The Path which is Straight (L-9)

The Path which is Straight (L-9)

Surah ‘Al-Faatihah (The Opening) – Surah –1) –Stage - 1

Verse – 5 of 7, Section – 1 of 40 (Part -1)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful  

5.  Show us the Straight Path.

5.  ‘IhdiNas-Siraatal-Musta-qiim.

After admitting that God Almighty is our Lord, our Master and Beneficent, we promised with Him that we shall be obedient of His commandments and worship Him only. We shall ask Him only for help every time. Now we wish to acquire guidance from our Lord so that we may not err even in forgetting situation, which may be cause of His anger. For this purpose, we need such guidance, with which; we may attain His happiness and pleasure, and which may bring us straight forward unto Him directly.

 

‘Ihdi – show, instruct, admonish. Hidaayah is a very whole word of the Arabic language. There are many things, included in its meanings, for instance:

·         To show the (Straight) Path,

·         To carry towards the Straight Path,

·         To deliver unto the intended destination.

That is to say, it is the supplication that if we do not know the Path, show us that, and those who know about the Path, give them strength to go on that Path, and when we are going straightway, then keep us firm on it, so that we may find our destination and do not remain away from it.

We cannot discover this Path with our knowledge and wisdom. Because our knowledge is limited and wisdom is conch and detective. Therefore, we ask only Him (Allah Almighty) to show us such Path on the basis of His Knowledge, in which, there is no crookedness, no ups and downs, and no fear of stumbling. There should be a complete Code of life, each corner and section of life must have an accomplished foundation for guidance.

We supplicate it in plural tense so that personal relationship of every individual must remain connected with the entire nation. When we worship, worship all, and when we ask for help, ask all, if we pray to show us the Sight Path, pray all. Such teachings of living altogether as a unity, cannot be found anywhere except Islam.

How much this prayer is perfect? “O Allah! Show us the Straight Path”. There is no such time when the mankind does not need to know about the straight path and correct manners. Eating and drinking, writing and reading, buying and selling, performing the jobs to establish the government/state, decision making on the law-suits, it means that there is no such problem for which, a person does not have to find sound guidance. It is the reason that God Almighty has fixed these supplications to be recited in all prayers, so that every person may supplicate morning and evening, day and night, every time for getting guidance from Allah Almighty and power to act in the affairs of human life.

Every religion has instructed to its followers to supplicate for blessings, some people ask for food; some ask for power, some beg for the Light of the heart, some pray that their sins be forgotten. Our Lord has taught us a perfect supplication in which, we have been guided for every field of life.

Transliterated Holy Qur’aan in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)