Living Quran

Surah Luqman (Luqman)

Luqman is named after the wise figure Luqman, known in tradition for his wisdom, whose counsel to his son forms a memorable passage of the surah.

Luqman is the 31st surah of the Quran, traditionally classified as Meccan, containing 34 ayahs. As a Meccan surah, it centers on wisdom, gratitude, and devotion to the one God. It is named after Luqman, a figure remembered in tradition for his God-given wisdom. The surah's most celebrated section presents Luqman's advice to his son, which touches on avoiding the association of partners with God, treating parents with kindness, being mindful that God sees all deeds, establishing prayer, enjoining good and forbidding wrong, bearing hardship with patience, and cultivating humility in one's manner and speech. Around this counsel, the surah highlights signs of God in creation and the boundlessness of divine knowledge, contrasting genuine, humble faith with heedless arrogance, and calling readers to gratitude and sincere worship.
Surah number
31
Revelation
Meccan
Ayahs
34
Arabic
لقمان

Read Surah Luqman online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

  • The wisdom of Luqman
  • Luqman's counsel to his son
  • Devotion to the one God and rejecting false partners
  • Kindness to parents
  • Gratitude, humility, and good character
  • Signs of God and the vastness of divine knowledge

Why this surah matters

Luqman holds a cherished place for its concise, memorable moral teaching, especially the counsel Luqman gives his son, which is widely quoted in Islamic ethics and upbringing. The surah opens with disconnected letters and sits among a run of Meccan surahs sharing this feature. Its guidance on wisdom, gratitude, and character is frequently drawn upon in teaching and personal reflection.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Luqman?

Luqman is a figure remembered in Islamic tradition for his wisdom granted by God; the surah is named after him and features his advice to his son.

What is Luqman's advice about?

His counsel addresses sincere worship of God alone, kindness to parents, awareness that God sees all, prayer, patience, enjoining good, and humility in conduct and speech.

Is Surah Luqman Meccan or Medinan?

It is traditionally classified as a Meccan surah, consistent with its focus on faith, wisdom, and moral character.

Read Surah Luqman

Read Surah Luqman with the Pickthall translation and ask Noor about any ayah — ad-free and neutral across all five schools.

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