| DIVINE
GUIDANCE – HIDAAYAT
Ihdinaa:It
means ‘Guide us kindly, gently’. Basically, Hidaayah
means to be clear, manifest bright. It also means to move
at the head as a guide and himself show the way. Thus it is
clear that it is such a guidance which is available before
hand, without any ambiguity, leading to the destination. There
are different kinds of ‘Hidaayah' depending upon human
role and scope of activity. In fact, depending upon the role,
everything has been provided with the requisite degree or
degrees of ‘Hidaayah'. The one, built by Allah within
everything and every creature, is variously referred to as
nature, intuition, etc. These will be discussed in some detail.
For Lexicography see Appendix-29. For Comparison
with Synonyms and Contradistinctions, see Appendix-30.
Al-Hudaa
and Hidaayah – Different Aspects Explained by the Quran:
Huddan, Al-Hudaa: The Books and Suhuf from Allah
are considered to be Guide and the Guidance, both.
Al-Hudaa and Hidaayah are although synonymous,
but the Quran has used the word Hudan specifically for the
Guidance of Allah, e.g.:
"This
is the Book, in it is guidance sure, without doubt,
To those who fear Allah." 2-2
"They
are on guidance from their Lord-Master-Owner-Sustainer-,and
they are the successful". 2-5
Hudanl-linnaas:Guidance
for mankind (2-185)
"We (Allah) said: ‘Get down all of
you from this place,
then whenever there comes to you Guidance from
Me,
and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be
no fear on them,
nor shall they grieve.". 2-38
"Say:
Verily, the Guidance of Allah - that is the Guidance".
2-120
The word Ihtadaa
is used for the guidance in the mundane affairs or worldly
matters, e.g.:
"Wahuwallazii ja-ala lakumun-nujuuma li-tahtaduu
bihaa ":
“It is He (Allah) Who has set the stars
for you, so that you may guide your course with their help.”
6-97.
The word Ihtadaa
is also used for seeking, getting or following in guidance:
"- And so that I (Allah) may complete My
Blessings on you, and that you may be guided.".
2-150
"And
say to the people of the Book and to those who are unlearned:
‘Do you submit yourselves?'
If they do , they are in the right guidance".
3-20
"And
verily, I (Allah) am forgiving to him who repents, believes
and
does righteous good deeds, and
then remains constant in receiving guidance."
20-82
Thus Ihtadaa
is to remain constant in seeking the guidance without slackness
with the strong will not to return to sin.. In conjunction
with verse 20-82, also see following:
"Who, when afflicted with calamity, say:
‘Truly , to Allah we belong, and truly,
to Him we shall return." 2-156
They are those on whom are Blessings from their
Lord-Sustainer,
And Mercy, and they are the ones that receive
guidance." 2-157
The meaning of ‘leading’ (taking
the wrong-doers to the Hell) may be examined in following
verses:
"Assemble those who did wrong together with
their companions,
and what they used to worship; instead of Allah,
and
lead them on to the way of Flaming Fire."
37-22 & 23.
For derivatives and different
usage in the Quran, see pages 841 to 846, Al-Muajamul Nufaharas,
Muhammad Fawad Abdul Baqi).
Al-Huda
working with Reasoning:Hidaayat means to show
the way, to give direction along a path, to guide. Al-Hudaa
means the only real guidance of Divine Revelation ingrained
(programmed,) in all humanbeings, without discrimination
of race, color, etc. in which senses, reason, instinct, etc.
all work together and in coordination. Any discord or disconnect
among these faculties give rise to deviations and disruptions
in life, damaging whole human personality and fabric of society.
In this context, Ad-Diin is the religion or way of life appropriate
to the nature and function of man. Diin al-Islam is in fact
the name given to the universal Guidance of Divine Revelation.
Qalb and Fuaad are like receptive side of Guidance
or in-built softwares. When Hidaayat (Guiding
Instruction) comes (is revealed, inspired) they respond
and work with it. An explanation may perhaps be given
in an example of working of a computer software
(Qalb or Fuaad) with the instructions for different tasks
to be performed in a programme. If the software is
locked up or corrupted, then, either no instruction is accepted
or acted upon, or it is misinterpreted and misapplied.
If it is hacked or virus-stricken, the instruction or the
command, each time received in the processing unit , will
produce wrong results, misleading or leading astray.
"Do they
not then think deeply in the Quran, or are their
hearts locked up (from understanding)."47-24
It is
this element or receptive side in man which responds to the
directing force of Hidayat (of Revelation). It is also called
Al-Hudaa (the Guidance) 6-71, 2-114.
Next in this scheme of direction or guidance are
faculties of senses and reasoning.
Animals do not possess intellect which helps reasoning and
reflection. But they have talent of sense-perception to the
extent that they need in their particular spheres of functions
of life. By this they regulate and satisfy their needs of
life. It is given to each species in proportion to its needs.
For example sense of smell is very sharp in ant, sight of
eagle and vulture is very keen. It exists in them from the
very day of their creation and further develops in them gradually
or undergoes adaptations and upgradations in response to environmental
impact, where law of growth, adaptation and development
is fixed in nature.
Furthermore, instinct as the
inward force actuates the living being to be propelled by
its own inward urge to its means of sustenance and life. It
does not need any external direction or aid. Instinct is inherent
in every living being which directs it to its way of life
and nourishment.
In scientific terms, there are certain packages
or modules in the mechanism of nature specific to each individual
and species. There is great wonder in every Word and Work
of Allah: Turtle lays eggs in a well designed and dug tube
in a ditch, both of which are masterpieces of her intelligent
design and architecture, in a carefully selected soft ground.
After covering them securely, she goes back to the sea, never
to return. After 40 days, hatchlings pierce up through the
heap of about three feet of earth, firmly compacted upon them,
in the meantime, by weather and waters. On first exposure
to the atmosphere, they immediately set their direction, run
towards the sea, swim and search for sustenance. Even if their
course is interrupted, they re-set their orientation and effort,
and rush to join the great food chain or cycle of the sea
life.
Thus, there are several forms of Hidaayat. Man
has been endowed with each, appropriately assisting him in
his assignment in the environment and his special position
in nature. Above all is the direction of nature or Hidaayat
of Rubuubiyat. It presents a systematized form, which points
to appropriate avenues of nourishment, stimulates to struggle
for them, helps proceed along the path of life, and maintains
the driving force for the satisfaction of his needs, wants,
aesthetics, etc. This is the instinctive urge of nature, or
the talent inherent in sense perception. ‘At first it
takes the form of an instinct, and then functions as sense
perception’. Instinct and Perception are but
the two of the forms of the Hidaayat of Rubuubiyat.
Without Hidaayat of Rubuubiyat, ‘no object of creation
would have profited by the means of sustenance and growth
provided around it, and indeed life itself would have ceased
to display its activities’. This is based on permanent
values, which are explained in detail by One (Allah) Who is
Ever All-Wise, Ever All-Acquainted: 11-1.
Al-Hudaa determines co-ordinates of boundary lines
and parameters of level field for human action, based on permanent
values, in a clear and simple frame with the facility of ‘drill
down’ (through consideration, reflection, reasoning)
to all required details which become available, as man becomes
receptive to use it diligently and makes recourse and reference
to it sincerely.
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