Islam has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances. To achieve these rights Islam provides not only legal safeguards but also a very effective moral system. Therefore whatever leads to the welfare of the individual or the society is morally good in Islam and whatever is injurious is morally bad. Islam has given us a rulebook that leaves out no rule. This book is none other than the Quran. In it, Allah says: .
"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask; and for the freeing of captives; to be steadfast in prayers, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-conscious." (2:177).
Allah has also given us advice in the Quran about shukr (thankfulness), parents, awareness of Allah, prayers, commanding what is good, patience and steadfastness, kindness and courtesy, humbleness, and moderation in everything we do. Allah gives us all this in just a few ayahs. These ayahs are in Surah Luqman. The eight ayahs (from twelve to nineteen) are the advice that Luqman gave to his son.
In ayah twelve of Surah Luqman, Allah tells us that he has given Luqman AlHikmah (wisdom and religious understanding, etc.). Allah also tells Luqman to give thanks to Him, for whoever gives thanks it is for his own good. And Allah also says that whoever is unthankful, then verily, Allah is free of all wants and worthy of all praise. The ayah's translation itself says:.
We bestowed (in the past) wisdom on Luqman: "Show (thy) gratitude to Allah.
