Guidance
The concept of guidance (hidayah) in Islam is firmly rooted in the belief that it comes solely from Allah. This principle is supported by numerous verses from the Quran and hadiths that emphasize Allah’s role in guiding individuals and the limited capacity of humans, including Prophet Muhammad, in this process.
Quranic Verses on Divine Guidance
Allah states in the Quran:
$$إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ$$
“Indeed, you [O Muhammad] do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided”[6].
This verse clearly illustrates that even Prophet Muhammad did not have the power to guide whom he wished. Guidance is exclusively in Allah’s hands.
Another relevant verse states:
$$ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ$$
“That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide”[1].
Hadiths on Divine Guidance
A hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah emphasizes that Allah looks at the heart and actions of individuals, not their outward appearance:
“Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather he looks at your hearts and actions”[5].
This hadith suggests that guidance is related to the sincerity and actions of an individual, which are known only to Allah.
Allah’s Qadr and Free Will
The concept of Qadr (divine decree) is intricately linked with guidance. While Allah has decreed all things from eternity, He has also given humans free will to make choices. A hadith reported by Jabir ibn Abdullah states:
“A servant does not have faith until he believes in providence, both its good and its evil, and until he knows that what afflicts him could never have missed him and that what missed him could never have afflicted him”[5].
This hadith emphasizes the importance of believing in Allah’s decree while also acknowledging human responsibility.
The Role of the Prophet
Prophet Muhammad’s role was primarily that of a messenger and a warner. Allah says in the Quran:
$$قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا مُنذِرٌ ۖ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ$$
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘I am only a warner, and there is not any deity except Allah, the One, the Prevailing’“[1].
This verse clarifies that the Prophet’s role was to convey the message, not to be the source of guidance itself.
In conclusion, these Quranic verses and hadiths emphasize that hidayah (guidance) is solely in Allah’s hands. While humans, including prophets, can convey the message and set good examples, the ultimate guidance of the heart comes from Allah alone[1][6].
Citations:
[1] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/220690/guidance-is-from-allah-and-the-means-are-from-people
[2] https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-about-islam/is-guidance-a-divine-gift/
[4] https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/pluralism/files/muhammad-_the_messenger_of_god_4.pdf
[5] https://aboutislam.net/spirituality/7-inspiring-hadiths-to-empower-yourself/
[6] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/12053/guidance-is-in-the-hand-of-allah
[8] wikipedia/en/Muhammad_in_Islam
[9] https://islamic-governance.com/chapter-5-guidance-hidayat/
[10] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad/Status-in-the-Qur-an-and-in-post-Qur-anic-Islam