The Law of Guidance

The Law of Guidance

1992 5 May 10-11 The Law of Guidance (690) A tradition has been recorded in the Sahih1 of AI-Bukhari (Kitabul Tafseer)2 with reference to the surah entitled Al-Qasas (The Narrative), according to which the Prophet went to his uncle, Abu Talib, when the latter was on his deathbed. Abu Jahal and Abdullah ibn Umayya ibn Mughira, both implacable enemies of the Prophet, were already present when he arrived. The Prophet said, “O uncle, just say there is no God but Allah, so that I may plead for you before the Almighty.”

Note:

I. The title of the first of the Kutubus-Sittah, or “Six correct” books of traditions received by the Sunnis. It was compiled by Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Ismail al Bukhari, who was born at Bukharah. A.H. 194 and died at Khanang, near Samarkand, A.H. 256. It contains 9,882 traditions of which 2,623 are held to be of undisputed authority. They are arranged into 160 books and 3,450 chapters,

2. Commentary on the Qur’an.

Before he could reply, Abu Jahal and Abdullah ibn Umayya both asked Abu Talib if he would forsake the religion of Abdul Muttalib, i.e. that of his own father. The Prophet repeatedly urged Abu Talib to accept Islam, but Abu Jahal and Abdulah ibn Umayya also posed the same question over and over again’ until Abu Talib ultimately said he would continue to adhere to the religion of Abdul Muttalib. And he refused to utter the basic creed, ‘La Ilaha Illallah’ (There is no god but the one God).

According to a tradition, when Allah revealed the verse in the Qur’an about Abu Talib, he addressed the Prophet thus: “You cannot guide whom you please. It is Allah who guides whom He will. He best knows those who yield to guidance.” (28:56).

This shows how the law of God operates for the guidance of his servants. This law tells us that no matter with what force of logic one is approached to accept Islam, the situation will always be vitiated by an element of doubt. No amount of reasoning will improve matters. Not even the Prophet’s personality or his superior logic had the desired effect.

It is for the invitee to raise the curtain of doubt, and not for the one who invites. This is the Sunnah of Allah and Allah’s Sunnah never changes. It is entirely the responsibility of the potential believer to lift the curtain of doubt and to see the reality unveiled. He who passes this test, i.e. who removes the curtain of doubt, will receive divine guidance in accordance with God’s law. He who fails to do so will be denied divine guidance.

Through the Prophet, this message of Islam had been fully conveyed to Abu Talib. But he still had his doubts. Who was really right? His nephew and son of Abdullah, or the rest of the leaders of the community, including Abdul Muttalib? Abu Talib failed to push aside the curtain of doubt and so lost his opportunity to receive God’s guidance.

There is a tradition that says that Paradise is divine merchandise, and very costly at that. Anyone who wants to posses it must’ spare himself no expense. And what is this very high price that the aspirant has to pay. He has to overcome the element of doubt, tear asunder the veil over reality. Once he has accomplished this very delicate task, he is entitled to divine guidance in this world and to paradise in the hereafter.

Paradise is the abode of such fine and pure souls as can ignore, the obviously grandiose in their search for hidden, divine greatness, as can recognize true merit, as can leave behind this noisy existence for the world of silence; as can go beneath the surface to see, not appearances, but the truth, as can rise above the glories of akabir to discover the truth.

Paradise is for the human being with vision. It is not for the blind. It is for those who can see reality, and not for those who can see only appearances. It is for the discoverers and not for blind adherents. It is for the divine souls who will surely pass through its portals.