Luqman (Luqman)

20. “Have you not seen that Allah has made subservient to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and He has lavished on you His blessings outward and inward? And among the people is he who disputes concerning Allah without knowledge and without any guidance and without any book giving light.”

The Arabic word /’isbaq/ means: ‘To (cause to) spread’ and ‘to develop’.

In this holy verse two sorts of bounties are referred to: the outward bounties, such as: health, sustenance, beauty and the like; and the inward bounties, such as: faith, gnosis, certainty, good character, unseen succour, knowledge, nature, mastership, and so on.

At last, after mentioning ten admonishments about Origin and Resurrection, the rules of living, and ethical and social programs, for completing them, The Holy Qur’an goes to the statement of Divine bounties in order to move the sense of gratitude in people, a thanksgiving that becomes the source of ‘recognition of Allah’ and motive of obedience to Allah’s command.

Luqman addresses all humankind and say:

“Have you not seen that Allah has made subservient to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth…”

‘Making subservient whatever is in the heavens and in the earth to man’ has a vast concept which encompasses both what he has in his authority and uses them, with his own will, along-side his interests, such as many earthly animals, and the things which are not in man’s authority but Allah has appointed them to serve mankind, like the sun and the moon.

Therefore, all beings subservient to the command of Allah are alongside the path of the benefits of men whether they subservient to his command or not. Thus, the Arabic sign ‘L’ in the Qur’anic word /lakum/ (for you) is the ‘L’ with the meaning of benefit.

Then, it adds:

“…and He has lavished on you His blessings outward and inward?…”

The commentators have stated a lot of explanations on the meaning of ‘His blessing outward and inward’.

Some of them think of ‘outward blessings’ as a thing that is not deniable for anyone, such as creation, life, and kinds of provisions. They say that the inward blessings refer to those things that are not comprehensive without care and study, (such as many spiritual powers and constructive instincts).

Some others have rendered the ‘outward blessings’ into the outward limbs and the ‘inward blessings’ into ‘the heart’.

Some other commentators have considered the beauty of the face and stature and the health of the limbs as the outward blessing, and the ‘gnosis of Allah’ as the inward blessing.

Once Ibn-i-‘Abbas asked the Prophet of Islam (S) in this regard, and he answered:

“O’ Ibn-i-‘Abbas! The outward blessing is Islam, and your complete and ordered creation by Allah, as well as the sustenance He has given you. And the inward blessing is His concealing the ugliness of your deeds and that He, the Mighty, does not disgrace you publicly in front of people.”

Imam Baqir (as) once in a tradition said:

“The outward blessing is the Prophet (S), the gnosis of Allah, and Monotheism that the Prophet (S) has brought; and the inward blessing is love of us, Ahlul Bayt, and the covenant of friendship with us.”

But, in fact, there is no contrast between these different commentaries, and each of them states the clear extensions of the outward and inward blessings without restricting their vast concepts.

At the end of the verse, the Qur’an speaks about those who are ingratitude unto the great bounties of Allah (s.w.t.) that have inwardly and outwardly surrounded them and they dispute against the Truth.

It says:

“…And among the people is he who disputes concerning Allah without knowledge and without any guidance and without any book giving light.”

Instead of recognizing the giver of those abundant manifest and concealed bounties, they ignorantly and obstinately turn to polytheism and denial.

For the explanation of the difference existing between “Knowledge”, “guidance” and “Illuminating Book” it may be better to say that “Knowledge” refers to the Divine teachers and leaders and those learned ones who can help man in this path and guide him to the appointed destination. And the purpose of “Illuminating Book” refers to the heavenly Books that, by the way of revelation, enlighten the man’s soul and heart.

In fact, this obstinate group neither themselves have any knowledge nor do they seek for a leader or a guide, nor do they get help from the Divine revelations, and since the way of guidance is only in these three things therefore, by abandoning them they will get astray and pave the way of Satan.