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By

Hujjatul Islam Moulana Muntazir Mehdi Rizvi (Lecture 18- 2007)

Transliteration

[031:019 Waiqsid (and be moderate) fee (in) mashyika (your walking) waoghdud (and
lower) min (of) sawtika (your voice) inna (verily) ankara (the harshest) al-aswati (of all
voices) lasawtu (is indeed the voice saying) alhameeri (of the donkey)] Surah Luqman

[031:020 Alam (do not) taraw (see you) anna (that) Allaha (Allah) sakhkhara (has
subjected) lakum (for you) ma (whatever) fee (in) alssamawati (the heavens) wama
(and whatever) fee (is in) al-ardi (the earth) waasbagha (and has completed)
AAalaykum (upon you) niAAamahu (His Graces) thahiratan (both apparent seen)
wabatinatan (and hidden) wamina (yet of ) alnnasi (mankind) man (is he who) yujadilu
(disputes) fee (about) Allahi (Allah) bighayri (without) AAilmin (knowledge) wala
(nor) hudan (guidance) wala (nor) kitabin (a book) muneerin (giving light)] Surah
Luqman

Translation
[031:019 “And be moderate in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest
of all voices is the braying of the asses.”]

[031:020 See you not that Allah has subjected for you whatsoever is in the heavens and
whatsoever is in the earth, and has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, both
apparent ie Islamic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health,
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By

Hujjatul Islam Moulana Muntazir Mehdi Rizvi (Lecture 18- 2007)

good looks and hidden knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds , and also
the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise?]

Exegesis
This holy verse tells about important manner of morals. Some people speak so loud that
it is the habit of an animal. Allah abhors this kind of attitude, and He says that as if
somebody is braying like a donkey. This is the advice of Luqman to his son. Further he
advises his son that he should maintain the via media in the practical life, neither inclined
nor declined. There should be the moderate style of life while doing affairs in normal
routine of life. And also one should not walk like running on the earth. Further advice is
that one should not raise his voice to the level of animals. One should speak low and
slow. It is the sign of great humanity and good morals.
The most unpleasant and adverse voice is of the donkey. So when one speaks up so loud
in an uncivilized manner actually he is portraying to be an animal like personality. Allah
does not like it, and is saying that if someone does this, it is equal to be a donkey.
What we have read up till now that Luqman advises his son, we have seen that there is a
sound logic behind the advice. Likewise Luqman advised his son not do shirk. It is zulm
and a big sin. Allah also told us to be thankful to our parents because they are the source
of us to bring in the world. What the advices have been given to us Allah provided sound
logic and argument then it proved that what we should do that should be logically sound.
Allah also has told us in the holy verse that we should not walk having our chin up into
the air, it is a sign of arrogance. This is the mean attitude of the humanity. Allah hates
such people directly. Allah also hates the man who shows pride and proud. Here there is
a clear message for us to be humble, submissive, moderate, and low in speaking. We
should exhibit the human morality not the animal attitude in our stances. Allah may
snatch form us His blessings if we continued to be like that mentioned above. Otherwise
the treasures of Allah are open to us to get what we wish to have. So if someone got
wealth and other material he should not be full of pride, instead he should express his
gratitude to Allah.
Here is one point to be made clear that when we say that someone should be humble,
meek, submissive, it does not mean that before two or three persons one should bow
down his head and give plus to their talks. Instead, one should be humble in his heart,
that he may not think to injure the feelings of others, by showing his status, level of
knowledge, showing profuse plethora of wealth, or to engage others in debate like talks in
order to get the win in conversational battle. Overtly and occultly one should be humble.
When Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) would meet small children, he would
salaam them. This is a great example to be humble in heart. The children used to gather
around Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam). And when he got the prophethood,
the parents of many children used to ask them to give troubles to Muhammad (Salla
'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam). So as also previously explained that it is the guidance of the
parents to make the children something else other than Muslim. All children are by birth
Muslims. That’s why we have been given the lessons that do not follow the parents if
they try to put you on the wrong track of life train. One should not do shirk and one
should not stand some other parallel to Allah.
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By

Hujjatul Islam Moulana Muntazir Mehdi Rizvi (Lecture 18- 2007)

This is the effect of the training of holy Quran that when a person opens his eyes to the
Quranic fact, he does not like to gather or accumulate the wealth. He only gets the
sustenance where from he may live only with peace and dignity. Thousands of examples

of the moumineen can be found in the pages of history. Wealthy people in the regime of
prophet Nooh used to ask him to get rid of the poor believers from the domain, then on
that condition, they were ready and willing to embrace the Din preached by prophet
Nooh. But prophet Nooh refused in doing so.
So the lesson for the entire mankind is that taqwa is the standard not the wealth is the
criteria.
Allah gives wealth and status to the people who deserve for it. Because Allah does
understand who deserves and who does not deserve. If right thing goes in wrong hands,
then there could be no concept of constructive use of that, but destructive consequences
can be expected from them. It is widely spoken in Urdu language with clear
understanding:

Khuda ganjey ko nakhun nahee daitaa

Allah does not grant nails to the baldheaded.

Nakhun naa tujhey dey khuda aiy punja-e-junoo

Dey ga tamaam aqel key bakhiyay udair tu

May Allah not grant nails to you Oh lunatic!

You would tear off all seams of intellect.

So why these kinds of proverbs prevail in the understanding of human brain? So that one
should not be arrogant but should be magnanimous, and humble in practical attitude in
the daily affairs of the life
Also remember dear readers that if someone asks you to get something from you, don’t
hate and rebuke him. But you should remain passive and pacific. Help him. Respect his
dignity. Don’t let the esteem of him steam.
Do you know once Imam Ali (AS) was standing in the battlefield? Somebody requested
Ali to give his sword to him. Imam-e-Aali-Maqaam threw his sword indifferently. He
asked that in the state of war he threw his sword that was not judicious act for him to do.
Ali replied with smiling face that when “you demanded the sword”, he felt sense of
dishonor that why the sword was asked to grant to him. So it was untowardly impossible
for him (Ali) to refuse the demand of the sword. Subhan Allah (all glory to Allah). He
demanded, Ali granted.
It is very clear in holy Quran not to treat have-nots and paupers with harsh tongue and
coarse attitude. Circumstances may also make you this.
The life of prophet (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saw that he tied stones to his belly due
to the starvation. Before being the prophet and after having the revelation, in both phases
the attitude of Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was unchanged. Before and
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Hujjatul Islam Moulana Muntazir Mehdi Rizvi (Lecture 18- 2007)

after, he was a holy person of holy Quran descended on the mankind by Allah.
Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) could have heaps of wealth, but he spent all
for the noble cause of Allah Subhana-Wa-Ta’aala. And while traveling he also used to

work equally with his companions. Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to
collect woods from forests to make fire to cook food.
Imam Ali (AS) said in Nahjul Balagha - the peak of eloquence “live life in such a manner
that you should fraternize with others. Don’t be arrogant. Don’t attain the attitude
standing in a corner like zuljinnah (albino horse taken out with mourning procession) and
people may come and give honor kisses to him”. In Nahjul Balagha - the peak of
eloquence Imam Ali (AS) vehemently opposed the spirit of arrogance. Further, Imam Ali
(AS) said that we should lead our life in such a way that people should congratulate us on
being alive, and if we die, people should mourn that what a great personality left.
Once Jafar as-Sadiq 743-765 showed inclination to take bath in hamam (a public bathing
establishment for steam bath in the middle-eastern countries). The news spread among
people that Jafar as-Sadiq (AS) would come to take bath in hamam. So it was ordered to
vacate the hamam. Jafar as-Sadiq (AS) refused to go in the hamam. And said he would
only come when all would be present over there. Anyway Imam went to take bath.
While he was taking bath a man asked him in the same hamam to massage him. Jafar as-
Sadiq (AS) very happily accepted doing his massage. But at the moment when he
recognized Jafar as-Sadiq (AS) he knelt down and then and began requesting him
forgiving him. Jafar as-Sadiq (AS) said that he did not do any wrong act, he demanded
help from him and he rendered his help to him. This is the peak of humbleness.
Once Imam Hassan (AS) on his horse was going galloping. In a village of Madina he
saw some beggars were eating chapatties. One of the beggars called him. He stopped.
He offered him to eat chapatties with them. He got down and sat with them and ate with
them what they were eating. And when Imam Hassan (AS) had eaten food with them,
then he invited him at his home. This is the state of being humble.
Next day the beggar came at the house of Imam Hassan (AS). There were many foods.
He began eating and also he saved some food. Imam Hassan (AS) said him to just eat
and save nothing, he would be given separately. The beggar replied there was a person
who was munching on dry chapatties, he wanted to carry food for him. When Imam
Hassan (AS) heard it he sat over there. Imam Hassan (AS) told him that he was his father
- Imam Ali (AS). Dear readers this is the height of humbleness. It is immensely liked by
Allah if someone prostrated on earth and the dust of the earth touched his forehead.
Thus Allah asked Prophet Musa (Alaih Assalaam) why he was made Kalim-Ullah? He
said no. Allah told him that the spirit of his humbleness, bowing down of him on the dust
of the earth, when his face and hair grab dust, it was immensely dear to Him. This was
the cause due to which Allah made him Kalim Ullah. And in Arabic clay is called
Turaab. And if someone is called Abu Turaab - Imam Ali (AS), then what must be the
status of Ali!
Sajdaa has been pronounced farz on every moumin, because it gives the height of
humbleness. And if namazi is not humble he is not worth calling namazi.
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By

Hujjatul Islam Moulana Muntazir Mehdi Rizvi (Lecture 18- 2007)

Once Iblis (serpent) was passing through a street. There some enemies of Ali were sitting
over there. They were abusing Ali. Iblis told them to whom they were abusing was their
Maula. They asked him how did he come to know that Ali was their Maula? Iblis told
them through Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam). He said

I heard it from the statement of

Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam), you abuse Ali – your Maula?” People
asked Iblis if he also accepted him as his Maula. He said because he was not in his
wilayat. But he looks very good. We are from the enemies of him. Iblis told that I am
also from Jinns. And for twelve thousand years I worshiped Allah. Keeping in view the
worship, Iblis told, he was called on the skies. There he worshiped for twelve thousand
years. That one day a light passed from before us. He told that at that incident all angels
went into prostration. Iblis told he did not go into the state of prostration. Then light was
asked about that where it had come. The angles said that they also did not know since
there were created. And that light appears after thousands of years, but when it appears it
shines in such a way. Angles then told that their ancestors told that it was the light of
Imam Ali (AS). It proved the grandeur of Ali. It also proved that the wilayat of Ali is
universally spread in every corner of the universe to the farthest possible humanly
conceived idea of its boundless unlimited edge. And shaitan is also giving the witness
that Ali is the successor of Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam). Twelve
thousand-year prostrations of Iblis on the earth and the same tenure of the prostration of
Iblis is on the skies. Twenty four thousand years worship of Iblis is recorded before the
creation of Adam. Iblis did not prostrate before one man. He was rejected.
Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) accepts the height of Ali through his holy
tongue and also through his holy act. Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) also
carried Ali on his shoulders. What other heavy weight proof can be brought in favor of
Ali? And there only Hassan and Hussain got the grace to sit on the holy shoulders of
Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam). No other child of the Arabian Peninsula got
this unique grace. He could not have some other child got sit on his shoulders because
there was holy seal of prophethood.
Allah told that in the night Allah took His worshiper - Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi
wa sallam) to the Masjid-ul-Haram. He was taken over there so that Allah could show
him His verses and signs. Around Masjid-e-Aqsa which sign he did not know? It means
there was something extra special or in other words divinely special thing, which was
desired to be shown to Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam). Aqsa mean “far
away” but in height not in length or distance. On the divine throne Muhammad (Salla
'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) reached. The distance of hardly less than two arrows remained
between him and Allah. Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam) reached Sidratul
Mintaha, here is paradise. This holy activity of Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) is called Miraj. This is the height of Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam).
And how holiest and respect worthy is the Ali who got the grace to be on the holy
shoulders of Muhammad (Salla 'Llahu 'alayhi wa sallam)!
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Hujjatul Islam Moulana Muntazir Mehdi Rizvi (Lecture 18- 2007)

In the end let the make the matter brief. To prostrate before Allah on the plain earth is
very dignified. And it becomes more dignified when dust or earth gathers on your
forehead and in your hair. It is the proof to be humble before Allah. So the dust and clay
is very relevant to the life of Ali – who was also called Abu Turab.
So when last hit of the unholy sword by the mean approach of dirty minded human took
place on the holy body of Ali, he took the earth of that place and cast on his head. And

said I say by Allah of Ka’bah I remained successful”. This incident

showed and proved that Ali was leaving for Allah with full zest and fervor.
Imam Ali (AS) remained in this world with height of humbleness. He helped and
rendered his services to others. Ali also helped people in the pitch dark of nights. Ali
solaced the children of widows. But the circumstances of Allah have their own
phenomenon in them. The children of Ali remained devoid of the affection of their father
in the prison of Shaam.
We have to learn a lesson from here. Always be steadfast. Be ready for any unfavorable
circumstance. Be realistic like Ali. Be ready like Ali for any moment of adversity. This
is world, not honey poetry of love and romance. True moments of originality with naked
consequences of our moves and maneuvers prevail before us and in hidden form. This is
all in order to weigh our activities and mental thoughts according to the Law of Requital
– Qanoon-e-Maqafaat-e-Amel.
Allah Hafiz! Your comments are welcome.