Have you searched for a perfect guide whom you can depend on throughout your life? A guide who you can trust in all matters and in every situation? Allah calls Himself “Al-Haadi” The Guide — He is the One who gives perfect guidance. The Guide is the One by whom His believers are guided and by His general guidance all creatures are guided to what is beneficial for them!
The Four Types Of Guidance
First: General Guidance
There are four types of guidance. Scholars divide the guidance of Allah the Almighty into four different types. The first is “Hidayat-al-A’mmah” or general guidance, which is in place for the whole creation including plants, minerals, animals, etcetera; all are guided by “Al-Haadi” The Guide in the best manner for them. There are many examples like the bees and how they work, the migrating of birds, the suckling of a newborn, and the working of the senses.
He said, “Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it].” [Quran, 20:50] (1)
Second: Guidance Of Jinn And Mankind
The second type is described as “Hidayat-al-Jinn-wal-Ins”; it is guidance for the jinn and mankind defining the paths of good and evil, through the Prophets and Messengers sent by Allah.
…And indeed, [O Muḥammad], you guide to a straight path.” [Quran, 42:52] (2)
Third: Guidance Of Ability And Inspiration
The third type of guidance is by “Tawfeeq” (ability) and inspiration. An example is when you are guided through a hardship and you display strong trust and belief in Al-Haadi: No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah.
…And whoever believes in Allah – He will guide his heart…” [Quran, 64:11] (3)
Then there are those incidents when you end up at the right place; hearing something you just needed to hear or meeting someone just at the right moment, all as forms of guidance of Allah.
Fourth: Guidance to Success
And the fourth type is guidance to success in the Hereafter for the righteous believers:
And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, “Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us…” [Quran 7:43] (4)
How Can You Live By This Name?
- Keep Asking For Guidance:
Indeed, if you seek the truth sincerely, The Guide will guide you to it. Muslims say a minimum of seventeen times a day when you pray: ” ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem”– guide us on the straight path.
Why, while you are already guided to Islam, should you keep asking for guidance?
These are levels of true guidance:
- guidance of knowledge to know the truth, the capacity to be guided, to desire to be guided, to act upon it, and to remain steadfast in it
- For all obstructions that impede guidance to be removed and to be granted sight of your ultimate goal along the path
- For you to be aware of your own desperate need for guidance from Allah over any other necessities and to make you see the misguided paths [ summarized from Ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyyah]
- Seek Guidance from The Guide In Each Matter:
Whenever you feel lost, stuck, or when you have to make a decision, turn to Allah before turning to others. Asking for guidance, you can use this beautiful name, e.g. by starting your invocation with Yaa Haadi. Whatever guidance someone or something might give you, know that it truly comes from Al-Haadi.
In Paradise, you will say:
and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us…”
Reflect how guidance is the best gift you can ever get, so thank Allah for it each day.
Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful.” [Quran, 76:3] (5)
- Be Thankful And Do Good to Increase Your Guidance
Another benefit of thanking Him for guidance is that He will give you more:
…’If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor];…” [Quran, 14:7] (6)
Also, your good deeds are directly linked to your guidance, so the more good deeds you do, the more Al-Haadi will increase your guidance:
And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord1 for reward and better for recourse.” [Quran, 19:76] (7)
- Ask The Guide
A beautiful supplication the Prophet (PBUH) used to beg Al-Haadi with was:
…’Ya muqallibal-qulubi, thabbit qalbi ‘ala dinika (O Controller of the hearts make my heart steadfast in Your religion)”. [Hadith] (8)
Conclusion
O Allah, Al-Haadi, we know that You are the ultimate Guide. Guide us on the straight path and make us of those who keep asking sincerely for your guidance in every matter. Inspire us to be aware and thankful for your guidance and aware of those who desire it. Aid us and bless us with the ultimate guidance we need to enter Your Paradise, ameen!
References:
(1) Verse (20:50) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(2) Verse (42:52) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(3) Verse (64:11) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(4) Verse (7:43) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(5) Verse (76:3) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(6) Verse (14:7) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(7) Verse (19:76) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).
(8) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).
