Have you ever wondered why Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was guided to Islam even when he was on his way to kill the prophet (pbuh) while Abu Jahal remained and died in kufr? Similarly, many people get Hidaya, the guidance of Allah, seemingly with ease while rest are stranded and circles in the state of darkness and disbelief?
As a Muslim, we are aware that Iman, which is the belief in one God (Allah), is inherent in our Fitra or innate nature from birth. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned in Sahih Bukhari that parents and society can lead children astray and cause them to lose faith in one God. Therefore, if we are fortunate enough to be born into a society that nurtures and preserves this faith from Fitra, then everything is well and good. However, as our prophet (pbuh) told us, it is possible for families and societies to deviate from the belief in Allah and instead embrace faithlessness or other deities. This can happen over generations in places where Islam has not been meaningfully propagated or where people have been influenced by misguided ideologies. In such situations, the question arises: How can faith be reclaimed in a society where it has been lost or corrupted?
Allah said in the Quran that Hidaya, the guidance, comes alone from Him. If He doesn’t guide one then no-one gets guidance and whoever He misguides they don’t have any way to be guided (مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ). That brings a question then is there anything in our hand that we can do to get Allah's guidance. After all, we can’t even be guided by ourselves or even by anyone else. That had been mentioned in the Quran many times even Prophet (pbuh) was only the messenger and warner and guidance comes from Allah alone. Many of the prophet's (pbuh) own family members weren't guided to Islam even after relentless effort by our beloved prophet (pbuh). Also, if Allah misguides people then they won’t be able to get back to guidance ever. Now, take the concept of guidance with what Allah said in the Quran that nothing happens without His wills and His explicit knowledge or approval. In that case, a person can ask the question that how can I even be guided if I don’t have any power to be guided or misguided?
Let's explore and demystify the concept of Hidaya (guidance) and delve deeper into understanding how we can attain Allah's guidance.
I have been searching for that answer for quite some time, or to be more precise, for decades. I am sure that this quest is not unique to me; it is shared by many individuals who observe the diverse states of people around them. Some individuals seem to experience the blissful taste of faith, living in an enviable state of tranquility and contentment. Let's refer to them as the "people of the right." On the other hand, there are those who live their lives without any concern for the afterlife and appear to be "just fine" or even seemingly "better off" than many faithful men and women. Let's call them the "people of the left." Additionally, there is a third category of people who find themselves caught in the middle. They possess enough faith to believe in the afterlife, yet their conviction is not strong enough to fully embrace life like those in the "people of the right" category. They tend to live in a state of fluctuation, neither fully committed to faithfulness nor embracing faithlessness. Consequently, a fundamental question arises: What did the individuals in the "people of the right" category do differently to be blessed with the sweetness of faith, while the other two categories either misguided or fluctuate in and out of the state of guidance?
Allah has bestowed upon us the gift of free will, making us the only creation (excluding the Jinn, who are not visible and thus not part of this discussion) to possess this attribute. However, our free will does not determine whether we are guided or misguided, as Allah has clearly stated that guidance and misguidance come solely from Him. Therefore, the choices we make with our free will are the actions we take or choose not to take. So, is there anything that the people of the left category can do to receive Allah's guidance? Yes they can and that’s clearly stated in the Quran. I was always looking for the direct answer but it's rather given in a little different way more in the form of deductive approach: listing out who won't be guided by Allah.
Allah has mentioned few attributes as well as actions that if done, then their name will be "listed" on the group who Allah declares to not to guide. So, once we stop doing those listed actions and do not embrace ourselves with those attributes, then there's no barrier to receive Allah's guidance. Where can we find those attributes and actions? Where else but in the Quran.
In numerous instances, Allah has emphasized that He does not guide those who are deceitful, dishonest, corrupt, vulgar, oppressive, treacherous, disobedient, boastful, egoistic, and so on. Here are few evil actions and behaviors listed in the Quran that are ineligible to attain Allah's guidance:
Surah Al-Baqara (2:258), Surah Al-'Imran (3:86), Surah At-Tawba (9:19, 109), Surah As-Saff (61:7), Surah Al-Jumu'a (62:5),
وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
Surah Al-Maeeda (5:51), Surah Al-An'aam (6:144), Surah Al-Qasas (28:50), Surah Al-Ahqaf (46:10)
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
Surah Al-Baqara (2:264), Surah Al-Maeeda (5:67), Surah At-Tawba (9:37)
وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
Surah Al-Maeeda (5:108), Surah At-Tawba (9:24), Surah At-Tawba (9:80)
وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ
Surah Al-An'aam (6:107)
وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
Surah Al-Zumar (39:3)
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ كَٰذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ
Surah Al-Ghafir (40:28)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ
Surah Al-Munaafiqun (63:6)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
If you look around your surroundings and even look into the history of mankind then you will find that pretty evidently. Here's an examples: Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prayed to Allah to get one of the Omar into Islam. Who Allah guided into Islam? Omar ibn Khattab. Wasn't he heading to kill the prophet (pbuh) with sword in his hand? That's definitely a bad action from his side but if you compare that with Abu Jahal then you see the difference in their actions that who, even though both were disbeliever, you put in the list of "Ineligible for Hidya", according to Allah's criteria? Off-course Abu Jahal. The companion of the prophet (pbuh) who were guided to Islam, they either didn't pose those attributes or stopped holding those attributes and actions before getting Allah's guidance. There's no example in history who were guided while they were actively in the very state of those attributes and actions. It's evident even today. The people who answers the call of Islam and converted are those who are basically good people who were not in that "ineligible list” but didn't have the right understanding of God.
This perspective can also be viewed from another angle: as humans, Allah has created us with an inherent nature inclined towards truth, which is known as "fitra." When we abstain from engaging in evil actions, our inner disposition towards truth is awakened, compelling us to search for the truth. However, if the truth of Allah is not presented to individuals in a proper manner, they may gravitate towards half-truths or falsehoods disguised as truth and begin embracing them. Metaphorically speaking, our fitra (and soul) is like a fertile land ready for cultivation. Once the land is cleared off for cultivation and water starts to flow but left uncultivated, any plants, shrubs, or grasses, regardless of their usefulness, will flourish in that fertile environment. Similarly, faith is like the beneficial plants, and our innate nature is like the fertile land waiting to be cultivated. Thus, faith is easily planted in our pure soul that’s free from corruption and evil actions mentioned in the Quran. As we embark on this journey and seek guidance from Allah, He extends His mercy by guiding us. This is Allah's promise in the Quran that He will metaphorically hasten towards those who seek Him.
إِنَّ شَرَّ ٱلدَّوَآبِّ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلصُّمُّ ٱلۡبُكۡمُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ
“Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason.” - Surah Al-Anfal (8:22).
كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ إِلَيۡكَ مُبَـٰرَكٌ۬ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓاْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ
“(Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee, full of blessings, that they may meditate on its Signs, and that men of understanding may receive admonition.” - Surah Saad (38:29)
Here are the list of ayats demanding you to use your intellect. I am just giving the references so that you can read on your own from the Quran. The theme of all these ayats is the same- think and use your intellect:
لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ
أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ
Surah Al-Yunus (10:5) ...No wise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He explain His Signs in detail, for those who understand.
Surah Al-Yunus (10:24) ...Thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who reflect.
Surah Al-Yunus (10:16) ...A whole lifetime before this have, I tarried amongst you: will ye not then understand?"
Surah Al-Hijr (15:75) indeed there's a sign for the people of intellect.
Surah Al-Noor (24:44) Allah changes days and nights. It has lesson for people who are keen on observing
Surah Al-Furqan (25:55) Allah made humans from water...
Surah Al-Yunus (10:100) Allah imposes filth on who don’t use intellect
Surah Al-Jasiyah (45:3-5) There are signs for believers - on earth and sky , our creation and animals spreading . Day and night, bringing rain from sky, flow of air- there are signs for the people of intellect
Sura Al-Aa’raf (7:185) don’t they ponder on the sky’s and earth’s management and what Allah has created?
Surah Al-Imran (3:190-191) Heavens and earth day and night - there are signs for those who are knowledgeable . They ponder and say you didn’t create us without any reason.
Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:80) - Allah creates, gives life, gives death- will you not use reason?
Surah Al-Hadid (57:17) perhaps you will understand
Surah Al-Room (30:28) this do we detail for who use their reason
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:170-171) opposite of Using reason - they will follow their parents
Surah Al-Baqara (2:44) will you not reason
Surah Al-Ankubat (29:43) but none will understand except who use reason
Surah Yusuf (12:2) Quran in Arabic so that you understand
Surah Al-An'am (6:151) so that you may use reasons
Surah Al-Nisa (3:118) so you may use reason
Surah Ya-Sin (36:62) so did you not use reason
Surah Al-An’am (6:32) So will you not reason?
Surah Al-Qasas (28:60) will you not reason?
Surah Al-Hajj (22:46) travel through the earth and use reason
Surah Al-Mulk (67:10) if they used reason, they wouldn’t be companion of blaze
With our efforts and Allah's will, we can hope to be guided to the right path, inshaAllah.
Next: I will cover the next precious stage of Iman which is Taqwa i.e. God consciousness: fear & love of God, InshaAllah.
Reference:
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O Allah, strengthen Islam with one of two men whom you love more: Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattab.” Ibn Umar said, “The most beloved of the two was Umar.” - Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3681
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No child is born except on Al-Fitra (Islam) and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian, as an animal produces a perfect young animal: do you see any part of its body amputated?" Then he rec 'The religion of pure Islamic Faith (Hanifa), (i.e. to worship none but Allah), The pure Allah's Islamic nature with which He (Allah) has created mankind. Let There be no change in Allah's religion (i.e. to join none in Allah's worship). That is the straight religion; but most of men know not..." (30.30) - Sahih Bukhari.
The term "fitra" refers to the inherent predisposition or natural inclination towards recognizing and seeking the truth.