Topic of Discussion:

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In the name of All°h, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Discussion: Commentary of, ‘Keep us on the Straight Path’

Øad¢th #3
#35 [ Discussion #4
#47 ]
Lectures on Akhl°q given by His Eminence
Ayatull°h al-`U®m° al-Ø°jj ash-Shaykh N°•ir Mak°rim ash-Sh¢r°z¢ (may All°h protect him)
Translated by Saleem Bhimji – www.al-mubin.org – al-mubin@al-mubin.org

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Topic: Commentary of, “Keep us
on the Straight Path”

Text of the Øad¢th:

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TRANSLATION: In the exegesis of the words of All°h, the Noble and Grand, Keep us on the Straight Path , as-
TRANSLATION
Æ°diq (peace be upon him) has said that this means, “Guide us to the path whose result is Your love and which
reaches to Your D¢n (complete code and way of life) and which would prevent us from following our lower
desires or which we would take views and opinions (over Yours) which would result in our destruction.”1

Commentary of Øad¢th:
In the exegesis of this verse of the Qur˜°n which we read ten times within a 24 hour period, Im°m as-Æ°diq (peace
be upon him) has stated the following points:

1. The first sign of the Straight Path is that this is the path which leads to the love of All°h (Glory and Greatness
be to Him). If day by day, our love for All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him) increases, then this is a sign that we
are on the Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m).

2. The Straight Path is the thing which makes us reach to the D¢n of All°h and the truth of the teachings of All°h
(Glory and Greatness be to Him). If day by day, we see that we are becoming closer to the truths of the faith, then
it should be clear for us that we are on the Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m).

1 Masnad al-Ri§°, Volume 1, Page 314

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3. The Straight Path is that road which prevents us from following our lower, base desires and our own personal
opinions and our own personal judgements.

If we see that we have all of these within ourselves, then we should know that we are definitely on the Straight
Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m).

If we see that there is no effect of the love of All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him) in our essence, or that year
after year, our sincerity and presence of heart in the Æal°t is becoming less and less, then it is clear that we have
gone astray from the Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m).

In addition, if we see that, in relation to the D¢n of All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him) – whether this be in the
Us£l or fundamental beliefs of the Fur£` or practical beliefs – there is no increase in our knowledge of these two
branches, then it is perfectly clear that we have lost out direction from the Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m)

We seek refuge in All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him) that a person, due to his base and lower desires,
destroys the color of the faith and his religious responsibilities as this is something very dangerous!

When we stand for the Æal°t, we must seek from All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him), guidance onto the
Straight Path with our entire presence and essence and an increase in love for Him.

For those people who are travelling the path of Isl°mic studies seeking to become a religious scholar, this is
something as a show of pride that there is a purpose to their life that they are given more insight into their D¢n
and that their love and affection for All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him) is increased.2

…and all praise belongs to All°h (Glory and Greatness be to Him), only the mistakes are mine

2
At this point, the question comes up that first off: what is the Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m) and secondly,
why is it that we are constantly seeking guidance to the Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m) from All°h (Glory
and Greatness be to Him) – are we currently misguided? Furthermore, supposing that these words of ours are
true, then what about the Prophet (blessings of All°h be upon him and his family) and the A’immah (prayers be
upon all of them) who are the examples of the perfect human being – what does it mean in relation to them?

Firstly, the Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m) is the path of purity and goodness; the path of justice and equality
and the path of true faith and righteous actions.

Secondly, in response to the question raised, we must state that: While a person is traversing upon the path of
guidance, there is a fear that at any moment, he may slip off of the path and become misguided and it is because
of this fact that we must give ourselves up to our Lord and implore Him that he keep us firm and steady on the
Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m).

In addition, travelling upon the path of guidance is the path towards perfection upon which, stage by stage, a
person passes through the stages of difficulties so that he can reach to a higher level.

We also know this fact that the paths towards perfection are limitless and they lead to the Limitless Entity and
therefore, there is no room for amazement that even the Prophets and A’immah used to ask All°h (Glory and
Greatness be to Him) for guidance to the Straight Path (the Æir°tul Mustaq¢m) since it is only All°h (Glory and
Greatness be to Him) who is the Purely Perfect Entity and without exception, all others are travelling upon the
path to reaching complete perfection and thus, what harm is there in that these personalities too also ask All°h
(Glory and Greatness be to Him) to reach to a higher level of perfection!?! (Tafs¢r-e-Namuna, Volume 1, Page 46)