Du`a – Essence of `Ibadat Part One - The People whom God has favoured

The People whom God has favoured

This straight path and the guidance on it, belongs to those whom God has favoured, and they comprise five groups: Nabiyyin (Prophets), siddiqin (truthful ones), shuhada' (witnesses), salihin (righteous ones) and tabi`in (followers) (see 4:69). That is the natiqs, asases, imams, hujjats and da`is, whom God has favoured and they are the people who can guide others on the straight path. For, only those who themselves are guided can guide others. In this verse, the gist of which is given here, first are mentioned the nabiyyin i.e. natiqs, then the siddiqin i.e. asases, because for the affirmation of the tanzil of every natiq there is always a siddiq or asas, who through his ta'wil affirms the tanzil of the natiq. Then are mentioned the shuhada', i.e. the imams. The imams are called shuhada' or witnesses, because of the fact that each Imam is the witness over the people of his time and there has not been a time in which the Imam of the time was not present and a witness. Then are mentioned the salihin i.e. the hujjats. Salihin are the twelve hujjats on the surface of the earth, who, according to the guidance of the Imam of the time, improve (the conditions of the people of) the world. Then are mentioned the tabi`in i.e. the da`is, who follow these four physical hudud and also invite the people to obey the Imam of the time and take bay`at from them on his behalf.

So these are the people who are guided on the straight path and they are appointed by God to guide the people. Thus, people are taught to receive guidance from them and follow their path in this prayer, as the Qur'an says: “Sirata'lladhina an`amta `alayhim = (Guide us on) the path of those whom You have favoured”.

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