One Verse a Day: Journey Through the Qur’an | #7
As-salamu alaykum everyone!
Yesterday, I completed my first fast of Ramadan, and subhanAllah, today’s verse feels like the perfect continuation of our journey through Al-Fatiha:
صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Siratal-ladhina an’amta ‘alayhim ghayril-maghdoobi ‘alayhim wala-dhaalleen
(The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.)
The Favor of Guidance
In Day 3, we talked about two types of Allah’s mercy, one that encompasses all creation (Ar-Rahman) and one that is reserved for the believers (Ar-Rahim). This verse connects to that theme. The greatest mercy Allah can give someone is to guide them to the right path. The people mentioned in this verse, those whom Allah has favored, are the ones who received this special mercy.
Does Allah Misguide People?
One of the most fascinating things I’ve learned is that guidance is not just about showing the way, it is also about who is helped to stay on it and who is left to wander.
In the Qur’an, Allah uses two different words for guidance:
"يَهْدِى" (yahdī) – "to guide, to lead towards the right path"
"يُضِلُّ" (yudillu) – "to let someone go astray, to allow deviation"
Allah never unjustly misguides anyone. But if a person repeatedly rejects the truth, Allah may leave them on the path they insist on taking.
Think of a teacher in a school. If a student is eager to learn, asks questions, and puts in effort, the teacher will support them, give them extra help, and guide them to success (yahdī). But if another student repeatedly refuses to listen, ignores instructions, and doesn’t care, the teacher might let them continue in their mistakes, even if that means failing the class (yudillu).
Three Paths – Three Destinies
This verse describes three types of people:
1. Those whom Allah has favored – The ones who accept His guidance and follow it.
2. Those who have evoked anger (al-maghdoobi ‘alayhim) – Those who knew the truth but deliberately rejected it.
3. Those who are astray (ad-dhaalleen) – Those who never sought the truth in the first place.
Every person ultimately chooses which path they walk. But Allah, in His wisdom and justice, helps those who sincerely seek Him and leaves those who turn away to their own decisions.
A Continuous Prayer
This is why we repeat Surah Al-Fatiha in every single prayer, we are constantly asking Allah to keep us on the straight path. No one is guaranteed to stay guided without Allah’s help.
What does this verse mean to you? Have you ever thought about guidance in this way?
What you have written is truly beautiful. Many scholars have interpreted the Qur'an in this way. For example:
Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari: He stated that guidance is a blessing from Allah, but human will also plays a role in it.
Imam al-Maturidi: He argued that Allah does not misguide anyone unjustly and that human choices are significant.
Ibn Taymiyyah: He emphasized that guidance occurs by Allah’s will but is also connected to human choices.
Fakhr al-Din al-Razi: In his tafsir, he explains that guidance is a special blessing from Allah and requires effort.
Imam al-Ghazali: He expressed that guidance is a divine favor, but one must strive to attain it.
These scholars have deeply analyzed the nature of guidance and made significant contributions to Islamic thought. The topics you have addressed in your writing align with the discussions of these great scholars. May Allah (swt) keep us steadfast on the right path!