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You guide whomever You will to the Straight Path." (Recorded by Muslim.)2 A Refutation of Some Heretical Views The Qadariyyah, a heretical sect that developed in the history of Islam who deny the reality of qadar, claim that the human by himself attains guidance. According to them, the only aspect of guidance coming from Allah is the sending of messengers and revealing of books. Beyond that, Allah plays no role in the guiding of mankind. There is no aspect of Divine Grace that leads mankind to faith. According to this argument, Allah does not bless the believer by giving guidance any more than He blesses an unbeliever. This claim of theirs is false and contradicts the Quran and sunnah. 3 A person cannot attain guidance on his own. Only by the grace of Allah can one attain guidance, as this hadith clearly demonstrates. Hence, the individual must turn to Allah and sincerely beseech Him if he truly wishes to be guided. According to the Mutazilah, another heretical sect that developed in the history of Islam, Allah willed or wanted all of mankind to follow the right 1 lbn Uthaimeen points out that when most people recite this verse in their prayers, their hearts are not attuned to what they are saying and, therefore, they get no response from Allah to this prayer. Cf., lbn Uthaimeen, Sharh Riyaadh, vol. 3, p. 149. A Christian missionary was once trying to use this verse as an argument that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Muslims know that they are misguided. Therefore, they pray for guidance. This is typical of the false claims used by the enemies of Islam. Sincere Christians will have to agree that a person needs guidance in every moment of his life. 2 lbn Rajah, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 40. Ibn Rajah and al-Haitami also point out that after one who sneezes is responded to, he should say, "May Allah guide you." Then they state that some of the jurists of Iraq reject this practice as they argue that a believer is not in need of a prayer for guidance. The majority of the scholars differ from them and follow what is stated in the sunnah. Cf., ibn Rajah, Jaami, vol. 2, p. 40; al-Haitami, Fath, p. 194. If what they state from some of the jurists of Iraq is true, it demonstrates a lack of a complete understanding of the concept of r,iidance. Allah knows best. Ibn Taimiya, Majmoo, vol. 1 8, pp. 173-4. Hadith #24: "O My Servants, I have Forbidden Wrongdoing ... " guidance but much of mankind refused to do so. This belief is incorrect and is refuted by this hadith. Instead, Allah guides whom He wills. According to His Wisdom and Knowledge, He has decreed to guide some of mankind while allowing the rest to stray. This is according to His will and decree and not against it. If He had willed to guide all of mankind, He would have done so.1 "O My servants, all of you are hungry except for those whom I have fed. Therefore, seek food from Me and I will feed you." After mentioning the "food of the soul" (guidance), Allah mentions the food that is needed for the physical body. Food is one of the greatest blessings man can have. Without it, he cannot survive. Eating can also be a pleasing experience. In addition, proper nutrition is needed for the human being to be able to think and develop in a proper manner. Allah makes it clear that it is by His will that humans have food, water and fire or energy. Allah says in the Quran, Ϸ ઝ 0;А)1;? rt Jt; ટ)y Ft; જ ୕jJ'j- ! r '·'"1;.;tt ;? J. © 0;./'j Li Qi 0 _:( ઞ છ wrn '; .௉ .. _\""1 ... '._,_N\ ... J.1 ., J·"-1,,,. ȕ ,,, , ,,.. ., .... ·.-""1 ,-w,'"'1 J.J .,,... .... .. O1 ฻,,,. ,, ,,..,,,,. ଥ.ri:_r: oy-=..-y u t ତ uY.# i...>Ƹ t vtw W uYJ? J. .... ,.,. J ., ,,,. ., ,., ... .... Q1 vJ'_P ':Jj.D ઠડi ¯ i'.1 ;ଦ wlij jJ © 0)? I :? ri ;?,;t Q ўl:_;t Ft; © wMP JI )lj\ Ó'-'"1;.;tt <> v)..,n .'_,!\ "Then tell Me about the seed you sow in the ground. Is it you that makes it grow or are We the Grower? Were it Our will, we could crumble it to dry pieces, and you would be regretful. [Saying,] 'We are indeed ruined. Nay, but we are deprived.' Then tell Me about the water you drink. Is it you who causes it to come down from the rain clouds or are We the Ones who cause it to come down? If We willed, We verily could make it salt [and undrinkable]. Why then do you not give thanks [to Allah]? Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle. Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are We the grower?" (al­ Waaqiah 63-72).2 1 Al-Nawawi, Sharh sahih, vol. 1 6, pp. 131-132.