By Umm Isam – “Hiba” magazine content writer
“But sufficient is your Lord as a guide and a helper.” (Al-Furqan 25:31)
Al-Haadi is one of Allah’s (swt) beautiful names mentioned in the Quran twice. Had Allah (swt) not introduced His divine attributes to us via His Al-Asma ul-Husna (beautiful names), we would have remained lost about our Creator.
Who is Al Haadi?
He is the Ultimate and Supreme Guide.
He helps His creation to get to know Him, so we can build our lifelong divine connection with Him.
Al-Haadi guides His creation gently, to goodness towards Aakhirah.
He teaches the creation their respective roles to lead them to their potential and optimum productivity in Dunya.
Allah Al-Haadi, shows us the difference between the path of good and evil and helps us leave our sins.
He enables us to remain steadfast upon guidance, when we are likely to stumble.
Allah Al-Haadi, redirects those who go off track and guides them back to salvation, if they repent.
Al-Haadi ensures guidance for those who seek it.
He eases the path to guidance for the receptive slaves and facilitates them to accept it.
Al-Haadi cares while guiding His creation, even when they fail and others desert them.
He stays with His creation after guiding it, until they reach their destination.
“Indeed, is Allah the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path.” (Al-Hajj 22:54)
How do people guide us?
In order to understand the difference between the power of Al-Haadi and people around us, we can consider the following:
- Understand that even people cannot guide us, unless Allah (swt) decrees it for us and allows them to do so.
- When we ask people for help or directions, they generally give us a contact for some resource.
- It they are more helpful, they might arrange a meeting for us.
- If they are even more helpful, they may guide us step by step, as to what to do next.
- If they are the most helpful, they might accompany us and take us there. But the result will never be in their control. That is their ultimate limit.
Al-Haadi’s guidance is limitless, flawless and wholesome and comes in following ways:
Guidance for All Creations
After creating and designing His creation, Al-Haadi has also exclusively guided it, whether it is the minutest atom or invisible microorganisms, or huge galaxies and celestial beings in it. No matter if they are animate or inanimate creations, they all receive their unique package of guidance to fulfil their life needs, survival and growth. Let us consider a few.
Nothing is random in this universe. It has been deliberately designed by the Creator. A seed defies gravity, a grain of sand shifts, a leaf falls off a tree, a rain drop falls, water vapour evaporates, a honey bee collects honey, planets swim in their orbits, a baby suckles mother’s milk and humans grow up to live under Allah’s (swt) divine guidance, preparing for Aakhirah – all by Al-Haadi’s guidance.
When Firaun asked Musa (as) about who Allah (swt) was, Musa (as) replied: “He said: ‘Our Lord is He Who gave each thing its form and then guided (it).’” (Taha 20:50) Al-Haadi did not leave His creation to their devices, wandering about in confusion.
Just observe the birds. Each specie that Allah (swt) created varies in design, colour, behaviour, habitats, roles and migration. They even know their mode of worship. Did they go to any particular school for instruction? Where did man intervene? How come a crow is a scavenger but an eagle is not? Why does a kingfisher dive in water to catch its prey but a sparrow only nibbles the food it finds? Do the birds refer to a clock to wake up at dawn and chirp and return to their nests at dusk? Who tells them it is time to migrate, when winter is setting in? Which map do they read to fly a journey of thousands of miles across the continents? How do they remember their way back home, once winter is over? Subhan Allah!
“Do you not see that Allah is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and (by) the birds with wings spread (in flight)? Each (of them) has known his (means of) prayer and exalting (Him), and Allah is knowing of what they do.” (An-Nur 24:41)
The mankind is still discovering what Allah (swt) has created. Allah (swt) is still creating this very moment as you read this article. All His creations are receiving guidance by the second without asking for it for their daily needs and life.
Guidance for the Believer (Momin)
This guidance is specially directed towards the humans and Jinn, who are accountable at the end of their lives for how they lived in Dunya. Allah Al-Haadi appointed His messengers throughout human history as His source of guidance for them.
The noble Quran has also been termed as “Hidayah” to lead mankind and Jinn. The Quran was revealed during 23 years of Muhammad’s (sa) life span. Look at the remarkable guidance it gave him. Look at the extraordinary companions it produced to form Islam’s initial team.
“And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or (what is) the faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, (O Muhammad), you guide to a straight path.” (Ash-Shura 24:52)
Our Prophet Muhammad (sa) was chosen as the final messenger to mankind, but even he could not ensure salvation. He used to admit being a messenger to deliver the message with Ikhlaas (purity of intent) but not the One Who designed personalized guidance for the creation. A manifest proof of that is when Prophet Muhammad (sa) could not guide his own beloved uncle Abu Talib, who was his foster father, protector and ally against the assaults from the disbelievers – Abu Talib never embraced Islam. Allah (swt) knows the conditions of each person’s heart – nobody can fool Him.
“Indeed, (O Muhammad), you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the (rightly) guided.” (Al-Qasas 28:56)
People are known by their inventions in the world. Likewise, Allah’s (swt) entire universe is a perfect sign of His majesty. It leads the misguided towards Al-Haadi, when they observe the universe’s perfection and design. They decode the wonders and cannot but help admit that there is an exalted Creator that they must worship, obey and return to one day.
Al-Haadi has taught us to make Dua and ask for guidance seventeen times daily in our Salah: “Guide us to the straight path.” (Al-Fatihah 1:6)
Allah Al-Haadi inspires the believers to seek His guidance. When they follow Him, He guides them to their final destination. If they go off track, He enables them to come back and restart.
But they must have a burning desire to be guided. Guidance only comes to the humble slaves, who are willing to trust, worship, love, fear and respect Al-Haadi. A mere wish or flimsy Dua with zero efforts does not earn Allah’s (swt) guidance.
Al-Haadi does not guide:
- The disobedient
“… and Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.” (Al-Maida 5:108)
- The one who chooses misguidance deliberately
“And as for Thamud, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so the thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for what they used to earn.” (Al-Fussilat 41:17)
- The liar
“… Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.” (Ghafir 40:28)
Allah (swt) gives a stern warning in the Quran: “Say, ‘Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the (only) guidance.’ If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper.” (Al-Baqarah 2:120)
To live and die upon the divine guidance is a great need of ours, more than that of eating, sleeping or anything else. Connect to Al-Haadi and ask Him sincerely for His guidance and steadfastness upon it.
Once guided, keep praying to Al-Haadi:
“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” (Ali-Imran 3:8)
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