Luqman the Wise was a black Nubian slave.
And Allah, the Most High, had given him the wisdom.
And there was a man from the Children of Israel who bought him for thirty mithqals.
And nush means half a mithqal.
And he used to work for him.
And his master would play dice, gambling against him.
And there was a flowing river at his door.
So one day he played dice, betting that whoever was his companion's moon.
He drank all the water that was in the river, or he redeemed himself from it.
And if he was his companion's moon, he did the same to him.
He said, 'Then Qamar, the master of Luqman.'
Then the moon said to him, "Drink what is in the river."
Otherwise, ransom it from him.
He said, "Then he asked me for the ransom."
He said, "Gouge out your two eyes, or everything you own."
He said, "Grant me these two days."
He told you that.
He said, and by evening he became dejected and sad.
When Luqman came to him, carrying a bundle on his back.
He greeted his master, then put down what he had and returned to his master.
And whenever his master saw him, he would play with him.
He hears the wise word from him and is amazed by him.
When he sat down beside him, he said to his master, "What is the matter? I see you downcast and sorrowful."
Then turn away from him.
Then the second one said the same thing to him, so turn away from him.
Then the third said the same to him, so turn away from him.
Then he said to him, "Tell me; perhaps I have some relief for you."
So he recounted the story to him.
Then Luqman said to him, "Do not be distressed, for indeed you have relief with me."
He said, "And what is it?"
He said, "If a man comes to you and tells you, 'Drink what is in the river.'"
Then say to him, "Drink whatever is between my two banks, the river or the tide."
He will say to you, "Drink what is between the two banks."
So if he says that to you, say to him, "Hold back the tide from me."
Until I drink what is between the two banks.
For he cannot hold back the tide from you.
And you will already have left what you guaranteed to him.
Then his master realized that he had been truthful, and his soul was pleased.
So when morning came, the man came to him.
So he said to him, "Accept my condition."
He said to him, "All right, drink what is between the two banks or the tide."
He said, "No; rather, drink what is between the two banks."
He said, "Then hold the tide back from me."
He said, "How can I do it?"
He said, then he disputed with him.
He said, and then his master freed him.



