booke

104chapter twoAnd recite what is rehearsed to you in your homes, of the signs of Godand His wisdom: for God understands the finest mysteries and is wellacquainted(with them). ( Al-AÈz§b 33:34)We bestowed (in the past) wisdom on Luqm§n: “Show ( your) gratitudeto God.” (Luqm§n 31:12)A person who speaks words of wisdom does not need the help ofdivine revelation, not even of prophethood or messengerhood.Luqm§n was not a prophet, and yet we hear in verse 31:12: ‘Webestowed (in the past) wisdom on Luqm§n’. In the Book we find manysuch ‘precepts of wisdom’ which, incidentally, proves that MuÈammadIdrÊs al-Sh§fi#Ê’s view that ‘wisdom’ is primarily represented by thesunna of the Prophet is totally wrong: 31Do not follow blindly what you do not know to be true: ears, eyes, andheart, you will be questioned about all these. Do not strut arrogantlyabout the earth: you cannot break it open, nor match the mountainsin height. The evil of all these actions is hateful to your Lord. [Prophet],this is some of the wisdom your Lord has revealed to you… ( Al-Isr§"17:36–39)The essential feature of words of wisdom is that they contain moralsayings that are universally understood and shared by all people. Letus quote some examples from a variety of ÈadÊths:There [should be] no harm [to anyone], and there [should be] no harmin retaliation [if someone was harmed before]. 32Leave behind what gives you doubt for what does not give youdoubt. 33Begin with yourself, only then with your brother. 34The one who believes in God and the Last Day, he shall speak nicelyor not speak at all. 35No one is truly a believer unless he desires for his brother what hedesires for himself. 36A Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue people are safe. 3731Quoted from MuÈammad IdrÊs al-Sh§fi#Ê, Kit§b al-ris§la, in Fakhr al-DÊn Mu -Èam mad al-R§zÊ, Maf§tÊÈ al-ghayb (n.p., n.d.), vol. 25, 181 (tafsÊr of 33:34).32Reported by Ibn M§jah, quoted in Al-QazwÊnÊ, Sunan Ibn M§jah (Beirut: D§rIÈy§" Kutub al-#Arabiyya, 1952), vol. 2, 784 (ÈadÊth no. 2341).33Reported by Abå ‘^s§ al-TirmidhÊ, Sunan al-TirmidhÊ (Cairo: Sharikat Mußãaf§al-B§bÊ, 1975), vol. 4, 668 (ÈadÊth no. 2518).34Al-SuyåãÊ, al-J§mi# al-ßaghÊr, vol. 1, 11 (ÈadÊth no. 46).35Reported by MuÈammad Abå #Abd All§h al-Bukh§rÊ, al-J§mi# al-ßaÈÊÈ (Beirut:D§r ibn KathÊr, 1987), vol. 5, 2272 (ÈadÊth no. 5784).36Al-Bukh§rÊ, ‘aÈÊÈ, vol. 1, 14 (ÈadÊth no. 13).37Al-Bukh§rÊ, ‘aÈÊÈ, vol. 1, 12 (ÈadÊth no. 10).