WHAT IS GUIDANCE (HIDAYAH)? Part 2/2

Guidance vs Ignorance

(Part-2/2)

What Is Guidance (Hidayah)?

It’s His Mercy & Blessing

(M. Javed Naseem)

Darkness stands for ignorance and the light stands for knowledge or education. Darkness represents ‘evil’ while the light represents ‘good’. Darkness stands for falsehood and the light stands for truth. Darkness leads to the Hellfire while the light leads you to the Paradise. Darkness is from the Devil while light is from the Almighty Allah.

The darkness of ignorance leads you astray while the light of knowledge guides you to the ‘right path’. Therefore, guidance is ‘Hidayah’. That’s why the journey-from-darkness-to-light is considered a blessing and mercy from 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 has 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 because of heavy odds.

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’s the Holy Quran. That is the Book which was revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) in Truth. Allah has sent it down as a ‘Guiding Light’ for the mankind. It is the 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) manifes

         (al-Quran 4:174)

                                                               

Faith is power. When we have faith, it defends us, saves us, and protects us from evil, from misguidance and from the influence of Shaitan. It surely takes us to the ‘straight path’ that has been prescribed by Allah.

Those who don’t have faith, have no real power. Their foundation is weak. It shakes at every cross-road. They are unable to find the ‘right path’ because they don’t believe in the One Who guides to the right path. They’ll end up in the pit of Blazing Fire while those having Faith in Allah would be saved from all harm and led to the Garden.

ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوۤاْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ

إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَاتِ أُوْلَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُون
“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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