Surah Luqman, Ayah 17

Reflection

This is part of Luqman's wise counsel to his son, providing a comprehensive program for righteous living. The advice includes four elements: establishing prayer (maintaining connection with Allah), enjoining good (actively promoting virtue), forbidding wrong (opposing evil and corruption), and practicing patience when facing difficulties that result from doing right. The phrase "matters requiring determination" (azm al-umur) indicates these are challenging tasks that require strong resolve and courage. This teaches that righteous living involves both personal worship and social responsibility, that promoting good and opposing evil may bring hardship, that patience is essential when facing consequences of doing right, and that these actions require determination and courage. Luqman's advice shows that true wisdom combines spiritual practice with moral courage and social engagement.