Guidance in the Holy Qur'an, the Noble Prophetic Sunnah, and Selected Modern Theories

Abstract

Guidance is the fundamental purpose and ultimate goal of the missions of all prophets and messengers, aimed at reforming societal affairs and elevating them to the highest levels of goodness and virtue. Since the Qur'an is the primary book of guidance for Muslims, it is worthy of exploration to uncover the concept of guidance within its verses. Upon examining the Qur'an, we found that the word "Rushd" (guidance) appears 13 times, conveying various meanings such as (guidance, correctness, and goodness). Additionally, the word "Rasheed" (wise or rightly guided) appears three times in the Qur'an, referring to the correct use of reason, free from deviation. Moreover, Al-Rasheed is one of Allah’s beautiful names, meaning the One who guides His creation to their best interests, leads them to them, and directs them without the need for any external influence or correction. Allah Almighty is the first and ultimate guide for humanity, provided we possess sincere intentions and genuine faith. Since human beings are surrounded by desires, the inclinations of the self, and the influence of Satan, Allah has sent us guides throughout time—namely, the prophets and messengers (peace be upon them). Religious and educational guidance found its highest expression and principles in the authentic Islamic message brought by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), whom Allah sent as a mercy to all worlds. Psychological guidance is a specialized profession emphasizing the importance of the relationship between the guide and the guided and increasing the awareness of the guided individual to evaluate themselves and their abilities realistically, ultimately leading to positive behavioral change.