31:11-12
31:11
Such is the Creation of Allah: now show Me what is there that others besides Him have created: nay, but the Transgressors are in manifest error.
31:12
we bestowed (in the past) Wisdom on Luqman: “Show (thy) gratitude to Allah.” Any who is (so)grateful does so to the profit of his own soul: but if any is ungrateful, verily Allah is free of all wants, Worthy of all praise.
Luqman, the figure after whom the Qurʾānic chapter (Sūrat Luqmān) is named, is associated primarily with Arab tradition. Historical information about his life is limited, but he is widely portrayed in Islamic literature as a symbol of wisdom. Some traditions describe him as having lived an exceptionally long life, which led to the title Muʿammar (the long-lived). Certain accounts also place him in a period associated with the ancient people of ʿĀd.
Luqman is commonly depicted as a man of humble social status, with some traditions describing him as a servant or craftsman, such as a carpenter. Despite his modest background, he is remembered for his profound wisdom and moral insight. Narratives about him often portray him as someone who declined worldly authority or political power in favor of a life devoted to ethical reflection and guidance. Numerous instructive anecdotes and moral sayings are attributed to him, many of which resemble the moral tales found in other cultural traditions, such as the fables attributed to Aesop in Greek literature. Although comparisons between Luqman and Aesop have occasionally been made, scholars generally note that there is no historical evidence confirming an identification between the two figures. Instead, similarities in the traditions likely reflect broader cross-cultural influences in the transmission of moral storytelling.
References:
Yusuf Ali, Abdullah. Translation and Commentary of the Quran. (surah 31 verse 12).