we will highlight the difference between God’s general guidance and His divine guidance.  Let’s take them one by one. 

God guides His entire creation, regardless of their faith and actions, towards His path by sending prophets and scriptures for the benefit of everyone.  This guidance is known as general guidance.  It is available to everyone, and you are free to follow it or not.  God says:

As for the tribe of Thamud: We showed them guidance, but they preferred blindness over guidance.  (41:17)

If you choose to reject faith and God’s general guidance, He will honor your choice and leave you astray.  On the other hand, if you choose to follow the Quran, the Lord will provide you with abundant support and protection.  This is known as God’s divine guidance, as the following aya illustrates:

As for those who follow true guidance, He leads them far ahead in their right ways and grants them piety and restraints from evil suited to their condition.  (47:17)

Divine guidance is specific for the believers who choose God’s path after receiving His general guidance.  The following two verses further show the distinction between God’s general and divine guidance. 

Perhaps the most crucial point to remember is that, while God sends His general guidance to all of humanity, it is your choice to follow it and earn His divine guidance. 

Here you may ask, what actions can I take to be among those whom God guides and supports?  Allah reaches out to you with the answer in the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.  He describes the qualities you and I must possess and practice in order to receive His divine guidance and support.  God says: 

This is the Scripture in which there is no doubt, containing guidance for those who are mindful of God, those who believe in the Unseen, and maintain the prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, those who believe in the revelation sent down to you and in what was sent before you, those who have firm faith in the Hereafter.  These are the people guided by their Lord.  These are the ones who have success.  (Chapter 2: Verse 2-5)

Let’s go over the six qualities one by one.  We start with “those who are mindful of God,” translated from the Arabic word المُتَّقِينَ (Muttaqeen).  This word is very rich in meaning, and the translation “mindful” does not quite do it justice.  In fact, if you were to look up المُتَّقِينَ  in an Arabic dictionary, you would find that it encompasses all the following meanings: “to be mindful of,” “to shield yourself from,” “to guard yourself,” “to be vigilant,” and “to fear.”  It is mentioned numerous times in the Quran.  Let’s look at two examples: 

O you who believe!  Guard yourselves and your families against a Fire whose fuel is human beings and stones.  (66:6)

And twice in the following verse:

You who believe!  Be mindful of God, and let every soul consider carefully what it sends ahead for tomorrow; and fear God, for God is well aware of everything you do.  (59:18)

Here, we have two verses: one asks us to be mindful and shield ourselves from Hellfire, and the other asks us to shield ourselves from God.  How can this be?  How can the same word apply to both God and Hellfire?  The answer is simple.  To protect yourself from Hellfire, you would avoid that which angers God, so you would not be punished therein.  Mindfulness and good deeds are your best tools to build this shield between you and the Fire.  

The second verse states “to be mindful of” and “to fear God.”  How is that possible?  How do we shield ourselves from God while we are connected to Him and His blessings?  Can you fear and shield yourself from the One you love?  The answer is that God Almighty has both the attributes of majesty and the attributes of beauty.  His majesty is apparent in His names, like the Mighty, the Compeller, the Avenger, and so on.  At the same time, His attributes of beauty shine through titles such as the Most Forgiving, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, and many more.  Our task is to be cautious of His majestic qualities, shielding ourselves from God’s anger through righteous actions.  Simultaneously, we are invited to embrace the boundless kindness found in Allah’s attributes of beauty.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “When the last night of Ramadan approaches, the Compeller unveils Himself with forgiveness.”  At first glance, this does not make sense.  Logic requires the Prophet to have said, “The Most Merciful unveils Himself with forgiveness.” Remember, however, that God’s punishment for sin comes from His attribute of majesty, “The Compeller,” while His forgiveness comes from His attribute of beauty, “the Most Merciful.”  It is as though God’s mercy and forgiveness supersede His anger and punishment.  The beauty of this paradox is apparent when the Compeller approaches with all His might and power to forgive.  Imagine the happiness and joy in your heart when you repent to God and realize that the One who is capable of severe punishment has forgiven and rewarded you!

 

 

The highest form of belief in the unseen is the belief in Allah, his angels, scriptures, messengers, and in the Day of Judgment.  All of these things are concealed from us.  However, we believe in the presence of angels because God has told us about them.  We believe in the day of resurrection because it came from our Lord. 

I have used my intellect to ponder and research, and I have reached the conclusion that this universe, its meticulous construction, its life and beauty, must have a God and a Creator.  Thus, if a messenger from the creator informs me that Allah is the one who created the universe and supports this claim with miracles, then I ought to believe him.  When you reach this certainty in your heart, you trust that everything that comes from the Lord is the truth, regardless of whether you can comprehend it with your senses or not. 

Some may argue that they have a hard time believing in something intangible; something they cannot see, touch, or test in a science lab.  We answer that the existence of something and realizing that something exists are two different things.  For example, germs have existed on earth for billions of years.  In fact, people had observed the effects of diseases in their bodies, such as fever, infections, and so on, without knowing what was causing them.  When science advanced and the microscope was invented, we were able to see germs, their life cycle, and reproduction.  Did bacteria come into existence the minute they were first observed under the microscope?  Or were they there the whole time while we were completely unaware?  The fact that we cannot see something does not mean it does not exist.  

God has kept some things hidden from us for a while, allowing us to grow, research, and eventually discover them.  Our faith in the Lord strengthens every time we uncover a previously unseen wonder around us.

Let’s consider something far more intimate.  The soul in your body gives you life; have you seen your soul?  Have you heard, tasted, or smelled it?  Of course not!  You came to know about your soul through the impact of giving your body life.  We ask: If you have a hard time locating and comprehending something within yourself, how do you expect to comprehend the existence of God?

The Lord, however, did not leave us without leaving many clues to the thoughtful mind.  He placed signs all around us indicating that this universe has a creator.  Our beautifully organized universe we see could not have formed by chance, as coincidences are brief and chaotic.  Without a powerful force behind it, everything, like the sun, moon, stars, and earth, would collide or scatter away.  Without Allah, life and the whole system would fall apart.

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God teaches us the fifth and sixth qualities in the next verse:

Those who believe in the revelation sent down to you, and in what was sent before you, and those who have firm faith in the Hereafter. (Chapter 2:Verse 4)

The phrase “What has been revealed to you” refers to the Quran, while “what was sent before you” points to earlier scriptures like the Gospel and the Torah.  This is important because with the advent of Islam and the revelation of the Quran, faith in previous messengers and scriptures is no longer sufficient.  Islam was revealed to guide two groups: those who did not believe in God and the people of the scripture, primarily Jews and Christians, who believed in God, His messengers, and His books.  Over time, these groups’ ties to God had weakened, and much of the original faith teachings had been altered or lost.  Thus, a renewed message was necessary to strengthen the connection with God and lead people back to the right path.  Islam is the message that fulfills these needs. 

In fact, God Almighty had described Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the Gospel and the Torah, and stipulated that those who witness his advent should follow his message.  The Bible included the name and description of Prophet Muhammad in such detail that it left no room for doubt.  The Jewish tribes of Medina, for instance, had such certainty in this information that they used to say to the non-believers: ‘The time for a new messenger from God is very near; we shall believe in him, and we shall fight with him, and rule over you’.  Unfortunately, when Muhammad attained prophethood and brought the message they had been awaiting, they were the first to oppose him.  God says:

And when there comes to them a Book from Allah, confirming what is with them— Although from the past they had prayed for victory against those without Faith— When there comes to them that which they have recognized, they refuse to believe in it.  So the curse of Allah will be upon the disbelievers.  (2:89)

Muhammad’s prophethood did not come as a surprise to the People of the Book, who were awaiting his arrival as their scriptures described and instructed.  How could they have foretold the disbelievers about the coming of a Prophet, unless they had specific knowledge of his characteristics in the Torah and the Gospel?  

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Please note that in the phrase “Those are upon guidance,” God chose to use the pronoun “upon,” which indicates elevation and stature, as in riding atop a high horse.  At times, you may feel that following God’s guidance interferes with your daily life, limiting your enjoyment and preventing you from satisfying immediate desires.  However, this perspective is superficial.  When you step back and consider the bigger picture, you realize that God’s guidance elevates you, shields you from harm, and, more importantly, safeguards society as a whole from corruption.

Let me clarify with an example.  God has commanded you not to commit theft.  If you admire something that does not belong to you, such as a beautiful piece of jewelry, you cannot simply take it.  At first glance, this may seem like a restriction on your freedom and a curb on your desires.  At the same time, however, God has commanded millions of others not to steal from you.  Thus, He has not restricted you in a way that diminishes you; instead, He protected your wealth from society at large.  Allah instructed you, as an individual, not to steal, while simultaneously instructing millions of others not to steal from you.  Who is the true winner in this case?  Without a doubt, you are! 

So do not fall under the false impression that God is depriving you of your freedom or placing undue restrictions on your way of life.  As the pronoun “upon” suggests, you are actually honored and elevated by God’s guidance.  It protects you and continually moves you from one good deed to another.

…

God says,

Consider the seeds you sow in the ground; Is it you who make it germinate, or are We the Germinator?  If we had wished, we could have made it broken stubble.  You would then be left devoid of crops, distraught: ‘We are ruined, rather we have been left with nothing’ (56:63-67)

In agriculture, the farmer needs to put in effort and time to plow the land, sow the seed, and water the soil.  Allah has placed within each seed the precise nourishment it needs to survive and to sprout roots and shoots when planted in fertile ground.  Likewise, Allah has placed within each of us what is necessary for spiritual growth and success.  Your role is to invest time and effort and to surround yourself with righteous actions and good people.  Allah will take care of the rest.  The word  مُف?لِحُونَ (Muflehoon) shows that what we do in this life, and the reward we get in the next, is a lot like planting and caring for a seed, then harvesting a big crop months later.  One small seed, if you plant it properly and take care of it, can grow into a large tree that produces many more fruits and seeds for decades.  Listen to the following Aya,

The metaphor of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah is that of a grain which produces seven ears; in every ear there are a hundred grains.  Allah gives such multiples and increases to whomever He wills.  Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.  (2:261)

Let’s take a moment to ponder the beauty of this Aya.  If the earth, which is a creation of God, grants you many multiples for every single seed you plant, what kind of multiple do you think Allah –the Creator of the earth and heavens- will give you for each good deed you sow!?  Living your faith does take some effort.  There are responsibilities, boundaries, and moments when you have to choose what is right over what is easy.  But when you compare that effort to the incredible reward that awaits you, it is more than worth it.  This is why God Almighty said, describing the believers: “They are the successful.” 

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In the previous session, we explained that the disbelievers are of two types.  Those who initially deny God but accept faith after receiving His message, and those who benefit from and thrive on disbelief while ignoring the mounting evidence of their error.  Why?  Because their power and wealth are based on injustice and wrongdoing, so they view faith as a major obstacle.  In verse 6 of Al-Baqarah, it states, “Those who willfully persist in unbelief: it is alike to them whether you warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe.” God refers to the second group of people.

This verse also clarifies that the true reason for their disbelief is not because God’s message did not reach them, nor because they were awaiting a Messenger to guide them.  Instead, they regard disbelief as a business and a way of life because it frees them from the constraints of truth and justice.  A person whose wealth and power come from corruption will never accept faith regardless of any warning or clear evidence.  

God continues in the next verse of The Cow:

Allah has set a seal on their hearts, and on their ears, and over their eyes there is a dark covering, and for them is great torment.  (Chapter 2: Verse 7)

What does it mean to place a seal on a person’s heart?  It means preventing disbelief from leaving the heart and preventing faith from entering it.  The first question that comes to mind is: If God had sealed the hearts of the disbelievers, then why did the Prophet, peace be upon him, invite them to accept faith?  Is this even fair?  

To answer this question, we should remind ourselves that God Almighty is free from all need.  So whoever disregards faith and chooses to embrace disbelief, then God dispenses with him and leaves him for what he has chosen for himself.  Listen to the following sacred narration –Hadeeth Qudsi-:

“I treat My servant as he hopes that I would treat him.  I am with him whenever he remembers Me: if he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in Mine; if he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a gathering far better; if he draws near towards Me a hand’s span, I draw near towards him an arm’s length; if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a mile; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.”

God facilitates for you whatever path you choose for yourself.  The Noble Quran accurately depicts that the disbelievers made their choice willingly.  God placed a seal on their hearts, not before, but only as a consequence of their free choice.    

In the Quran, Allah describes the senses and faculties we use to perceive the world and make choices.  He says:

And God has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers, not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful.  (16:78)

We use our eyes, ears, and minds to perceive our environment and make decisions.  Once an idea is well thought out, it becomes a belief and settles in the heart.  Allah knows that the disbelievers received his message, chose infidelity with their intellect, and accepted this decision into their hearts.  He sealed their hearts after they made up their minds.  At this point, it does not matter what the eye sees or the ear hears.  God describes the condition of the disbelievers in the following verse:

Deaf, mute, blind, so they do not return.  (2:18)

Why did all of their faculties of perception become nonfunctional?  We answer with an example that we all experienced.  I am sure you have felt great anger at some point.  A rage that engulfed your whole being, blinded you, and afflicted all your senses.  No one could reason with you until you calmed down.  Similarly, the dark cloud that surrounds the disbeliever engulfs all the senses and blinds them from seeing God’s signs and hearing the teachings of the Prophet. 

And just as the disbelievers chose to abandon God and his messages, so does God.  He abandons them and makes easy for them the wrong path they selected for themselves as the following verses illustrate:

Whoever willfully ignores the remembrance of the All-Merciful, We assign to him a devil, who becomes his closest comrade.  (43:36)

And in another chapter,

Shall I tell you upon whom the devils descend?  They descend upon every habitual liar and great sinner (26:221-222)

Keep in mind that God’s knowledge of the believer and the disbeliever does not interfere with or affect that person’s choice.  For example, God sent Noah, peace be upon him, to guide his people towards the straight path.  Noah continually delivered the message for over 950 years.  God says,

It was revealed to Noah: ‘None of your people will believe except those who already have faith; so do not sorrow for what they used to do.  Build the ark before Our eyes and by Our revelation, and do not plead with Me for those who are wrongdoers: they shall indeed be drowned.’ (11:36-37)

Allah, in His infinite knowledge, knows who will remain in disbelief and who will heed the message.  But if this is the case, why did God instruct His Messenger to continue delivering the message and the scriptures?  It is so that, on the Day of Resurrection, the disbelievers will bear witness against themselves.  They will not be able to argue: “If only we had been given a chance… if only we had a messenger or a book.” God ensured that His message reached them time and again, allowing them ample opportunity to reflect on His teachings with their intellect.  Sadly, many chose to ignore it deliberately and even oppose it.  Once disbelief settled deeply in their hearts and became their natural state, God sealed their hearts.  He says:

Have they not traveled over the land so that they may have hearts by which they may apply reason, or ears by which they may hear?  Indeed, it is not the eyes that turn blind, but the hearts that turn blind —those that are in the chests!  (22:46)

When the heart becomes blind, the eyes are unable to see God’s signs, and the ears are unable to hear His words.