✨The Guidance of the Quran

The Noble Quran has descriptions that Allah Almighty conveyed through its verses. If people comprehend and reflect on it and act on it, then their hearts would be rectified, their conditions would be improved, and they would have the bliss in this world and the next. However, not reciting, understanding and reflecting on the Quran resulted in many Muslims being denied the blessings, benefit and guidance of the Quran.

Indeed the most important description of the Quran and the one that appears the most in its verses is that it is guidance that guides mankind as individuals and societies to what suits them in all their affairs.

This Divine description couples the month of the Quran’s revelation with its guidance:
Al Baqarah (2) 185: The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.

And it is the first description that one hears when he starts to read it. In the beginning of Surah Al Baqarah:
Al Baqarah (2) 2: This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah

And the guidance of the Quran spans immediate and future interests, and achieves the benefits of this world and the hereafter. As far as what is related to the hereafter, the Quran enlightens people about their Lord Almighty. And guides them to Him. And reveals to them His actions, names and descriptions. And discloses to them what they need to know from the unseen which propels them to Iman (faith) and righteous deeds. And details their creation from the beginning to the end. And informed them of their fate after their death. And showed them the path to happiness, for them to follow. And the ways of misery, for them to avoid. And the Quran left nothing of their religion but guided them to it:
Al Maedah 15-16: (15) By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path. (16) There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book

And as far as to what is related to this world and people’s dealing with one another, the Quran guides to the best, easiest and most beneficial ways; in politics, economics and morals. In food, drink and clothing. In familial, societal and international relations. There are detailed rulings in parts of it. And general rules that organize all of it. The one guided by the Quran does not fall into human confusion. And is not moved by their whims.

Al Isra (17) 9: Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most suitable

It was expressed in the superlative – most suitable – to show that nothing can ever be equal to it. And the adjective “most suitable” was mentioned without specifying the noun to establish the generality of guidance by the Quran that is most suitable in everything.

The description of the Quran as guidance has been repeated in many verses:
Al Baqarah (2) 2: A guidance for those conscious of Allah

An Naml (27) 2: As guidance and good tidings for the believers

Luqman (31) 3: As guidance and mercy for the doers of good

Ghafer (40) 54: As guidance and a reminder for those of understanding.

And there are many verses similar to them. But it should be noted that the Quran is described with guidance that is not limited to a specific field or a specific time. Rather it is absolute and in general, to indicate that it is guidance in everything. And that whoever is guided by the Quran to any field of this worldly life and hereafter is guided to the most correct, most suitable and best.

Allah Almighty has guided through the Quran many people in the past and present. And we still hear stories every day of people who were guided by listening to the Quran or by reading it. And even some of them read it with the intention of criticizing and attacking it and turning people away from it. Nonetheless, they were among those guided by it.

A number of the leaders of the polytheists in the pre-Islamic era were guided through the Quran and then they became supporters of Islam. And among the notables of the companions and eminent of this ummah (nation).

And how many of those disobeying Allah Almighty, transgressing against himself through sin and harming people were guided by a verse or verses to sincere repentance. And became through the guidance of the Quran one of the leaders of the Muslims. Just as happened to Fudail Bin ‘Eyaad (may Allah have mercy on him) who before repenting was a highway bandit who intimidated travelers. And the reason for his repentance was that he heard a reciter reciting:
Al Hadid (57) 16: Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah.

Then he said “Yes oh Lord, the time has come. Oh Allah I have repented to You and have made my repentance next to the sacred house.”

And it was related from Ibn Mubarek (may Allah have mercy on him) that in his youth he was fond of playing the ‘ood (a stringed musical instrument). And he repented because of this verse also.

And the stories of Muslim sinners guided by the Quran are many.

Oh Muslims: Our Lord Almighty has informed us that the Quran is a book if guidance. The one guided by the Quran does not go astray in any of the matters of this world and the religion. Allah Almighty has repeated to us that the biggest wisdom for revealing the Quran is to be guided by it. And every description that the Quran was praised with is due to that the Quran is a book of guidance that guides to the most suitable. And our Lord, Most Glorified and Exalted informs us of that and He is the Most Knowledgeable, Most Just and Most Truthful.

An Nisa (4) 122: And who is more truthful than Allah in statement.

And many Muslims do not benefit from the Quran because they are not guided by it. And they give priority to other than it. And they are attentive to the words of humans like themselves while they are negligent of the words of their Lord.

Al Baqarah (2) 120: Say, “Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance.” If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper.

Indeed the ailments of the heart have prevented Muslims from being moved and guided by the Quran. Being moved by the Quran is not simply weeping upon hearing its warnings and glad tidings while staying in the same state of negligence and disobedience. Rather genuinely being moved by the Quran leads to being guided by it and acting on its ordainments. So by reciting its verses he adheres to its commands and avoids it prohibitions even if this opposes the desires of his soul.

So let us be guided by the Quran and let us reflect upon what we recite and listen to.

Saad (38) 29: [This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.

Oh Allah guide us through the Quran. And relieve our chests through it. And rectify our condition through it. And facilitate our affairs through it. And purify our hearts through it. And illuminate our vision through it. And bestow upon us the enjoyment of reciting and reflecting upon it. And grant us success to act upon it. Indeed Allah is Near (by His Knowledge), All Hearing, Answering.

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