The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

31. LUQMAN
A Meccan sura that takes its title from Luqman the Wise, whose counsel to his
son is related in verses 13–19. The sura opens with a description of the
believers, and it condemns those who attempt to lead others away from guidance.
It extols God’s power and warns the disbelievers of the consequences of
their actions. The Prophet is told not to be saddened by their disbelief.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Alif Lam Mim
2 These are the verses of the wise Scripture, 3 [with] guidance and
mercy for those who do good, 4 who keep up the prayer, pay the
prescribed alms, and are certain of the Hereafter: 5 these are rightly
guided by their Lord, and it is they who will prosper. 6 But there is
the sort of person who pays for distracting tales, intending, without
any knowledge, to lead others from God’s way, and to hold it up to
ridicule. a There will be humiliating torment for him! 7 When Our
verses are recited to him, he turns away disdainfully as if he had not
heard them, as if there were heaviness in his ears. Tell him that there
will be a painful torment! 8 But for those who believe and do righteous
deeds, there will be Gardens of bliss 9 where they will stay: that
is God’s true promise, and He is the Almighty, the All Wise. 10 He
created the heavens without any visible support, and He placed firm
mountains on the earth––in case it should shake under you––and He
spread all kinds of animals around it. We sent down water from the
sky, with which We made every kind of good plant grow on earth:
11 all this is God’s creation. Now, show Me what your other gods
have created. No, the disbelievers are clearly astray.
12 We endowed Luqman with wisdom: ‘Be thankful to God:
whoever gives thanks benefits his own soul, and as for those
who are thankless––God is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise.’
13 Luqman counselled his son, ‘My son, do not attribute any partners
to God: attributing partners to Him is a terrible wrong.’
a Understood to refer to al-Nadr ibn al-Harith, who bought some ancient Persian
stories to distract the people of Quraysh from listening to the Quran.