Words from Luqman the Sage That Touch the Heart
The wisdoms of Luqman the Sage are a selection of brief sayings that touch a person's heart, character, and inner discipline. While each saying may appear as a simple note on its own, behind it lie fundamental matters such as discipline of the nafs (the lower self), awareness of mortality, knowledge, adab (proper conduct), and maturity of the qalb (the heart).
On this page, a concise selection of 72 sayings attributed to Luqman the Sage is presented.
01
"O my son! Do not be hasty; haste is the work of Shayṭān (Satan)."
02
"O my son! Do not speak ill of anyone."
03
"O my son! At the beginning of your meal say 'Bismillah' (In the name of Allah), at the end say 'Alhamdulillah' (All praise is due to Allah), and in between, reflect that the blessing comes from Allah."
04
"O my son! Do not disclose your weakness and poverty to anyone, not even to your family, lest your standing fall in their eyes and they cease to heed your words."
05
"O my son! If you fall out with someone, hold your tongue and speak only what is acceptable. Think first, then begin to speak."
06
"Do not deem permissible for others what you do not approve for yourself."
07
"Do not turn your face away from people out of pride. Do not walk on the earth with arrogance. For Allah does not love those who are arrogant and boastful."
08
"And [mention] when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, 'O my son! Do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, shirk (associating partners with God) is a great injustice.'"
09
"O my son! Do not break bread with one hand. This is the habit of arrogant people."
10
"O my son! Eating excessively hardens the qalb (the heart) and leads to heedlessness. It causes laziness in worship."
11
"Guard yourself from things in food and drink that may harm your throat."
12
"If you do not believe in death, then do not sleep! If you do not believe in resurrection, then do not wake up!"
13
"O my son! Be truthful in your words, your actions, and your conduct. If even your truthful words would cause astonishment or doubt, it is better not to say them."
14
"O my son! Establish prayer perfectly. Enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. Bear patiently whatever befalls you. Surely these are matters requiring determination and steadfastness."
15
"O my son! Adorn your inner self more than your outer self: your inner self is where the Truth (Allah) looks, your outer self is where people look."
16
"O my son! Carrying rocks to distant places is easier than trying to explain something to a fool."
17
"O my son! Do not blow on hot food to cool it; wait until it cools down."
18
"O my son! Do not reach for food before anyone else."
19
"O my son! Attend the gatherings of scholars. Listen to the conversations of the people of wisdom. Just as Allah revives dry earth with rain, so too does He revive dead hearts with words of wisdom."
20
"O my son! When you begin a task, do not reveal it to anyone before it comes to fruition, lest you be embarrassed."
21
"O my son! Eat countable fruits like dates and apricots one by one, not two at a time, and gather the pits to one side."
22
"O my son! If guests act reserved, do not insist more than three times for them to eat. If you have no appetite, express your excuse clearly."
23
"O my son! If you wish to befriend someone, first do something that will anger him. If he treats you fairly while angry, draw near to him; if he is unfair, keep your distance."
24
"O my son! When you are among a group, do not sit while they are standing. When they sit, you sit as well."
25
"O my son! Do not play with your mustache or beard. Do not put your finger in your nose. Do not spit on the roads or blow your nose loudly. Refrain from swatting flies with your hand."
26
"O my son! Do not befriend ignorant people. If you do, he will think you approve of his actions."
27
"O my son! The world is a bottomless sea. Many have drowned in it. Therefore, take taqwa (God-consciousness) as your ship. Load it with iman (faith). Set sail with the sail of tawakkul (reliance upon God). Only in this way will you travel safely and reach the shore."
28
"O my son! If a piece of bread or food falls from your hand, pick it up, clean it, and eat it."
29
"O my son! Improve your character. Show a smiling face to both your friend and your enemy. But do not act in a way that would diminish your worth and dignity."
30
"Before giving advice to others, first practice what you will recommend yourself. Speak according to your own measure, and observe the rights of everyone."
31
"My child, when the stomach is full, thought sleeps, wisdom falls silent and diminishes, and acts of worship are neglected."
32
"My child, make obedience to Allah your trade, so that you may profit continually without capital."
33
"O my son! If you wish to be happy in both worlds, understand yourself. Strive to read and become knowledgeable. Strive, for the one who knows and the one who does not are not equal."
34
"O my son! Ask Allah for such a thing that you do not dare to commit sin. And fear Allah in such a way that you never lose hope in His mercy."
35
"O my son! Give much charity. Remove the love of wealth from your heart."
36
"O my son! Even if a person is poor, with knowledge and wisdom he will have a place in the assemblies of kings."
37
"Preserve the value and due respect of everyone."
38
"O my son! A time will come when even the faces of the patient will not smile."
39
"O my son! Refrain from betraying trusts."
40
"O my son! Listen with the ear of your soul to the advice and counsel of friends who wish you well."
41
"O my son! When you are a guest in someone's house, be careful with your eyes. Do not look around everywhere. Even if you become aware of something, do not reveal their secrets, even if it is contrary to the religion."
42
"O my son! While walking on the road, do not turn your face and eyes here and there, so that your heart does not fall into doubt and whisperings."
43
"O my son! Act with silence and deliberation. Speak little. Speaking much leads to mistakes."
44
"O my son! Do not drink too much water during a meal. When drinking water, look into the cup to make sure nothing inappropriate has fallen in. Drink water in three sips."
45
"O my son! Strive to win the hearts of people. Never lose hope in the mercy of Allah."
46
"O my son! Existence is better than nonexistence, and reason is better than drunkenness."
47
"O my son! Wash your hands before and after eating. This removes poverty and strengthens the eyes."
48
"O my son! Avoid getting into debt. Debt brings you to humiliation by day and drowns you in sorrow by night."
49
"O my son! I have never regretted remaining silent. For if speech is silver, silence is golden."
50
"O my son! Strive to be good both in public and in private."
51
"O my son! Attend funeral ceremonies. Try to avoid wedding ceremonies. For funerals remind you of the Hereafter; weddings draw you toward the world."
52
"O my son! Allah dries up the face of the liar and removes his sense of shame. The immoral person will never be free from distress."
53
"O my son! Consider taqwa (God-consciousness) as a profitable trade for yourself. For such trades bring endless gains."
54
"O my son! If your deed is as small as a mustard seed and it is hidden inside a rock, Allah will bring it forth. Surely, Allah is Subtle and All-Aware of the finest details."
55
"O my son! When something is asked of you, if you are able, try to give it. When you ask something from someone, do not insist excessively."
56
"O my son! Do not ramble excessively when speaking. Otherwise, your honor will be harmed. Do not embarrass others when speaking. Do not make gestures with your eyebrows or eyes. Try to listen to beautiful and gentle words. Do not be overly astonished. Do not ask for words to be repeated. Avoid words that will make people laugh at you or make you a mockery."
57
"O my son! Do not ask for something before its time."
58
"O my son! Take small bites and chew well."
59
"O my son! When you go to a gathering, first cast the arrow of Islam, that is, give salām (greeting of peace). Then sit in a corner, and do not speak unless you see them speaking. If they engage in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah, join them. But if they turn to another topic, leave that place."
60
"O my son! When eating, take from what is in front of you; do not take from the middle of the bread or the dish."
61
"O my son! Seek out the gatherings you will attend yourself. When you find gatherings where Allah is remembered, sit there immediately. If you are a scholar, your knowledge will increase; if you are ignorant, you will learn something new. You will also receive your share of the mercy that descends there. Never attend gatherings where Allah is not remembered. Whether you are a scholar or ignorant, you will be harmed. Moreover, you will also receive your share of the Divine wrath that descends there."
62
"O my son! Abandon any deed that would shame you in the sight of Allah."
63
"O my son! Eating a bit of salt at the beginning and end of a meal is a remedy for many illnesses."
64
"O my son! Since you came into this world, you have been journeying toward the Hereafter. Therefore, the abode of the Hereafter is closer to you than the abode of this world."
65
"O my son! Do not keep praising yourself and your children."
66
"O my son! In the presence of someone who is learned, possesses taqwa (God-consciousness), or is ahead of you for any reason, hold your tongue."
67
"O my son! When you are invited by someone, be content with little. Do not flatter by praising that food and do not disparage or belittle the food of others."
68
"O my son! Do not eat your food quickly."
69
"O my son! Do not marry a girl who is not from your own people. Otherwise, your children will never be free from hardship in the future."
70
"O my son! Occasionally glance at your companions at the table. Pass the food and bread in their direction."
71
"O my son! Speak the truth, and be content with what comes from Allah."
72
"O my son! Fear Allah as He should be feared. Do not give the impression of being among the people of taqwa (God-consciousness) so that others respect you, while you know your heart is corrupt."