31 Luqman

Mecca Period [57]

Asad’s version

31:14 "And [God says:] 'We have enjoined upon man goodness towards his parents: his mother bore him by bearing strain upon strain, and his utter dependence on her lasted two years:" (hence, O man,] be grateful towards Me and towards thy parents, (and remember that] with Me is all journeys' end. 15

(31:15) '"[Revere thy parents;] yet should they endeavour to make thee ascribe divinity, side by side with Me, to something which thy mind cannot accept (as divine], 16 obey them not; but (even then] bear them company in this world's life with kindness, and follow the path of those who turn towards Me. In the end, unto Me you all must return; and thereupon I shall make you (truly] understand all that you were doing (in life].'

The Quranic text and Ali’s version

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ...

31:14 [Ali]. And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents:

...حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ...

in travail upon travail did his mother bear him,

...وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ...

and in years twain was his weaning:

C3596. The set of milk teeth in a human child is completed at the age of two years, which is therefore the natural extreme limit for breast-feeding.

In our artificial life the duration is much less.

...أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ ...

(hear the command),

"Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents:

...إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٤﴾

to Me is (thy final) Goal.

وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ عَلى أَن تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ...

15. "But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge,

C3597. Where the duty to man conflicts with the duty to Allah, it means that there is something wrong with the human will, and we should obey Allah rather than man.

But even here, it does not mean that we should be arrogant or insolent. To parents and those in authority, we must be kind, considerate, and courteous, even where they command things which we should not do and therefore disobedience becomes our highest duty.

The worship of things other than Allah is the worship of false things, things which are alien to our true knowledge, things that go against our own pure nature as created by Allah.

... فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا...

obey them not;

...وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا...

yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration),

...وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ...

and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love):

C3598. In any apparent conflict of duties our standard should be Allah's Will, as declared to us by His command.

That is the way of those who love Allah: and their motive in disobedience to parents or human authority where disobedience is necessary by Allah's Law is not self willed rebellion or defiance, but love of Allah, which means the true love of man in the highest sense of the word.

And the reason we should give is:

"Both you and I have to return to Allah; therefore not only must I follow Allah's Will, but you must command nothing against Allah's Will."

...ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ...

in the End the return of you all is to Me,

... فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٥﴾

and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did."

C3599. These conflicts may appear to us strange and puzzling in this life. But in Allah's Presence we shall see their real meaning and significance.

- It may be that that was one way in which our true mettle could be tested: for it is not easy to disobey and love man at the same time.