Assalaamu alaykum. Who was Luqman? Can you send me some of his wise sayings? Thank you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Luqmaan Al-Hakeem (the Wise One) was one of the righteous slaves of Allaah, and Allaah blessed him with wisdom, as stated in the Quran and in some ahaadeeth of the Prophet .

The most preponderant opinion among the scholars is that he was a righteous man; some said that he was a prophet.

Allaah related to us about him, and there is a chapter in the Quran that is named after him: Soorah Luqmaan [Quran 31].

Ibn Katheer said in Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah, after mentioning what was stated about him in the Quran:

“He was Luqman ibn ‘Anqaa' ibn Sadoon, and it was also said: Luqman ibn Thaaraan ... He was a righteous man from the Nubian people, he was a great worshipper, an eloquent speaker, and he had great wisdom. It was said, "He was a judge at the time of Daawood (Prophet David) and Allaah knows best." ... It was narrated from ‘Ikrimah from Ibn ‘Abbaas that he was an Abyssinian carpenter from a region in Sudan of Egypt ... The famous opinion of the majority of the scholars is that he was a wise man and a wali (an ally of Allaah), but he was not a prophet, and Allaah mentioned him in the Quran and praised him and related to us what he had said.” [End of quote]

For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 82167.

One of his greatest sayings of wisdom is what Allaah related to us in Soorah Luqman, as Allaah says on his tongue (what means): {And [mention, O Muhammad] when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allaah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice."} [Quran 31:13]

Allaah also says (what means): {O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination. And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allaah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.} [Quran 31:17-18]

There is also many pieces of wisdom that is attributed to him in the resource books of Islam. Among the pieces of wisdom that were reported from him are the following:

1. Luqmaan said to his son, "O son, the likeness of the people who mention Allaah and those who do not is such as light and darkness.” This is mentioned by Abu Nu’aym in Al-Hilyah.

2. "O son, hope in Allaah a hope that would not make you dare commit a sin, and fear Allaah a fear that would not make you despair of His Mercy.” This is mentioned by Al-Bayhaqi in Ash-Shu'ab.

3. In Sharh As-Sunnah by Al-Baghawi, Al-Hasan said, "Luqmaan said to his son: 'O son, do not eat over your fill; it is better to give it to a dog.'"

4. Imaam Maalik said in Al-Muwatta’, "It was reported to me that Luqmaan was asked, 'How did you reach this status?' Luqmaan said, 'It is by being truthful (not telling lies), fulfilling the trust, and leaving what does not concern me.'"

Also, in Sunan Ad-Daarimi, Shahr ibn Hawshab said, "Luqmaan said to his son, 'O my son, do not seek knowledge to show off in front of the scholars, to debate with the foolish people, or to show off in meetings, and do not abandon seeking knowledge as a way of being ascetic and wanting ignorance. If you see some people remembering Allaah, then sit with them because if you have knowledge, then your knowledge will benefit you, and if you are ignorant, then they will teach you, and Allaah may look at them with mercy and have mercy on you as well, and if you see people who do not remember Allaah, then do not sit with them because if you have knowledge, then your knowledge will not benefit you, and if you are ignorant, then they will increase your ignorance, and Allaah may look at them with wrath, and that wrath would affect you as well.'"

Allaah Knows best.