Luqmān Ḥakīm رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه replied, “This difficulty that arose, it is possible a greater calamity has been averted from us because of this.”

As they went back and forth, Luqmān Ḥakīm رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه saw a person approaching from afar. He felt relief, but the figure disappeared quickly from his sight.

He then heard a voice ask, اَنْتَ لُقْمَان – “Are you Luqmān?”

 “Yes”, he replied, “I am Luqmān.”

The voice further asked, “Luqmān Ḥakīm?”

He responded, “People call me that.”

When the voice inquired, “What did your son say?”, Luqmān Ḥakīm رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه asked, “Who are you? Why do you not show yourself?”

The voice explained, “I am Jibrīl. I am only visible to prophets and angels.”

“If you are Jibrīl”, he said, “surely you know of our state?”

Angel Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام began to say:

Allah sent me to descend punishment upon a certain place. When I arrived, I realised you two were also headed to the very same location. I then asked Allah to stop you both from going any further. My duʿā was answered and your son was made to face difficulty. If this had not happened, you would have entered that dwelling and also become caught up in the punishment of its dwellers.^[1]

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! Whatever happens, whatever state Allah keeps us in, that is better for us. Consequently, we should be