Surah Luqman: Allah’s Answer to Mysticism in the Quran

Mainline mysticism, whether Shia or sunni, is wholly inconsistent with Surah Luqman.

Allah’s Guide for us to obtain wisdom

Here Allah swt immediately defines wisdom for us. First Allah tells us where one indisputable source of wisdom can be found, i.e. this Quran.

These are the verses of the Book, rich in wisdom.

Surah Luqman: Verse 2 (31:2) – تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْحَكِيمِ

Here Allah plainly tells us that, if you seek wisdom, well this ‘Book’ (i.e. Quran) is full of wisdom for you. Well some may argue, the Quran is complicated for us mere mortals to comprehend, we need a prophet of God to come and teach us how to read it. Well, the next verse dispenses that argument by stating this ‘Book’ is a guide for you.

It is a guide and mercy for the good-doers—

Surah Luqman: Verse 3 (31:3) – هُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Here we see that Allah intended this Quran to be not only a guide, but such an amazing guide that it will save us. Some may now argue that this verse only addresses the “good-doers” i.e. prophets and specially appointed people. Well, the next verse Allah swt further defines “good-doers” as regular good people to pray, pay tax, and believe in the next life.

those who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and have sure faith in the Hereafter.

Surah Luqman: Verse 4 (31:4) – ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

Perhaps a mystic will argue that they want to seek a higher level than being just a regular good person. Well, Allah swt further glorifies these individuals as being the highest form of humans on earth, and he indicates these are the truly guided and successful people.

It is they who are ‘truly’ guided by their Lord, and it is they who will be successful.         

Surah Luqman: Verse 5 (31:5) – أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًۭى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

Having completely defined what a who a wise person truly is, and how easily one can be on the path of wisdom and success, Allah swt then addresses the opposite of a wise person in order to define via contrast.

But there are, among men, those who purchase idle tales, without knowledge (or meaning), to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty.

Surah Luqman: Verse 6 (31:6)
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِى لَهْوَ ٱلْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ

Here, Allah swt explains certain men, who listen and believe worthless tales and stories, purporting to lead men on the ‘path of Allah’, but in fact they are misleading them and making a mockery of Allah’s path. The next verse explains that this group of people are arrogant in their misguidance in that if you tried to guide them by showing them verses of the Quran, they would ignore it.

Whenever Our revelations are recited to them, they turn away in arrogance as if they did not hear them, as if there is deafness in their ears. So give them good news ‘O Prophet’ of a painful punishment.

Surah Luqman: Verse 7 (31:7)
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتُنَا وَلَّىٰ مُسْتَكْبِرًۭا كَأَن لَّمْ يَسْمَعْهَا كَأَنَّ فِىٓ أُذُنَيْهِ وَقْرًۭا ۖ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Allah here explains that the Quran will be a guide, however, this group of Allah seekers are so arrogant they will not consider the verses of the Quran, being arrogant, likely because they believe they know what they think they need to know. Allah goes on to explain the miracle of creation and how plain this miracle is.

He created the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; He set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you; and He scattered through it beasts of all kinds. We send down rain from the sky, and produce on the earth every kind of noble creature, in pairs.

Surah Luqman: Verse 10 (31:10)
خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا وَأَلْقَىٰ فِي الْأَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ كَرِيمٍ

Here Allah swt explains how heaven, mountains, animals, rain, creatures are all events that are precise and grand and would have required a specific creator that intended this creation. For example, why are mountains made sturdy enough to handle human habitation rather than being soft and collapsable. Another example is why are all creatures made in pairs? If the world were random why wouldn’t there be more than two sexes, say five or six sexes? If we were all the masters of our own creation, why can’t we make it rain or produce vegetation from a desert? This would be inconceivable to a human to think up, let alone create.

This is Allah’s creation. Now show Me what those ‘gods’ other than Him have created. In fact, the wrongdoers are clearly astray.

Surah Luqman: Verse 11 (31:11)
هَـٰذَا خَلْقُ ٱللَّهِ فَأَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦ ۚ بَلِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Here Allah swt explains to humanity, what is that person or thing you have faith in? Can that person or thing create the heavens, the creatures on earth, or anything? That thing you hold faith in, it is not worthy or praise or worship. For example, there are some who believe power can lie in meditation, sages, prayer, discipline, money, or any number of infinite things and concepts. But the message of Allah swt here is that anything you may follow is powerless to create and as such it cannot be counted upon as a vehicle for change or prosperity (ie. object of worship).

Luqman’s guide for Humans to obtain wisdom

Perhaps Allah’s swt advice to you is too strong. Perhaps you chose to believe that Allah cannot possibly be talking to you, or if he is talking to you, he is using words that you are not smart enough to understand. Even after all of this explanation by Allah swt, there may be some that still do not want to listen. Why wouldn’t a person want to listen to Allah swt? Well there could be infinite reasons, as the devil will have many ways to appeal to each of us.

If you want to reach a high level of wisdom, take Allah’s advice, and if you find that hard to comprehend, then Allah swt quotes Luqman for you. Luqman’s advice in verses 12-19 Luqman advises his son of the following:

• Be grateful to Allah, do not be ungrateful to Allah
• Do not share worship or associates with Allah anything or anyone
• Allah sees all deeds no matter how small and will judge you upon them all, good or bad.
• Establish prayer
• Enjoin the good, and forbid the evil
• Be patient in the fact of hardships or blessings
• Do not be arrogant or boastful
• Walk humbly and do not raise your voice (speak humbly)

When we see this advice, we find a list that can be accomplished immediately, and something that does not need require one to take a class from a guru to comprehend and employ.

Those who Debate About Allah

There are those who converse and debate about Allah and his power and abilities. That essentially is what mysticism is. It is a philosophy that begins with the idea that Allah is an energy all around us that we can tap into. Allah describes these people.

Do ye not see that Allah has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made his bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen? Yet there are among men those who dispute about Allah, without knowledge and without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them!

Surah Luqman: 20 (32:20)
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَابٍ مُّنِيرٍ

When they are told to follow the (Revelation) that Allah has sent down, they say: “Nay, we shall follow the ways that we found our fathers (following). “What! even if it is Satan beckoning them to the Penalty of the (Blazing) Fire?

Surah Luqman: 20 (32:20)
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ

Here Allah swt explains a group of people that dispute regarding Allah, without knowledge and without guidance, and without revelations to enlighten them. When you tell them to follow the Quran, they say “no” because their entire sect/’fathers’ have been following these philosophies before them. Allah swt explains that your forefathers that brought you this philosophy could all be doing evil. Read the Quran now in the present moment for yourself. These people do not even understand what Allah is, rather they are repeating inventions.

If thou ask them, who it is that created the heavens and the earth. They will certainly say, “Allah”. Say: “Praise be to Allah!” But most of them understand not.

Sural Luqman: 25 (32:25)
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Here Allah explains that this group does not understand that Allah swt created the heaven and the earth, and that we need to praise him. This notion, despite their lip service, goes above their head. They are in the process of debating Allah’s powers, characteristics, and paths. Rather, the path itself is simply to praise Allah, yet they fail to understand this. Allah goes on to explain that His knowledge is unlimited in that if all the trees were pens and the ocean ink, the ‘words’ (knowledge) of Allah would not be exhausted. Allah further explains that resurrecting all humans is as simple as resurrecting one single soul for Him. The idea here likely being that we cannot begin to understand what Allah is and that his power and knowledge have no limits, way beyond our comprehension.

That is because Allah is the (only) Reality, and because whatever else they invoke besides Him is Falsehood; and because Allah,- He is the Most High, Most Great.

Luqman: 30 (32:30)
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ

Here Allah explains that Allah is the only reality and everything else that people think has an any effect besides Allah is falsehood.

O mankind! do your duty to your Lord, and fear (the coming of) a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the promise of Allah is true: let not then this present life deceive you, nor let the chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah.

Surah Luqman: 33 (33:32)
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَاخْشَوْا يَوْمًا لَّا يَجْزِي وَالِدٌ عَن وَلَدِهِ وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ هُوَ جَازٍ عَن وَالِدِهِ شَيْئًا إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَ
ا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ

Here Allah swt teaches us that we should be focusing on the afterlife and judgement day. That is what is important not this life, and to not get deceived by this present life, nor let the devil deceive us about Allah. This purely contradicts mystics. The nature of this world is to simply not become misguided. There is nothing in this world that can raise the quality of our soul besides being a doer of good as described above. If still, there are some that believe we can plan a life here on earth where we can spiritually progress through levels to attain a some high level of spirituality to gain ability and prestige, Allah’s last verse shuts that down.

Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He Who sends down rain, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does any one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: Nor does any one know in what land he is to die. Verily with Allah is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things).

Surah Luqman: 34 (32:34)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْأَرْحَامِ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

Here, Allah swt explains that only Allah knows when the last days are. Further, only Allah swt sends blessings. Further only Allah swt knows what is unseen. Further, only Allah knows what will happen to you tomorrow. Further, only Allah knows where and when you will die. So simply put, you cannot plan, attain, or know anything at all. Only Allah swt has this knowledge and ability to produce results, good or bad, for your life.

As a mystic, your goal is to use your long life, and devote it to spiritual growth as defined by your cult. The goal of spiritual growth is to obtain benefits in this life and in the hereafter. Simply put, this Surah and verse in particular pokes a big hole in this philosophy. First off, you cannot be sure how long you will live to plan out your spiritual growth in the first place. Secondly, all blessings are given or withheld by Allah so you cannot plan to obtain anything in this life (status, money, wisdom, etc.) through some independent strategy. Thirdly, as explained before, you have no divine authority or ‘Book’ for your spiritual growth plan. Lastly, Allah’s guide for spiritual growth as laid out in this Surah and the Quran as a whole can be applied by anyone and can be achieved in an instant for all we know (rather than some sort of life long journey).