1.12. THE EXPLANATION OF ‘GUIDANCE
It is said that guidance’ (bidayah) here means ‘clarification’(bayan) and ‘identification’ (ta’rif),in other words, ‘to inform you of the traditions of those before you of the people of happiness (sa’ada) and misery (shaqawa) in order for you to follow one group and keep away from the other, just as He, exalted is He, said:
“And We guided him to the two high paths,’ (al-Balad (90):10).
Ali Ibn AblTalib (radiyAllah {anhu) and Ibn Mas‘ud {radiyAllah {anhu) said: 4[It refers to] the paths of good and evil’. Ibn Abbas {radiyAllah ‘anhuma) said: ‘[It refers to] the path of guidance and misguidance’ while Mujahid said: ‘[It refers to] the path of happiness and misery; meaning, [Allah] has created mankind upon that, and informed mankind of that; it is all the same. The two high paths refer to the clear paths because a ‘highpath’ is whatever is raised from the earth. So the meaning is: ‘Have We not informed mankind of the path of good and evil and made it as clear to them as two high paths’, however the children of Adam have a share in the ‘guidance’, ‘clarification’, and ‘identification’ in this ayah, and they know it by their intellects.
As for the path of the Prophets, then it is essential that Allah communicates it, just as He said:
“This is from the news of the Unseen that We reveal to you that neither you nor your people knew before this.” (Hud (11):49)
However this requires that if this meaning is intended then He would have said: ‘Allah intends to clarify for you the traditions of those who were before you’, and He would not need to mention ‘guidance’ since the meaning was implied. So considering that he mentioned that He wished to clarify and guide, it is known that this isnot the same.So‘to clarify’is‘identify’and‘teach’and guidance is‘the commands and prohibitions’ and the invitation to goodness. Just as He, exalted is He, said:
“And for each people is a guidance.” (al-Ra‘d (13):7),
in other words, an invitation, inviting them to goodness. Just as He, exalted is He, said:
“And indeed you are guiding me to a Straight Path.” (al-Shura (42):52).
In other words, you are inviting them to it with a call of instruction.
By Shaykhu’l-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
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