The Quranic Narrative
The Surah records a series of wise sayings from Luqman to his son, emphasizing humility and monotheism. Luqman is described not as a prophet, but as a man given "wisdom" (hikmah).
Surah 31:18–19:
And do not turn your cheek toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.
The "Arabized" Aesop
Scholars have long noted the striking parallels between Luqman and the Greek fabulist Aesop (6th century BC).
The Similarities:
In pre-Islamic and early Islamic tradition, Luqman is often described as an ugly, dark-skinned slave—the exact same description given to Aesop in Greek biographies. Many of the "Fables of Luqman" found in Arabic literature are identical to "Aesop’s Fables."
Critics argue that the Quran is canonizing a mythologized Greek figure and presenting his popular proverbs as divine wisdom. This suggests a cultural exchange where Hellenistic folklore was absorbed into the Arabian consciousness and eventually into the Quranic text.