IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL
Abstract:
Rastaa Seedhi Sarak Hey Ismay Kuchh Khatka Nahin
(Only the ‘Straight Path’ is the Risk-Free Right Path)
Koi Rehro Aaj Tak iss Ra’ah Mein Bhatka Nahin
(No Seeker of this track has ever lost his Way)
- Various aspects relating to Guidance (Hidayat) have been highlighted.
- The inter-relationship between Guidance (Hidayat) and successful fulfillment of the Objectives of Creation, has been revisited.
- Ways and means of seeking Guidance (Hidayat), which is the surest way for success in this world and the hereafter, have been identified.
- Destiny is in your own hands based on successful navigation in search of Guidance (Hidayat) has been explained.
- The simple non-tortuous route to Guidance (Hidayat), being in easy reach, has been revisited.
- Guidance (Hidayat), a safeguard against complete annihilation, has been explained.
- Allah is the absolute owner of Guidance (Hidayat) and bestows it on anyone He wills. No one, not even prophets, messengers, and imams are capable to guide anyone on their own.
- Every soul is provided with unhindered opportunity to avail Guidance (Hidayat) at his own choosing
- Allah has identified all the necessary tools and resources for individuals leading to His Guidance (Hidayat). The same has been made easy and workable for the true seekers.
- Allah’s book (Quran), the Holy Prophet along with an uninterrupted Light of Guidance (The holy Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt in continuity) have been identified as sufficient tools to seek His Guidance (Hidayat) and Mercy.
- Quranic verses and references pertaining to the Guidance (Hidayat) have been highlighted.
1. Foreword
The list of Allah’s bounties to the mankind could never be counted and remain beyond quantification:
> ” Then which of the bounties of your Lord will both of you (men and jinn) belie?”
(Rahman-55: 13)
The minimum one could do is to acknowledge and confirm with deepest gratitude that ‘None of His bounties are denied’. The next step of mankind’s wish list remains to decipher the ‘Best’? he needs to ask the Lord (Omnipotent & Omniscient). In this regard, nothing could eclipse Guidance (Hidayat). The recipient may never again need anything beyond for this world or the hereafter.
1.1 What is the Source Guidance (Hidayat)?
>>> ” Allah guides unto His light whomsoever He wills>>>”
(Nur-24: 35)
> ” It is not incumbent on you (O Muhammad) to guide them, but Allah guides aright whom He wills”
(Baqarah-2: 272)
> ” It is not for any soul to believe except by Allah’s permission>>>
(Yunus-10: 100)
The declaration is cause of enormous concern for the children of Adam! If the guidance by the Lord (Allah) is by His choice only, then why are the children of Adam accountable for their deeds? Allah’s governance on the entire universe is based on the ‘Absolute Justice’ and, in line with the same, it is not possible for such a loophole to exist! There comes the resolution of the issue from Allah Himself!
1.2 Discover the treasure of Guidance (Hidayat) & the Route to it?
- Allah reveals His guidance (Hidayat) by command to the holy Prophet: Reference: (Shura-42: 52)
- Allah made a light by which he guides whomsoever He wills: Reference (Shura-42: 52)
- Allah delegated the authority to the holy Prophet: Reference (Najam- 53 : 2-10)
- Assurance from Allah: Verily you the (holy Prophet) guide to the right path” : Reference (Shura-42: 52)
- Allah provided description of tools and detailed description on the basis of which availability of His Guidance (Hidayat) could be ensured.
1.3 Identification of tools to secure Guidance (Hidayat)
- Allah’s book (Quran): A Guidance and Mercy.
- The holy Prophet: The delegated authority to channelise Allah’s Guidance (Hidayat).
- Identification of the Light by which Allah guides whomever He wills.
- Such Light from Allah must be thoroughly purified being easily identifiable/accessible along with continuity.
- None else comply with this description except the holy Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt including their twelve Imams in an unbroken chain (Ahzab-33: 33)
1.4 Those who receive Guidance (Hidayat)
- Those who follow Guidance (Hidayat) : Reference (Qasas-28: 56)
- Those who believe: Reference (Baqarah-2: 213)
- Those whose skin and heart shiver on listening to Allah’s signs (Ayats) and are inclined to receive and accept the same: Reference (Zumar-39: 23)
- Those who use Guidance (Hidayat) are given more Guidance (Hidayat): Reference (Muhammad-47: 17)
- Those who are grateful: Reference (Dahr-76: 3)
- Those who turn repentant to Him”: Reference (Rad-13: 27)
- Those who believe and do good: Reference (Yunus-10: 09)
- Those who submit themselves to Allah: Reference (Nahl-16: 89)
1.5 Identification of those who render themselves incapable to avail Guidance (Hidayat)
- No guidance (Hidayat) to individuals against their will: Reference (Yunus-10: 99)
- Liars and ingrates: Reference (Zumar-39: 03)
- Those who associate partners with Allah: Reference (Zumar-39: 03 and Yunus-10: 106)
- Those who take guardians beside Allah: Reference (Zumar-39: 03)
- Those who do not contemplate: Reference (Yunus-10: 100)
- Those who are ungrateful: Reference (Dahr-76: 3 & Zumar-39: 03)
- Those Allah leaves to stray, for them there is no guide”: Reference (Zumar-39: 23)
- Polytheists: Reference (Yunus-10: 105)
- Unjust (Zalimin): Reference (Yunus-10: 106)
1.6 Change in Status within the lifetime!
A builtin flexibility provided by Allah based on individual acts during the lifetime:
- Those who repent and establish prayer and pay zakat:
Reference (Brara-at-9: 11)
2. Quranic Verses concerning Hidayat (Guidance)
The following Quranic verses have been arranged under the corresponding titles with a view to simplify search and tracking.
2.1 Hidayat (Guidance) is from Allah:
> ” Allah is the light of heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as if it were a shining star, lit from a blessed tree, the olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil glows forth (of itself), though fire did not touch it, light upon light. Allah guides unto His light whomsoever He wills; and sets forth parables for people. Allah is aware of all things”
(Nur-24: 35)
Note:
(i) Allah is the inconceivable absolute who has created the light. Light is His manifestation. It is not His being.
(ii) If applied to any individual the niche is power of expression and the ‘house’ (in which the niche is situated) is the body.
(iii) If applied to the group of Ahlul Bayt and the prophets, the niche in the house is the Holy Prophet.
(iv) ‘ Light-upon-light (Nur-un-ala-Nur)’ refers to the Holy Prophet and Ahlul Bayt (Ahzab-33: 33)
> ” Thus did We reveal to you Our guidance by Our command . You did not know what the book was, nor the faith, but We made a light by which We guide whomsoever We will of Our servants. Verily you guide to the right path”
(Shura-42: 52)
Note:
(i) Whatever Allah willed Holy Prophet put it into practice.
(ii) Whatever the Holy Prophet said or did was as directed by Allah.
(iii) The Holy Prophet did not learn anything from any mortal but was taught and educated by Allah.
> ” Verily you can not guide whom you like; but Allah guides whomever He pleases; and He knows best those who follow guidance”
(Qasas-28: 56)
Note:
(i) There is no difference between the liking and disliking of Allah and the holy Prophet; because the holy Prophet never did or said anything of his own accord, independent of the divine will (Najm-53: 2-10 & Jumu-ah-62: 2)
(ii) Guidance by the holy Prophet as an individual act is therefore irrelevant as it neither existed nor intended (Qasas-28: 56)
> ” The fools among people will say: What! has turned them from their qiblah which they used to face? Say:The east and west only belong to Allah He guides whom He like to the right path”
(Baqarah-2:142)
> ” Mankind were one community; so Allah sent prophets as bearers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the book with truth, so that it might judge between people in that which they differed; and none differed in it but the very (people) to whom it was given, after clear signs had come to them, revolting among themselves; whereupon Allah guided those who believed, by His Will, to the truth about which they differed; Allah guides whomever He wills to the right path”
(Baqarah-2: 213)
> ” Allah has sent down the very best discourse, a book con-similar (consistent in parts) yet repeating (its teaching in various aspects), and make the skins of those who fear their Lord shiver; then their skins and heart incline to the remembrance of Allah. This is Allah’s guidance. He guides with it whomsoever He wills; and whomsoever Allah leaves to stray, for him there is no guide”
(Zumar-39: 23)
> ” It is not incumbent on you (O Muhammad) to guide them, but Allah guides aright whom He wills, and whatever>>>”
(Baqarah-2: 272)
> ” Indeed We have brought to them a book, which We expound with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe”
(Araf-7: 52)
> “Those who have been given knowledge see (realise) what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the truth, and it guides to the path of the mighty, the owner of the praise”
(Saba-34: 06)
Note:
(i) ‘Those who have been given knowledge’ (Utul ilm) refers to the thoroughly purified by Allah (Ahlul Bayt: Ahzab-33: 33)
2.2 Whom Allah does not Guide:
> ” If your Lord had willed, verily those who are on earth would have believed, all of them, together. Will you then compel people (against their will) to become believers?
(Yunus-10: 99)
> ” It is not for any soul to believe except by Allah’s permission, while He lays uncleanliness (of infidelity) on those who do not contemplate”
(Yunus-10: 100)
> ” And should Allah bring you harm, then there is none but He who could remove it, and if He wishes good there is none who could take away His grace; He causes it to reach whomsoever of His servants He pleases; and He is oft-forgiving, merciful”
(Yunus-10: 107)
> ” Beware ! It is Allah to whom obedience is due; and those who take guardians beside him (say): We worship them only (in order) that they may bring us nearer to Allah. Verily Allah will judge between them in what they differ. Verily, Allah does not guide him who is a liar, an ingrate”
(Zumar-39: 03)
> ” And set your face towards religion, upright, and be not of the polytheists”
(Yunus-10: 105)
> ” Nor call on any, other than Allah, that which can neither profit you nor harm you; for if you do, then (beware), you will certainly be of those who are unjust.
(Yunus-10: 106)
2.3 Allah’s Guidance Criterion:
> ” And those who make use of guidance are given more guidance by Him, and (He) gives them protection (against evil)”
(Muhammad-47: 17)
> ” Verily We showed him the (right) way, (then) he is either grateful or ungrateful”
(Dahr-76: 3)
> ” And those who disbelieve say: Why is not a sign from his Lord sent to down to him? Say: Verily Allah leaves , to stray, whomsoever He wills, and He guides to Himself whomsoever turns repentant to Him”
(Rad-13: 27)
> ” Verily those who believe and do good – their Lord guides them because of their faith. Rivers will flow beneath them in gardens of bliss”
(Yunus-10: 9)
> ” And those who make use of guidance are given more guidance by Him, and (He) gives them protection (against evil)”
(Muhammad-47: 17)
> ” But if they repent and establish prayer and pay the poor rate, then they are your brethren in faith. We explain the signs for a people who know”
(Bara-at-9: 11)
> ” And set your face towards religion, upright, and be not of the polytheists”
(Yunus-10: 105)
> ” Nor call on any, other than Allah, that which can neither profit you nor harm you; for if you do, then (beware), you will certainly be of those who are unjust”
(Yunus-10: 106)
2.4 How Allah Guides:
> ” This is the book; There is no doubt in it, (it is) a guidance to those who safe guard themselves with full awareness of divine laws (Muttaqin)”
(Baqarah-2: 02)
> ” These are the verses of the wise book”
(Luqman-31: 02)
> ” A guidance and mercy for the righteous”
(Luqman-31: 03)
> ” And We did not send down the book to you (O Muhammad) but that you may explain to them (the truth) about which they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for the people who believe”
(Nahl-16: 64)
> ” On the day when We shall raise up in every people a witness over them from among themselves, and bring you (O Muhammad as a witness over these; and We have sent down to you the book explaining everything , a guidance, a mercy and a glad tidings for those who submit themselves to (Allah)” :
(Nahl-16: 89)
> ” Indeed We have brought to them a book, which We expound with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe”
(Araf-7: 52)
> ” And those who have been given knowledge may know that it (Quran) is the truth from your Lord, so that they may believe in it and their hearts may humbly submit to it, and verily Allah guides those, who believe, to a right path”
(Hajj-22: 54)
Note:
(i) ‘Those who have been given knowledge’ (Utul ilm) refers to thoroughly purified (Ahzab-33: 33).
> ” And those who disbelieve say: Why is not a sign from his Lord sent to down to him? Say: Verily Allah leaves , to stray, whomsoever He wills, and He guides to Himself whomsoever turns repentant to Him”
(Rad-13: 27)
2.5 Never too Late!
> ” But if they repent and establish prayer and pay the poor rate, then they are your brethren in faith”
(Bara-at- 9: 11)
3. Discussion:
(i) Guidance (Hidayat) is a course of actions, decreed by Allah, leading to the successful fulfilment of the objectives of creation and ending up in success in this world and the hereafter.
(ii) Guidance (Hidayat) is an integral target for any soul that arrives in this world. The way an individual approaches the same determines its destiny.
(iii) Allah is the absolute owner of Guidance (Hidayat) and bestows it on any one He wills.
(iv) No one, not even prophets, messengers and imams are capable of providing Guidance (Hidayat) on their own without a recourse to the channels made available by the Lord (Allah).
(i) In line with Allah’s ‘Absolute Justice’, every soul is provided with an unhindered opportunity to avail Allah’s Guidance (Hidayat) at his own choosing.
(ii) No sole arrives in this world with a prefixed destiny. The same has been left to be navigated on its own.
3.2 Approaching Guidance (Hidayat)?
(i) Allah has identified all necessary tools and resources leading to His Guidance (Hidayat).
(ii)The approach has been made easy and workable for the true seekers without any insurmountable obstacles.
3.3 Allah’s Delegation and Channelising Guidance (Hidayat)
(i) Allah’s book (Quran), the holy Prophet along with an uninterrupted light of guidance (holy Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt inclusive their twelve Imams in an unbroken chain) have been identified by Allah as sufficient tools to seek His Guidance (Hidayat) and Mercy.
(ii) All desirable and undesirable acts, tendencies, inclinations and routes toward seeking Guidance (Hidayat) have been clearly spelled in Quran (which has been decreed as His Mercy) and practically demonstrated as well as explained by the holy Prophet followed by his Ahlul Bayt including their twelve Imams in an broken chain
4. Conclusions
4.1 Free Choice
(i) Seekers of Guidance (Hidayat) carry no predetermined destiny. The choice is in one’s own hands all along and it is never too late.
(ii) The route to Guidance (Hidayat) is obstacle free.
(iii) All the necessary tools and indicators have been made readily available for the true seekers.
4.2 The Cornerstone
(i) Associating oneself with Quran, the holy Prophet, and with his Ahlul Bayt (in continuity) constitutes the cornerstone in successful achievement of securing Allah’s Guidance (Hidayat).
(ii) Ignoring any of the above may lead to getting into the vicious Shaytanic trap.
Amal Se Zindagi Banti Hai Junnat Bhi Jehannum Bhi’
(The destination Paradise or Hell is the consequence of the doings in the life tenure)
‘Yeh Khaki Apni Fitrat Se Na Nuri Hai Na Nari Hai’
(Man had not been created with a fixed destiny)
Alhamdulillah