Bismillah
Praise be to Allah King of the Kings Owner of the Universe Creator of the Creators and Prayer and peace be upon His Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam.
If we need to find a comprehensive yet concise advice for us to follow in this life, we can never find anything better than what Luqman told his son.
Let us look together at it and Insh a Allah try our best to apply it in our lives in order to attain the best Insh a Allah.
<b>“And (remember) when Luqman said to his son when he was advising him: "O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed
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And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.
But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.
"O my son! If it be (anything) equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle (in bringing out that grain), Well¬Aware (of its place).
"O my son! perform the salat (prayers), enjoin (people) for ma'ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allah, polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad), and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily! These are some of the important commandments ordered by Allah with no exemption.
"And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster.
"And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying) of the ass."
See you not (O men) that Allah has subjected for you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, (both) apparent (i.e Islamic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks, etc.) and hidden [i.e. One's Faith in Allah (of Islamic Monotheism) knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise, etc.]? Yet of mankind is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge or guidance or a Book giving light!” (Quran 31:13-20)Sobhan Allah amazing sequence and context.
Luqman started off with making it clear to his son to avoid Shirk (taking partners with Allah) for this is the key to a good steady life. To make it clear he called Shirk grave unjust against oneself. Actually the word Zulm in Arabic means being unjust. So taking partners with Allah equals being unjust to oneself and not any type or degree of unjust but a major a grave one. May Allah Protect us all against it.
Then immediately after the confirmation to maintain oneness of Allah, Luqman advices his son to adopt a kind attitude towards his parents reminding him specially of his mother who carried him in pregnancy for 9 months. However, he must be warned not to obey them when they push the children for Shirk.
After the parents related instructions, Allah in this point Explains why one should not obey the parents when they order of shirk. Because one must follow the path of those who returned back to Allah coupled with a reminder that we will all return to Allah.
At this point, Luqman is reminding his son of the incomparable Abilities of Allah represented in the Capacity of Allah to Bring back anything no matter how tiny it is even as small as the weight of a grain of mustard seed.
Then after confirming the importance of Tawheed, kindness to parents, comes upping prayer, enjoin good and forbid evil then being patient during trials and tribulations.
Because one must be patient in hardships those hardships might involve dealings with people, that is why here Luqman advices his son with the best behaviour that involves being humble, speaking in low voice Sobhan Allah look at how even manners are well explained and established.
We can simply conclude the best behaviour that we must adopt as follows:
1. <b>Tawheed (which is the key for everything) = establish Oneness of Allah.</b>
2. Kindness to parents except when they order for shirk.
3. Realize the incomparable Ability of Allah.
4. Establish prayer.
5. Enjoin good and forbid evil.
6. Adopt patience during trials and tribulations.
Sobhan Allah how such 6 points bring about a full methodology of our lives when we succeed to apply them.
But just remember who brought such points, Luqman, who is Luqman? he is the one whom Allah described in the Ayah before the set of advices:
"And indeed <b>We bestowed upon Luqman Al¬Hikmah </b>(wisdom and religious understanding, etc.) saying: "Give thanks to Allah," and whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his ownself. And whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allah is All¬Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of all praise." (Quran 31:12)
Alhamdulelah Rubela`lameen and prayer and peace be upon Mohamed Ibn Abdullah