Luqman

Whenever I have asked the few people I have asked…to name some famous black muslims, they usually state Bilal (RA), Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali.

However, today I read that Luqman was also black. There is a chapter in the Qur’an titled “Luqman”. It’s chapter 31.

I found the following to be interesting, so thought I’d share.

Ibn Jarir recorded that Khalid Ar-Rabai said: "Luqman was an Ethiopian slave who was a carpenter. His master said to him, Slaughter this sheep for us,’ so he slaughtered it. [His master] said: Bring the best two pieces from it,' so he brought out the tongue and the heart. Then time passed, as much as Allah willed, and [his master] said: Slaughter this sheep for us,’ so he slaughtered it. [His master] said, Bring the worst two morsels from it,' so he brought out the tongue and the heart. His master said to him, I told you to bring out the best two pieces, and you brought these, then I told you to bring out the worst two pieces, and you brought these!’ Luqman said, `There is nothing better than these if they are good, and there is nothing worse than these if they are bad.‘’

Do we know what is the timeline of Luqman?

Was he a "Prophet" or just a very wise man?

He is often referred to as Luqman the Wise. Not considered a prophet by the majority of muslims. smile

He is the one who is referred to as the best example of "Ool-ul-Albaab" in Quran.

not sure if it is authentic or not (i doubt it anyway) but there is a narration that the Prophet (saw) has said that three ethiopians r leaders of the jannah: bilal, najashi and luqman....

the most popular view about luqman is that he was not a prophet....
was just a man who was gifted with wisdom (hikmah)....
may Allah bless us all with this gift....

i dont recall properly, but from a chapter in our urdu book in the schooldays, i think luqman has been said to have lived in the period after Ibrahim (as)....
other sources say he lived in the time of Dawood (as)....

I have always known him as Hakeem Luqman.
-Salman