A005
Surah: 001 - Ayah: 005
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Bewilderment of the Particular Intellect:
The Divine teaching in which: "Ihdina's-sirata'l-mustaqim " (1:5) is mentioned causes bewilderment to the particular intellect. Because when a mumin succeeds in praising Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and believes in His being the Beneficent, the Merciful and the Master and true King of the Day of Judgement and worships Him alone and seeks help from Him alone, then is this not the sirat-i mustaqim, i.e. guidance of God's religion? What more is required?
Answer: One characteristic among many of Suratu'l- Fatihah is that all its words are from Allah to teach His servants and to favour them with knowledge and good deeds. The basic teaching of the Qur'an starts here and everybody knows that only the basic of a thing is not enough, and that more is necessary.
The straight path and the desired destination, for the guidance of which we pray (1:5-6), is the path of the Prophets and the guidance is their guidance (4:69), which in reality is the Manifest Religion, namely Islam (42:13). For, religion in reality is one (9:36) and that is the Religion of God (6:161), in which all Prophets, may peace be upon them, were one (6:90). Also in the beginning, people whether in this world or in the world of particles or in azal, were one community (2:213) and the original book of all Prophets, called “the Book (al-kitab)”, was also one (2:213). “The Book or al-kitab” is the wise Qur’an (3:3), for this blessed heavenly guide-book is perfect, complete, most comprehensive and the guardian (5:48), (i.e. guardian of the previous heavenly scriptures) in every respect. Therefore, the wise Qur’an comprises the states and conditions of all Prophets. Thus here, in the light of the wise Qur’an, we want to mention the example of the six great Prophets who, in their cycles, were like the criteria of the spiritual health of the people.
Perhaps we have not properly reflected on the Divine teaching, which is: “Guide us on the right path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favours.” (1:5-6). This is the same right path, walking upon which, the Prophets and awliya' had attained the favours of knowledge and gnosis. Thus those fortunate mu'mins who will walk on this path in the companionship of these guides of religion, will receive ample spiritual favours, for in mubashshirat, that is, good dreams there is a complete world of spirituality.
The first lesson of high ambition of the wise Qur’an is this: “Guide us on the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have showered favours” (1:5-6). This prayer, in whose comprehensiveness and wisdom all bounties are sought, is very eminent. For in it the luminous guidance of God is sought, so that the people of faith, who are the Friends of God, may follow the footsteps of the Prophets, observing with their inner eyes all their bounties in the light of gnosis and pass through the stages of spirituality until they attain the rank of annihilation in God (fana’ fi'llah). For the meanings of guidance reach the Supreme Paradise traversing even the stages of Resurrection.
This verse has been referred 5 times.