سُوْرَةُ لُقْمَانَ
Surah Luqman (31) — Ayah 12
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا لُقْمَـٰنَ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We bestowed upon Luqmân Al-Hikmah (wisdom and religious understanding) saying: "Give thanks to Allâh." And whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good of) his ownself. And whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allâh is All-Rich (Free of all needs), Worthy of all praise.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And verily
ءَاتَيْنَا
ātaynā
We gave
لُقْمَـٰنَ
luq'māna
Luqman
ٱلْحِكْمَةَ
l-ḥik'mata
the wisdom
أَنِ
ani
that
ٱشْكُرْ
ush'kur
Be grateful
لِلَّهِ ۚ
lillahi
to Allah
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يَشْكُرْ
yashkur
(is) grateful
فَإِنَّمَا
fa-innamā
then only
يَشْكُرُ
yashkuru
he is grateful
لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ
linafsihi
for himself
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
كَفَرَ
kafara
(is) ungrateful
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَنِىٌّ
ghaniyyun
(is) Free of need
حَمِيدٌۭ
ḥamīdun
Praiseworthy
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
12. And We certainly gave Luqman wisdom, (saying): “Be grateful to Allah.” Whoever is grateful, it is for his own benefit; and whoever is ungrateful [14], then surely Allah is Free of need, Praiseworthy in Himself.
[14]
Who Was Sayyiduna Luqman? The Instruction of Gratitude and Allah’s Independence:
Hazrat Luqman was a resident of either Abyssinia or Egypt. Later, he settled in Syria. He lived during the time of Hazrat Dawud ؑ. There is a difference of opinion regarding his prophethood, and the preferred view is that he was not a prophet. However, he was certainly wise and sagacious. He was famous throughout Arabia for his wisdom and intelligence. Among the foremost of the wise teachings that Allah taught him was that if one shows gratitude to Allah for His blessings, the benefit of this gratitude returns to the one who is grateful. Allah has placed such an effect in gratitude that it draws further attention and kindness towards oneself. One should express gratitude to Allah so that He may bestow further favors, and one should also be grateful to people who do favors. These are matters that almost every person experiences. The results of ingratitude and thanklessness, or being ungrateful for favors, are exactly the opposite: even previous blessings are taken away. In any case, the benefit of gratitude also returns to the one who is grateful, and the harm of ingratitude also befalls the same person. As for Allah, He is independent of people’s gratitude or ingratitude, because all His deeds are such that they are worthy of praise, and He is praiseworthy in His very essence. This was the first wise teaching that Allah taught Hazrat Luqman ؑ.
[14]
Who Was Sayyiduna Luqman? The Instruction of Gratitude and Allah’s Independence:
Hazrat Luqman was a resident of either Abyssinia or Egypt. Later, he settled in Syria. He lived during the time of Hazrat Dawud ؑ. There is a difference of opinion regarding his prophethood, and the preferred view is that he was not a prophet. However, he was certainly wise and sagacious. He was famous throughout Arabia for his wisdom and intelligence. Among the foremost of the wise teachings that Allah taught him was that if one shows gratitude to Allah for His blessings, the benefit of this gratitude returns to the one who is grateful. Allah has placed such an effect in gratitude that it draws further attention and kindness towards oneself. One should express gratitude to Allah so that He may bestow further favors, and one should also be grateful to people who do favors. These are matters that almost every person experiences. The results of ingratitude and thanklessness, or being ungrateful for favors, are exactly the opposite: even previous blessings are taken away. In any case, the benefit of gratitude also returns to the one who is grateful, and the harm of ingratitude also befalls the same person. As for Allah, He is independent of people’s gratitude or ingratitude, because all His deeds are such that they are worthy of praise, and He is praiseworthy in His very essence. This was the first wise teaching that Allah taught Hazrat Luqman ؑ.
