The Quran – Guidance

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful

Any tool or mechanism has its creator, who after the act of creation makes a manual for user to facilitate the operation process.

Human beings and their communities are autonomous “mechanisms” with freedom of choice. The point of this situation is that people could determine the main meaning of their life without compulsion and choose their own path.

In order for a person to have a real freedom of choice, in addition to human instruction, God provided his guidance through his messengers.

The last instruction – the Quran – was provided through the prophet Muhammad.

In the text of the Quran, we repeatedly meet the Arabic word “hudan“, meaning “to guide, to direct.”

This is the Prescription about which there is no doubt, guidance for those circumspect. (2:2)

The blazing (Ramadan) month in which was revealed the Literature (Quran), a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion (2:185)

And We have not revealed to you the Prescription, except for you to make clear to them that wherein they have differed and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe. (16:64)

God has sent down the best story, with similar, repetitive prescriptions. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord! Then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of God! That is the guidance of God! By which He guides whom He wills. And one whom God leaves astray – for him there is no guide! (39:23)

From the above quoted passages one can see that the Quran for people is guidance. But in some ideologies there is a conviction that, using only the Quran, a person can get lost, that is, he cannot find a straight path.

However, God says the opposite:

Indeed, this Literature (Quran) guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who corrected themselves, that they will have a great reward! (17:9)

The belief that one cannot be guided only by the Quran is based on the opinion that the Prescription does not explain all the provisions of religion. For example, in the Quran, some people think, the number of prayers, the technique of prayer, the rules of ablution, the rules of pilgrimage, etc. are not detailed. Proceeding from this, in their opinion, the Word of God needs a huge number of additions.

But let’s consider the information from God:

…And We have sent down to you the Prescription as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the humble. (16:89)

The above passage shows that the Quran explains everything a person needs in this life. Indeed, on the Day of Debt, the main difference between people will be their attitude to the Guidance of God:

Indeed, He who imposed upon you the Quran as a duty will take you back to a place of return.

Say, “My Lord is most knowing of who brings guidance and who is in clear error!” (28:85)

Realizing that we are people who are subject to error, we all need, when approving something, to ask God for the following:

“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy! Indeed, You are the Bestower! (3:8)