Luqman (also known as Luqman the Wise, Luqmaan, Lukman, and Luqman
al-Hakeem. was a wise man for whom Surah Luqman, the thirty-first sura
(chapter) of the Qur'an, was named. Luqman (c. 1100 BC) is believed to
be from Africa and is of Ethiopian descent. There are many stories about
Luqman in Persian, Arabic and Turkish literature and the primary
historical sources are the Tafsir ibn Kathir and Stories of the Qur'an
by Ibn Kathir.

The Qur'an does not state whether or not Luqman was a
prophet, but some people believe him to be a prophet and thus write
Alayhis salaam (A.S.) with his name.

Luqman was described as a perceptive man, always watching the animals
and plants of his surroundings, and he tried to understand the world
based on what he saw. One day, whilst sleeping under a tree, an angel
came to him and said that Allah wanted to bestow a gift upon Luqman:
either wisdom or being king.

Luqman chose wisdom, and when he woke from his slumber, he was aware
that his senses and understanding had sharpened. He felt in complete
harmony with nature and could understand the inner meaning of things,
beyond their physical reality. Immediately he bowed down, thanked and
praised Allah for this wonderful gift.