WAKE UP UMMAH

WHAT IS GUIDANCE (‘HIDAYAH’) ?

JOURNEY FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

THAT’S MERCY OF ALLAH

(By: M. Javed Naseem)

Darkness stands for ignorance and the light for knowledge or education. Darkness represents evil while light represents good. Darkness stands for falsehood and the light stands for truth. Darkness leads to the Hellfire while light leads to the Paradise. Darkness is from the Devil while light is from the Almighty Allah. Darkness of ignorance leads you astray while the light of knowledge guides you to the right path.

That’s why the journey-from-darkness-to-light is considered a blessing and mercy of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. Alhamdo-lillah.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلاَئِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِ

جَكُمْ مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَكَانَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيماً

“He it is Who sends blessings on you, as do His angels,

that He may bring you out from the depths of Darkness into Light;

and He is full of mercy to the believers.”

(al-Quran 33:43)

 The Holy Quran is the Word of God. It is the real guidance as it is full of mercy and blessings for the entire mankind. The Creator of the universe explains through the verses of the Holy Quran the purpose of all creation. He reminds mankind that He is the ONE running the show and He is the ONE worthy of worship and glorification. He has spread His signs all over (around us) and asks us to think and reflect upon them. And as faithful creation, we should be grateful to Him and praise Him as much as possible.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُمْ

مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“He is the One Who sends to His servant manifest signs,

that He may lead you from the depths of Darkness into the Light

and verily Allah is to you most kind and merciful.”

(al-Quran 57:9)

The Devil (Shaitan), on the other hand, has also his own agenda. He is on a mission to send us astray; divert our attention from Deen to Duniya; and prevent us from pursuing the straight path (or the path to Paradise) with temptation and worldly pleasure. He has millions of followers who perform as his workforce and strive day and night to keep us in the darkness, away from the light. His best weapons are wealth and women. But the Merciful Almighty promised us His everlasting light of guidance. It is there for those who seek it and strive for it. Unfortunately, there are not many who go for it.

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَافِرُونَ
“Their intention is to extinguish Allah's Light (by blowing)

with their mouths. But Allah will complete (the revelation of)

His Light, even though the unbelievers may detest (it).”

(al-Quran 61:8)

يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِئُواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ

وَيَأْبَىٰ ٱللَّهُ إِلاَّ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَافِرُونَ

“Fain would they extinguish Allah's light with their mouths,

but Allah will not allow but that His light should be perfected,

even though the unbelievers may detest (it).”

(al-Quran 9:32)

Now, one would ask: What is that Light or Guidance? That Light or Guidance is a miracle of Allah; that is Holy Quran. That is the Book which was revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) in Truth. Allah has sent it down as Guidance for the mankind. It is a direction to the right path that leads to Paradise.

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ
“A Book which We have revealed unto you,

in order that you might lead mankind out of the depths

of darkness into light - by the leave of their Lord – to the

way of (Him) the Exalted in power, worthy of all praise!”

(al-Quran 14:1)

يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ بُرْهَانٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَأَنْزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ نُوراً مُّبِيناً
“O mankind! Verily there has come to you a convincing proof

from your Lord, for We have sent unto you a light

(that is) manifest.” – (al-Quran 4:174)

ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوۤاْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ

أُوْلَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
“Allah is the Protector of those who have faith; from the

depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light.

Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones;

from light they will lead them forth into the depths

of darkness. They will be companions of the fire,

to dwell therein (for ever).”

(al-Quran 2:257)

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