The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 607
CHAPTER 31 LUQMAN (Revealed before Hijrah) Date of Revelation, Title and Context This Surah by common consent is considered to have been revealed at Mecca. Being the third of the J group of Surahs and having close kinship with the other members of that group in style and subject matter, it is believed, like its predecessors, Al-'Ankabūt and Ar-Rūm, to have been revealed towards the middle of the Meccan period, or, as some say, in the sixth or seventh year of the Call. The Surah seems to derive its title from the 13th verse in which a non- Arab sage and seer, Luqmān by name, has been mentioned as giving a moral sermon to his son. Luqmān may stand for a Prophet or Divine Reformer. Apart from the beauty of the noble moral principles enunciated in the sermon, the reference to Luqmān, a non-Arab, as a great divine sage, implies a basic religious truth, revealed to the world first of all by the Quran, viz. that God raised Reformers among all nations and that revelation or Divine guidance is not the exclusive privilege of any particular people. The preceding Surah, Ar-Rūm, ended on the note that the Quran explains fully all those teachings that deal with the spiritual development and progress of man. But the disbelievers have not the eyes which can see the truth; their hearts are also sealed. They see sign after sign and yet go on harping on the tune that the Holy Prophet is a liar and a forger. The present Surah opens with the solemn affirmation that the Holy Prophet is not a forger or a liar and that this Book, the Quran, has been revealed to him by the Wise and All-Knowing God. It is full of wisdom; it leads an honest seeker after truth to the right path, and it is a source of divine mercy to him. It is not, therefore, possible to deny it with honesty of purpose; only a perverse person would reject it. It was further mentioned in the preceding Surah that the cause of Islam will continue to prosper and triumph and disbelievers will meet with defeat, disgrace and humiliation. The present Surah sheds some light on those noble moral principles by acting upon which nations and individuals can achieve success and prosperity and can rise to greatness and eminence. Subject Matter The Surah in its very beginning refers to the sine qua non of success- correct belief and right action—and proceeds to discuss some universal moral principles from the mouth of a non-Arab sage-Luqmān. The most fundamental and basic principle referred to in the opening verses is the belief 2521