah either these sayings or actions are apparent or concealed, this definition led us to know that the worship is to act for the sake of Allah during our activities either mental or physical according to: “Say: Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for God, the cherisher of the worlds”  CH.  VI Verse: 162

Some people consider five daily prayers and visit Mecca once in lifetime for pilgrimage, are the true sense of worship but according to the definition above we will come to realize that this not so, and this view is very narrow, we suppose it is true, the question is: what are we doing after doing five prayers and going to Mecca? Allah creates us to serve him not only in a special occasion, but also in all our life-deeds in accordance with:

“ I have only created jinns and men. That they may serve Me “   CH. LI Verse: 56

The highest worship is to firmly place confidence in all God’s commands as well as any orders given against doing anything and to be persuasive that all these commands and prohibitions, are the best remedy for any matters, without asking why? Please do not be in haste, you should act first and then you will discover the wisdom [for instance: The predecessors were okay to not commit adultery because Allah Almighty said “ Nor come nigh to adultery: For it is a shameful (deeds) and an Evil, opening the road (To other evils).” CH. XVII Verse: 32

And actually, the science discovers that Adultery provokes many diseases like “ AIDS “], you ought to know, the knowledge can not be gained all at once, so you have to learn to walk before running.

The first principles of the religion of Islam is:

The declaration of faith which reads:

LA ILLAHA ILA LAHU WA ANA MUHAMMADAN RASSULU ALLAHI

Which is an Arabic word for there is no other object of worship but Allah and Muhammad PBUH)  is the messenger of Allah.

And if okay: why we worship (money) and the prophet (PBUH) said:“ he is perished who is slave for Dinar

Why we worship (others) and Allah says:

”Say: O people of book! Come to common terms as between us and you that we worship none but god, that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God “ CH. III Verse: 64

Why we follow our own lusts and Allah said “ Seest thou such a one as taketh for his god his own passion (or impulse)? Couldst thou be a disposer of affairs for him ”  CH. XXV Verse: 43

There are two types of Shirk in Islam, which are:

1) Big Shirk: It is worshipping powers of nature or Idols; being disobedient towards parents; to make others similar to Allah and to sacrifice animals for them (for example: some people sacrifice sheeps for the sake of a death saint in order to satisfy their needs, may Allah direct them and us to his right path amen!)

2) Small Shirk: It is acting in order to be seen of men. The characteristics of the hypocrite person (who likes to be seen) are: he becomes lazy in acting alone, but he becomes quicker in acting in public; he will improve his work if he receives praises and he will discourage if he receives blames. I would like to enlarge that Skirk is one of the seven disobediences perils in Islam may Allah preserve us from him amen!

Parents

B) The Mighty the Majestic says,

“ And we have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years Twain was his weaning: (hear the command), “ show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is  (thy final) Goal. But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey theme not; yet bear theme company in this life with justice (And consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love): in the end the return of you all is to me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did ” CH. XXXI Verse: 14-15

It is an instruction for being good to our parents and these two verses show us our mother suffering.

Before our presence to this present life, our mothers took us and fed us during 9 months on account of their food and their health according to: “In travail upon travail did his mother bear him”, after this period, the nourishment cycle comes and endures two years, in which our mothers did not sleep good, they kept watch all the night for us and they felt very tired, all these do not make us neglect our fathers’ role who pass the most of their times out of house to earn money for our food, our education, and they pass many times to educate us and to direct us, so God recommends us to thank him for his favors first, and our parents second in accordance with: “ Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents”. One can also observe that God gives this order (“ And we have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents”) to the children and not to the parents because it is normal that parents do well to their children.

Our duties towards our parents are:

1- LOVE: it is a natural feeling created in our heart, the more the person becomes bigger, the more he feels love to his parents.

2- THANKS: it should not be only orally, not have a limit and not be accounted because When we were babies, our parents fed us, hoped a long lifetime for us, cared after us, they kept watch all the night for us, so it is unjust and inhuman to abandon them, that is why the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “ The paradise is under mothers’ feet ”, Please read these very nice two verses of holly Qur’an: “ They lord hath decreed that ye worship none but him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of theme attain old age in thy life, say not to theme a word of contempt, nor repel theme, but address them in terms of honour, And out of kindness, lower to theme the wing of humility, and say: “ My Lord! Bestow on theme thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood. CH. XVII Verse: 23-24

3- OBEDIENCE: it is a proof for our love and our sincerity towards them, we have to listen to their advice because they are more experienced than us and each One has to obey his parents for any matters accept the orders, which are forbidden by Allah Almighty.

4- Respect: it is to deal with them kindly, honoring them, never prefer anybody to them specially, our wives and our children, treating kindly with them, never be avaricious and selfish towards them, never curse them, Being very compassionate to them, never tell them any word of contempt or any minor harsh word denoting impatience like “UF”; never let them lodge at the nursing home and never be impatient or late to execute their needs, normally, the more the person is old, the more his needs is a lot, the more he is oversensitive, and the more he is nosy.

5- Al Birr: Comprises of all kinds of good and perfection expected in human being

Let us have a look in what Qur’an says about parents:

The highest Allah says:

1- Talk about children of Israel : “ And remember we took a covenant from the children of Israel worship none but god; treat with kindness your parents… “   CH. II Verses: 83

2- Talk about Yahia (PBUH) : “ He was devout and kind to his parents ” CH. XIX Verse: 13-14

3- Talk about Jesus (PBUH) : “ He hath made me kind to my mother,   CH. XIX Verse: 32

4- “ Serve God, and join not any partners with him, and do good to parents ”   CH. IV Verse: 36

5- “ We have enjoined on man kindness to parents: but if they (either of them) strive (to force) thee to join with me (in worship)anything of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not “  CH. XXIX Verse: 8

6-  “ We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strenght and attains forty years, he says, “ O my Lord! Grant me that i may be grateful for thy favour which thou hast bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that i may work righteousness such as thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have i turned to thee and truly do i bow (To thee) in Islam ” CH. XLVI Verse: 15

It will be helpful to know a drop of what the Sunnah says about parents:

1- Abdullah Ibn Massûd Radiyaallahu’anhu said: 'I asked the Prophet “ Which deed is loved most by Allah?" He replied: To offer prayers at their early (very first) stated times.' " 'Abdullah asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" The Prophet said, "To be good and dutiful to one's parents," 'Abdullah asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" The Prophet said, To participate in Jihad for Allah's Cause .  (Reported by Al Bukhare and Muslim)

2- Abi Huraira Radiyaallahu’anhu said: A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man said. "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet said, "Your father. "   (Reported by al Bukhare and Muslim)

3- Al-Mughira Radiyallahu’anhu said: The Prophet said : " Allah has forbidden you ( 1 ) to be undutiful to your mothers (2) to withhold (what you should give) or (3) demand (what you do not deserve), and (4) to bury your daughters alive. And Allah has disliked that (A) you talk too much about others ( B), ask too many questions (in religion), or (C) waste your property."  (Reported by Al bukhare)

4- Abdullah bin 'Amr Radiallahu’anhu said : A man said to the Prophet, "Shall I participate in Jihad?" The Prophet said, "Are your parents living?" The man said, "Yes." the Prophet said, "Do Jihad for their benefit."  (Reported by al Bukhare and Muslim)

5- Anas bin Malik Radiallahu’anhu said: Allah 's Apostle said : " Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged then he should keep good relations with his Kith and kin."   (Reported by Al Bukhare)

So we have not to sunder what Allah has ordered to be joined (of course kith and kin includes not only friends, but our parents too).

6- Abu Bakra Radiyaallahu’anhu said:   Allah's Apostle said three times : "Shall I not inform you of the biggest of the great sins?" We said, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle" He said, "To join partners in worship with Allah, to be undutiful to one's parents." The Prophet sat up after he had been reclining and added, "And I warn you against giving forged statement and a false witness; I warn you against giving a forged statement and a false witness." The Prophet kept on saying that warning till we thought that he would not stop.   (Reported by al Bukhare and Muslim)

7- Abdullah Ibn Amr Radiyallahu’anhu said:  Allah's Apostle said : The greatest sins :  "To join partners in worship with Allah; to be undutiful or unkind to one's parents ; to kill a soul and the false witness."      (Reported by Al Bukhare)

8- Abdullah bin Amr Allah's Apostle said. "It is one of the greatest sins that a man should curse his parents." It was asked (by the people), "O Allah's Apostle! How does a man curse his parents?" The Prophet said, "'The man abuses the father of another man and the latter abuses the father of the former and abuses his mother."  (Reported by Al Bukhare and Muslim)

9- Al Barau bin Azib Radiyaallahu’anhu said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:” The aunt has the same degree like a Mother “ (Reported by Termidi)

10- Asma' bint Abu Bakr Radiallahu’anhuma said : My mother came to me(She was not a Muslim), hoping (for my favor) during the lifetime of the Prophet and i asked the Prophet, "May I treat her kindly?" He replied, "Yes." (Reported by al Bukhare and Muslim)

It is also helpful to enrich our soul with:

v     It was related that a Muslim man called “El Fodail

Ibn Yahia Rahimahullahu, put a bronzed pitcher full of cold water on his belly in order that the water became hot for his father who is a prisoner with him.

v     A wise man said: to see five things is a worship:

To see parents, see, Qur’an, rock and house.

v     Zine Al Abiding Rahimahu Allahu was asked: as we know,

The best of men who does good to his mother is you, but why we have never seen you eating with her at the same dish? And Zine Al Abiding answered: I do not like that my hand anticipates what my mother’s eyes saw in order to not be disobedient.

Between The fruits of being dutiful or kind to one's parents is: Our supplication will be acepted by Allah ; please read this story which reported by Al Bukhare and Muslim:(Ibn 'Umar radiallahu’anh said: Allah's Apostle said, "While three persons were traveling, they were overtaken by rain and they took shelter in a cave in a mountain. A big rock fell from the mountain over the mouth of the cave and blocked it. They said to each other. 'Think of such good (righteous) deeds which, you did for Allah's sake only, and invoke Allah by giving reference to those deeds so that Allah may relieve you from your difficulty. one of them said, 'O Allah! I had my parents who were very old and I had small children for whose sake I used to work as a shepherd. When I returned to them at night and milked (the sheep), I used to start giving the milk to my parents first before giving to my children. And one day I went far away in search of a grazing place (for my sheep), and didn't return home till late at night and found that my parents had slept. I milked (my livestock) as usual and brought the milk vessel and stood at their heads, and I disliked to wake them up from their sleep, and I also disliked to give the milk to my children before my parents though my children were crying (from hunger) at my feet.

So this state of mine and theirs continued till the day dawned. (O Allah!) If you considered that I had done that only for seeking Your pleasure, then please let there be an opening through which we can see the sky.' So Allah made for them an opening through which they could see the sky. Then the second person said, 'O Allah! I had a she-cousin whom I loved as much as a passionate man love a woman. I tried to seduce her but she refused till I paid her one-hundred Dinars So I worked hard till I collected one hundred Dinars and went to her with that But when I sat in between her legs (to have sexual intercourse with her), she said, 'O Allah's slave! Be afraid of Allah ! Do not deflower me except legally (by marriage contract). So I left her O Allah! If you considered that I had done that only for seeking Your pleasure then please let the rock move a little to have a (wider) opening.'

So Allah shifted that rock to make the opening wider for them. And the last (third) person said 'O Allah ! I employed a laborer for wages equal to a Faraq (a certain measure: of rice, and when he had finished his job he demanded his wages, but when I presented his due to him, he gave it up and refused to take it. Then I kept on sowing that rice for him (several times) till managed to buy with the price of the yield, some cows and their shepherd Later on the laborer came to me an said. '(O Allah's slave!) Be afraid of Allah, and do not be unjust to me an give me my due.' I said (to him). 'Go and take those cows and their shepherd. So he took them and went away. (So, O Allah!) If You considered that I had done that for seeking Your pleasure, then please remove the remaining part of the rock.' And so Allah released them (from their difficulty)."

In the reality, what good we realize towards one’s parents, we will still be ungrateful comparable to them, May Allah prolong their life amen!

Please brothers and sisters, All what we have seen above about parents, is also applied to Non–Muslim parents.

God's knowledge

C) Allah, the Most High, says,

“ O my son!” (Said Luqman) “ If there be (but) the weight of a mustard – seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or in the heavens or on earth, god will bring it forth: for god understands the finest mysteries, (and) is well – acquainted (with them). “ CH. XXXI Verse: 16

In this verse, Luqman informs his son that Allah has full knowledge, this full knowledge led us to confess that Allah knows our secrets and sees all the world and sees our open action and before committing any sins, even they were like a mustard – seed, it will be in our account in accordance with:

“ Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it.”   CH. XCIX Verse: 7-8

We can also understand from this verse that Allah is

AL RAZAK and if our sustenances are hidden in a rock, in the heavens or in the earth, they can be brought by Allah to us.

Briefly, we have to know that we are all controlled by Allah, so we have not to commit sins and Allah takes charge of our sustenances, so we have not to worry about this life (eat, drink, wear, and so on…) and who sustains the birds (God) can also sustain all human beings who are more valuable than animals.

Prayer - Enjoin what is just and forbid what is wrong

D) The High Majestic says,

“O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: And bear with patient constancy whate’er betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. “  CH. XXXI Verse: 17

In this verses, Luqman admonishes his son to establish Salat, which is an Arabic word for prayer, to enjoin what is just and forbid what is wrong and to be patient when he feels unpleasant.

Let us see a brief account on each ones:

1) Salat (Prayer):

His first meaning is:

A total spiritual obligatory movements which gathers: reciting Qur’an, bowing, prostrating, standing and sitting and so on… all these movements have to be applied to the Sunnah according to the prophet (PBUH) saying: “ Pray as you saw me, i prayed ” and Salat is the first five pillars in Islam.

They are five prayers in a day, which are: Al subhu, Al duharu, Al âsru, Al maghribu and Al îchau; any Muslim will be sinful if he does not establish it, it is necessary to the heart like a food to the body, if we establish it, we will be very near to Allah and have more spiritual energy, but we should know that there is no need to establish it since our prayer does not restrain us from shameful and unjust deeds.

His second meaning is:

Duâa:

It is used to ask Allah almighty for something (Iman, health, success, work, and so on…)

Allah Almighty says:

“ Say (to Rejecters): My lord is not uneasy because of you, if ye call not on him … “   CH. XXV Verse: 77

Allah also says,  “ When my servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (close to them):

I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let theme also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way “  CH. II Verse: 186

2) Enjoin what is just and forbid what is wrong

“ When the cat is away the mice will play ”, it is true

when a person in authority is not present, they others will take advantage and do things they can not do when he is there, so to enjoin what is just and to forbid what is wrong is a big responsibility thanks to it, the responsibles can protect their societies from: dope (drugs), mischief, corruption, and so forth…

To enjoin what is just and to forbid what is wrong needs science, capacity, wisdom and to set a good example of course.

3) Patience

To call to Allah is full of obstacles, sufferings, discouragement, and when we call people to Allah the most of them turn away, they thrust their fingers into their ears and we hear much what will grieve us because they do not like to abandon their desires, so they attack this calling by all kinds of weapons and the most dangerous is mass media, but the best shelter and defiance to this attack is patience, which is a determining factor in all affairs. I would like to insist: calling to Allah does not need hardness according to “ It is part of the Mercy of god that thou dost deal Gently with them. Wert thou severe or harsh – hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (their faults), and ask for (God’s) forgiveness for them….” CH. III Verse: 159

It is regrettable, to take men away from Allah by our bad characters, it was related that an Arab urinated in the mosque and the Sahaba  ran to beat him, Allah's Apostle said, "Do not interrupt his urination."  And  when he finished ,  the Prophet asked for a tumbler of water and poured the water over the place of urine, then the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told him: O Allah’s Slave ! The  mosques are built to celebrate god’s praises and not for dirtiness and the Arab prayed: . "O Allah! Bestow Your Mercy on me and Muhammad(PBUH) only and do not bestow it on anybody else along with us." And the prophet said : "You have limited (narrowed) a very vast (thing)," meaning Allah's Mercy. This action shows us that The sentimental side in calling to Allah is more important because the magical key for hearts is to behave with kindness towards human beings.

One other point must be emphasized that the Muslims have a firm belief in the previous prophets and their books, one must be nice to the followers of these prophets, have a good relation with them and speak with them in the right way when discussing any matter, particularly the matter of belief, this meaning is given in the verse of the holy Qur’an which says “ Invite (all) to the way of thy lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious; for thy lord knoweth best, who have strayed from his path and who receive guidance “     CH. XVI Verse: 125

The scholar Muslim Imam Ahmed Ibn Hambal Radiyallahu’ Anhu said: patience in Qur’an is mentioned nearly ninety times.

The Iman in Islam is composed of two parts, which are patience and thanks.

Moreover, there is no virtue has mentioned in the Qur’an more than patience because the patience is the base of many virtues for example:

- To be a brave person, you need patience to not lose all your endurances against your bitterness for example the brave person who is in control of himself during his anger and not who is succeed in fighting others.

- To be a chaste person like the prophet Yusuf (PBUH) you need patience to not fulfilling your heart’s desires.

- To be a mild person like the prophet Muhammad (PBUH)) you need patience to pardon all men and not get angry when other people behave badly and to have a mind free from grievance and vengeance.

-  To be a secretive person you need patience to control your tongue against any expressed word.

It is regrettable; some people consider patience in Islam like a call to accept what is unjust, humiliation, slavery, defeat, and to submit to the bad circumstances, but this call is completely false according to the Islamic teachings please read:

The high Majestic says

a) “ When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: “ In what (plight) were ye? ” They reply: “ weak and oppressed were we in the earth.” They say: was not the earth of god Spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (From evil)?”  Such men will find their abode in hell, what an evil refuge! “   CH. IV Verse: 97

b) “ So lose not heart nor fall into despair for ye must gain mastery if ye are true in faith.” CH. III Verse: 139

c) “ And why should ye not fight in the cause of God And of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men, Women, and children whose cry is: “ Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, Whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will help” CH. IV Verse: 75

d) “ O My sons! Go ye and enquire about Josef and his brother, and never Give up hope of God’s soothing mercy: Truly no one despairs of God’s soothing mercy, except those who have no faith “ CH. XII Verse: 87

The patience that Islam wants is the perseverance for defying all kinds of obstacles, to stand up to the change of the life, and to try to do the best to transform the misfortunes to the favors; it is not bad to fall down but the worst if you are still lying on the floor, you should stand up and try, try and never be weary, never be in haste and never say:  “ I can not, it is impossible, i do not know since you do not try 1009 times. “

It is not logical, the result will be negative since you add the positive number up, so please be always optimistic and positive and remind yourselves with:

- Allah Almighty always does the best to you.

- “ It is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and and that ye love a thing which is bad for you . But God Knoweth, and ye know not” CH. II Verse: 216

-  “ Nothing can be gained without a certain amount of discomfort and effort. ”

-  “ Nothing is precarious “

-  “ Nothing is impossible accept the death  “

-  “ Every birth has to be mixed with pain. ”

- " Allah is more merciful to His slaves than the mother to her son."

-  “ The glorious person, who fails many times (minimum 1009 times).”

-  “ An important task needs perseverance and patience. It can not be completed in a short time.

-  ” Every dawn has to follow the darkness and every hill hides the fertile plains behind it. ”

-  “ So, Verily, With every difficulty there is relief. “   CH. XCIV Verse: 05

Boastfulness

E) The Mighty the Majestic says,

“ And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for god loveth not any arrogant boaster.” CH. XXXI Verse: 18

It is an order from Luqman to his son against boastfulness, the boastful person can deny and not admit other’s rights; he considers others like a seed because he thinks he is topmost.

Let us have a look in the holly qur’an and Sunnah about concerning boastfulness:

The high majestic says:

a) “ But those who reject our signs and treat them with arrogance, they are companions of the fire, to dwell therein (for ever)”. CH. VII Verse: 36

b) “ To those who reject our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden……”  CH. VII Verse: 40

c) ” Verily he loveth not the arrogant “  CH. XVI Verse: 23

d) “ But those who are too arrogant to serve me will surely find themselves in hell- in humiliation! “  CH. XL Verse: 60

·   Abdu Allah Ibn Masûd Radiyallahu’anhu said:

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “ no One can the hell be his goal since his heart contains a weight of a seed of Iman and no one can the Garden be his goal since his heart contains a weight of a seed of boastfulness” .  (Reported by Muslim)

·   Ibn Masûd Radiyaallahu’anhu said: (“The messenger of Allah said: no one will enter the garden since his heart contains a weight of a seed of boastfulness”, and a man asked: ” if a man likes his clothes and his shoe to be beautiful? “ and the prophet (PBUH) said: “Allah is beautiful and he likes the beauty, the boastfulness is to deny, to scorn what is just and to depreciate people “). (Reported by Muslim)

·   Abi Hurayra Radiyaallahu’anhu said: (“ The messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “ Three kinds of persons, Allah will not talk to them in the day of judgement, purify them not, and they will have a grievous punishment, who are: an older person who commit adultery, a liar king and a boastful poor person.” ) (Reported by Muslim)

The boastfulness eliminates love in our social life and our religion wants love be the base of all our social relations according to the saying of the prophet (PBUH)

-  “ No one among you he believes until he likes to his brother what he likes to himself ”

-  "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others' faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah's worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!")

I do not know exactly why boastfulness? If the person boasts for being superior in strength, he should know that Allah is the most superior in strength than him, and Allah can make him lying in bed for a long time due to simple illness.

If he boasts for his beauty, the beauty is not precarious.

If the person boasts for being rich, the death can not distinguish between rich and poor person, please look at the death’s hand and you will find it empty.

Verily, the wealth is in our soul: A Wise man said:

“ A slave person will be free if he is abstemious and a free person will be a slave if he is greedy.”

The Moses (PBUH) asked Allah this question: who is the richest person? God answered: who is satisfied with my donation. And the reasonable person who does not rely on his money because it is possible to be lost in one minute by going bankrupt, by currency fall or by having a terrible illness and so forth…

It was related that Al Imam Ali Radiyaallahu’anhu said:

- Who relies on his money, his money will be in a small quantity.

- Who relies on his mind, he will be lost.

- Who relies on his honor or his power, he will be humiliated and who relies on Allah, he will never be poor, never be lost and never be humiliated; really we are completely worthless without Allah.

The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was used to pray: o My Allah! let me not rely on myself to not be unable and let me not rely on others to not be lost.

Between the characteristics of the boastful person are: Speaking with scorn, call others by an offensive nickname, not eating, not staying, not shaking hands with the poor and walking on the earth with insolence, that person does not aware that he can not rend the earth asunder, nor reach the mountains in height and he does not know that all human beings were created from dust and there is no reason to feel he is above another (poor, black or colored people and so on…) and he forgets that to Allah is the return and the Fire comprises every cruel, violent, proud and conceited person,  and Allah does not look at our faces or our bodies but cares about our hearts and deeds because all these appearances can be deceptive.

Voice

F) Allah, the Most High, says.

“ And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass “  CH. XXXI Verse: 19

This is the last advice from Luqman the wise to his son, in which he admonishes him to walk seriously and with quietness and not lower his voice to not be like a donkey whose voice is the worst voices in whole the world.

Insha Allah in this last saying below we will see that it summarizes the most of our last teachings:

It was related that Anas Radiyallahu’anhu said : the prophet Muhammad (PBUH)said: the high majestic said:

” I have four qualities which one of them is mine, the second is for you, the third is between you and me and the last one is between you and my servants and what is mine: to not worship other along with me, what is yours: if you do a good deeds, I will reward you, what is between you and me: To pray (Duâa) and the acceptance is mine and what is between you and my servants : To like to themselves what you like to yourself.

Dear readers, I hope that all these advice will not be profitable by our children only but also by all human beings without any distinction Wa Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatu Allahi Taâla Wa Barakatuh.

End :

By the power of Allah Almighty to who all praises, lord of the worlds, I have finished this booklet talking about advice from Luqman the wise to his son and i pray my Allah to be more profitable and valuable for all readers Insha Allah.

Please brothers and sisters, if you find anything to criticize or to correct, do not hesitate to write me at: khalid_ait_belarbi@hotmail.com

Moreover, I would like to draw your attention that any criticism as well as any correction will be more appreciated WA zazakumu Allahu khayran Wa Salamu Alaykumu Wa Rahmatu Allahi Taâla Wa Barakatuhu.