Surah Luqman, a Meccan chapter of the Holy Quran, shines like a radiant jewel among the Divine verses and, with a sagacious tongue, invites humanity to contemplate the boundless power of God, the grandeur of the cosmic order, and the latent heedlessness within oneself. This Surah, relying on the wisdom of Luqman, serves as a guide to attaining human authority, which is rooted in the harmony of body and soul, sleep and nourishment, and spiritual practices with the existential structure of man. This treatise, through a profound and systematic approach, elucidates the teachings of this Surah and, by utilising the verses and narrations, delineates the path of human ascent toward the exalted levels of existence. Its purpose is that man, like a light-winged bird, be freed from the cage of heedlessness and soar towards union with the Divine Truth.
To reach the exalted levels of existence, man requires an educational system that, like an accurate map, facilitates his ascent from the earthly realms towards the intermediary and heavenly spheres. This system must be compatible with individual differences and diverse temporal and spatial conditions so that it guides man from an ordinary state to extraordinary and sublime levels. Just as a skilled gardener nurtures each sapling according to its needs, the educational system must, through precise recognition of human existential capacities, direct him towards knowledge and authority. Without this coordination, achieving existential unity and ascending the epistemic ranks is impossible.
From a philosophical and mystical perspective, this educational process resembles an epistemic path that liberates man from material constraints and directs him toward the Divine Truth. This path, like a firm bridge, requires precise regulation of sleep, nourishment, and devotional acts in accordance with the human existential structure. Just as the body requires appropriate nutrition for life, the soul likewise needs spiritual actions aligned with its essence for elevation.
Each individual, role and goal chosen in life, requires a specific pattern of sleep and nourishment. An athlete, a scholar, or an asceticeach, like travellers on different pathsneed sustenance and rest proportionate to their destination. Just as a swift-flying bird needs strong yet light wings, a person must harmonise bodily needs with spiritual objectives to succeed on the path of elevation. The lack of such harmony obstructs the flow of ascent, like a stone in a rivers course.
From a scientific standpoint, this harmony aligns with nutritional and biological psychological theories, which confirm the impact of diet and sleep on cognitive and physical performance. Spiritually, this proportion implies adjusting material needs with spiritual goals, so that man shines like a star in the sky of knowledge and attains existential unity.
Humans, like the leaves of a mighty tree, each possess unique characteristics and needs. A scholar, an athlete, or an ascetic follows a different path in epistemic progress and requires particular patterns of behaviour, sleep, and nourishment. These differences, like various colours in the tableau of creation, indicate the diversity of human capacities and talents. In Islamic philosophy, this principle corresponds with the concept of Takh (allocation), emphasising differences in the existential ranks of humans.
On the path of elevation, two major afflictions, like dark shadows, threaten man: regression and asceticism. Regression, like a cold wind, leads to superficial and unknowledgeable judgements in deeming matters permissible or forbidden. Asceticism, like a deceptive mirage, results in the misuse of mystical concepts without scientific and epistemic foundation. These two afflictions, like obstacles in the river of knowledge, prevent man from ascending toward the truth.
Incorrect judgements about sciences and knowledge stem from ignorance and prejudice. This approach, like a lock on the doors of understanding, hinders epistemic and scientific progress. For example, in the past, sciences such as logic were deemed forbidden due to misunderstanding, while these sciences, like lamps in the darkness, serve as tools for discovering the truth.
Just as food harmonises with the human body creating physical unity, spiritual acts such as prayer, supplication, and remembrance unify with the soul and guide it toward higher ranks. This unity, like a gentle breeze, carries the soul toward the Divine Truth and liberates man from material constraints.
Spiritual acts, like clear water, bring balance and tranquility to human mental and emotional states, while reprehensible deeds, like violent storms, lead to turmoil and unrest. This principle aligns with modern psychological findings emphasising the impact of beliefs and actions on mental health.
At the highest epistemic levels, man attains states that, like a lofty peak, transcend verbal description. These states, connected with the concept of Fanaa fi Allah in Islamic mysticism, are inaccessible even to prophets and intimate angels, except for special Divine saints. This rank, like a boundless ocean, requires a deep and precise spiritual path.
Religious knowledge, to respond to modern challenges and false mysticism, requires epistemic reconstruction. This reconstruction, like renovating an ancient structure, must return to prophetic knowledge, distancing itself from mere verbalism and outward religious forms, moving toward deeper and more practical understanding. This approach, like a steadfast shield, prevents epistemic and scientific deviations.
Heedlessness, like a heavy shadow, is the greatest barrier on the path to human authority. This heedlessness means not only neglect of minor matters but severing connection with Divine Truth and the cosmic order. The Holy Quran reproaches man for heedlessness toward the grandeur of God and the universe.
Have you not seen that Allah causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term? And Allah, of what you do, is Knowing.
This verse, like a clear mirror, depicts the grandeur of the creation system and invites man to contemplate Divine power. The alternation of night and day and the subjugation of sun and moon are signs of Gods boundless authority.
That is because Allah is the Truth, and that which they call upon besides Him is falsehood, and because Allah is the Most High, the Grand.
This verse, like a blazing flame, affirms Gods truthfulness against the falsehood of others and warns man against heedless inclination towards falsehood.
Have you not seen that the ships sail through the sea by the favour of Allah that He may show you of His signs? Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.
The movement of ships in the sea, as a sign of Divine blessings, invites man to patience and gratitude to be freed from heedlessness.
And when waves cover them like canopies, they invoke Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, there are [some] among them who are moderate. And none denies Our verses except every treacherous, ungrateful one.
This verse portrays mans heedlessness in adversity, who calls upon God sincerely only in difficult moments, then returns to heedlessness after rescue.
O mankind, fear your Lord and fear a Day when no father will avail his son, nor will a son avail his father at all. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver.
This verse warns man against the deception of the world and heedlessness of Divine promise, calling him to vigilance and piety.
Indeed, Allah [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.
