Suratul Luqman: Lesson 1: Access to the wisdom of the Quran is through Ehsan and Gratitude

An overarching theme of Chapter 31, Suratul Luqman is wisdom. In Aya 2, Allah swt says:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الم

[31:1] Alif Lam Mim.

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْحَكِيمِ

[31:2] These are verses of the Book of Wisdom

Wisdom means knowledge combined with insight, perception, the ability to decipher appropriate action and the will to follow through on that action. Wisdom is also related to adl, it guides towards putting all things in their proper place, giving everything it’s proper due.

Allah certifies that the Quran is a book of wisdom. The infinite wisdom of this book, which has been revealed by the All Wise, has the power to change the destiny of man and raise him to the status of being a vice gerent of the Almighty.

A wise man is not only a man versed in knowledge, but one carrying out in practical conduct ('amal) the right course in life to the utmost of his power. A wise man is he who recognizes the wisdom in acting upon that which comes from the Ultimate Intelligence. He recognizes that that the end of all creation is in His Court. The choice is only to get there through awareness and willing submission or be forced to present oneself for the ultimate accounting. 

The mercy and guidance of the Quran, the book of wisdom, is accessible to the muhsineen, the doers of goodness.

هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّلْمُحْسِنِينَ

[31:3] A guidance and a mercy for the doers of goodness,

The following verse defines the qualities of the muhsineen:

الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

[31:4] Those who keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and they are certain of the hereafter.

… and says it is these who are ultimately successful

أُوْلَئِكَ عَلَى هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

[31:5] These are on a guidance from their Lord, and these are they who are successful:

These verses tell us that the way to excellent action, to be a muhsin, means

Firstly, to practice submission through the establishment of prayer. Wisdom rests in recognition of the Ultimate Truth and in yearning towards Him in prayer and submission.

Secondly, to detach oneself from materialism by giving. Love of Allah swt necessarily evokes a love for His creatures, for humanity. The ehsan of the muhsineen is visible in in the love and compassion they have for fellow humans. Their wisdom lies in recognizing their connection to others, and realizing that He has fixed a part of others sustenance in what material wealth he has entrusted to them.

Thirdly, to have absolute conviction of the final accounting. The actions of a muhsin are regulated through an awareness that every deed, good or evil, will reveal its impact on the Day. The muhsineen are aware that this life is just a preparation for the Real Life and therefore they invest their time in what will bring them ultimate joy.

A little later in this Sura, Allah swt specifies that the outcome of wisdom is gratitude, or shukr 

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ

[31:12] And certainly We gave wisdom to Luqman, saying: Be grateful to Allah. And whoever is grateful, he is only grateful for his own soul; and whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, Praised.

So the outcome of true wisdom is shukr, gratitude to Allah swt. When man recognizes the Mercy of Allah, it evokes in him a sense of gratitude. This feeling of gratitude enables him to trust Him, to feel at peace and dwell in gratitude.

The basis of moral Law and of all guidance coming from Him, is man's own good, and does not benefit Allah, for Allah swt is above all needs, He is Ghani, Self Sufficient. The denying, ignoring, or covering up of His blessings, leads us to agitation and dis-ease, physical and emotional.  Even if the whole world became ungrateful, it wouldn’t affect Him. His advice for man to dwell in gratitude is one more aspect of His ultimate Mercy.

He is Hameed, Most worthy of Praise, worthy of all Praise. Even in praising Him, we do not advance His glory.

By being in gratitude, we bring peace to ourselves. By obeying His Will, we bring our position into conformity with our own nature as made by Him.

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