Luqman Hakim

The story of a wise scholar called Luqman who always gave good advice to his children.

Once Luqman said to his son, “Oh son! Do not tie your heart in seeking the pleasure of people. You are not likely to succeed. Do not pay attention to what people say. Instead tell yourself always to seek the pleasure of God.” He wanted this lesson to be always remembered, never to be forgotten.

Than one day Luqman told his son to ride a donkey. His son obeyed and he followed behind on foot. They travelled in this way for some distance when they came across a group of people. Seeing the son on the donkey, one of them said, “What an impolite and bad boy. His old father is walking on foot and the young son is comfortably riding on the donkey. This is not a manner to show respect to one’s father”. Father and son heard this.

The son came down from the donkey and Luqman rode on the animal. After sometime they came across another group of people. On seeing the father riding the donkey, the elder of the group said, “Oh you old man! This is not the way to bring up a son. You make him walk in the hot sun, while you sit comfortably on the donkey.” Luqman paid attention to what the people said.

He came down from the donkey. Both father and son walked on foot. The donkey walked in front. They went a little further. People seeing them, said, “How foolish you are? You walk behind a donkey. Why don’t you ride it?” Luqman and his son once again accepted what the people said.

They both rode the donkey and went further. They came across a river. There was a bridge to be crossed. Some people were sitting there. They saw Luqman and his son riding the donkey. One of them said, “It is very unkind and cruel of you two to ride on the poor donkey. The little animal can hardly take all your burden.” So taking this advice Luqman and his son dismounted from the donkey.

They travelled a little distance further and Luqman lovingly said to his son, “You have heard and seen what the people said. It must have assured you, by now, that whatever you do or whichever way you move, one is not able to please the people of the world.” He pointed at the flowing river and added, “A person can build a wall across the river. It will stop the flow of the water. But it is not possible to shut the mouth of the people from criticism.”

There are as many opinions as there are people in the world. Some people can speak even without thinking and like to find fault with others. A person can feel very hurt when he listens to all these loose talk especially when he is doing something good. To avoid getting hurt, a person can train and discipline himself to think. Thus by thinking he can know what is wrong. When a person is sure that what he is doing will please God, then he need not worry what others think or speak.