Al-Hadi

The Guide

This name is God’s attribute of Guidance to the right or straight path.

This guidance pours forth as the guidance of God for all creation, including minerals, plants and animals; the guidance from God which was taught by His Messengers to their followers; the guidance from God which may be defined as divine help; and the divine guidance by which the righteous believers shall attain their salvation in the Hereafter.

Whoever God has guided well, none can lead astray. Whoever God has misguided, none can lead to the straight path. But God does not forcibly and without reason lead people astray, only doing so when they misuse their will and turn their potential towards infidelity.

The result of God’s guidance is faith. God has provided His books, prophets, messengers, saints and people of knowledge to guide us.

“In the Name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.”

“Guide us to the straight path.” Quran 1:6

“When God wishes to guide someone, He opens their chest to islam; when he wishes to lead them astray, He closes and constricts their breast as if they were climbing up to the skies.“ Quran 6:125

“(Prophet), glorify the name of your Lord the Most High, who created (all things) in due proportion; who determined their destinies and guided them.” Quran 87:1-3

“do not say of anything, ‘I will do that tomorrow’, without adding, ‘God willing,’ and , whenever you forget, remember your Lord and say, ‘May my Lord guide me closer to what is right.” Quran 18:23-24

”(Are we to) turn our heels after God has guided us, like someone bewildered, having been tempted by devils into a (desert) land, though his companions call him to guidance (saying), ‘Come to us?’ Say, ‘God’s guidance is the true guidance. We are commanded to devote ourselves to the Lord of the Worlds, to establish regular prayers and be mindful of Him.’ It is Him that you will be gathered.” Quran 6:71-72

“But God gives more guidance to those who take guidance, and good deeds of lasting merit are the best and most rewarding in your Lord’s sight.” Quran 19:76

“By the covering night, by the radiant day, by the male and female He created, the ways you take differ greatly. There is the one who gives, who is mindful of God, who testifies to goodness – We shall smooth his way towards ease. There is the one who is miserly, who is self-satisfied, who denies goodness – we shall smooth his way towards hardship and his wealth will not help him as he falls. Our part is to provide guidance – this world and the next belong to Us – so I warn you about the raging Fire.” Quran 92:1-14

“Say that the Holy Spirit has brought the Revelation with the Truth step by step from your Lord, to strengthen the believers and as guidance and good news to the devout.” Quran 16:102

“but We have always appointed adversaries from the wicked, for every prophet: Your Lord is sufficient guide and helper.” Quran 25:32

“Pharoah said, ‘Moses, who is this Lord of yours?’ Moses said, ‘Our Lord is He who gave everything its form, then gave it guidance.” Quran 20:49-50

And God knows best.

 

Extracts from:-
‘The Meaning of the Names of our Lord’ by Shaykh Muhammad Said al-Jamal ar-Rifai ash-Shadhuli.
‘The Name and the Named’ by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak.
‘Ninety Names of the Beloved. Intimations of the Beauty and Power of the Divine’ by Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski.