Taking The Qur'an As A Guide

He brought it down upon your heart, by Allah's authority, confirming what came before, and as guidance and good news for the believers. (Surat al-Baqara: 97)

The Qur'an presents certain facts, and in every instance includes the most accurate information revealed to Prophet Muhammad (saas). For this reason, people who take it and the Sunna of our Prophet (saas) as their sole criteria in life are guided to Allah's Mercy. This attribute of the Qur'an is related as follows:

This Qur'an guides to the most upright Way and gives good news to the believers who do right actions that they will have a large reward. (Surat al-Isra': 9)

This (the Qur'an) is clear insight for humanity and guidance and mercy for people with certainty. (Surat al-Jathiyya: 20)

Those who adopt the Qur'an and the way of our Prophet (saas) as a guide have a far different lifestyle than others. For example, they do not feel despair, restlessness, hopelessness, gloom, or desperation, and do not suffer from trouble or panic when facing unexpected events, for the Qur'an and the Sunna of our Prophet (saas) guide them at all times. Remembering that they live according to the destiny that Allah has chosen for them, they submit to Him and thus live in peace and respond to all events with Allah's commands in mind. Every decision, spoken word, and written line indicates their adherence to the Qur'anic values. This being the case, they always have a clear conscience and experience the spiritual peace brought about by this state. Allah relates this in Surah Yunus as follows:

O mankind! Admonition has come to you from your Lord, and also healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Surah Yunus: 57)

The Qur'an lays down what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, people who are inclined to guidance, follow their conscience, avoid the selfish whims and desires of their lower selves, and are committed to live by Allah's judgments easily find their way to the true path. Everyone can understand the Qur'an, a Book of Divine Wisdom, for its descriptions of moral perfection and judgments are extremely clear, intelligible, and easy. Every sincere person guided by Allah can readily comprehend the Qur'an and feels no difficulty in living by its dictates, as we read in:

The Qur'an was sent down as guidance for humanity, with Clear Signs containing guidance and discrimination. (Surat al-Baqara: 185)

However, only those who love and fear Allah, submit wholeheartedly to Him, and prefer the Hereafter to this life pay attention to the Qur'an and ponder its verses. In another verse, Allah commands us as follows:

We did not send down the Qur'an to you to make you miserable, but only as a Reminder for those who stand in awe (of Allah). (Surah Ta Ha: 2-3)

This issue is also an important secret of the Qur'an. To understand it, all that is needed is a firm intention, a profound faith, and sincerity, as opposed to a high level of intelligence, for Allah guides His sincere servants to the truth, ensures that they benefit from the Qur'an, and attain salvation. However, this Revelation of Allah to humanity only guides those who love and fear Him and observe His limits. Some of the related verses are as follows:

On that Day We will raise up among every community a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against them. We have sent down the Book to you making all things clear, and as guidance and a mercy and good news for the Muslims. (Surat an-Nahl: 89)

Say: "The Purest Spirit has brought it down from your Lord with truth, to make those who believe firm, and as guidance and good news for the Muslims." (Surat an-Nahl: 102)

Those are the Signs of the Wise Book - a guidance and mercy for the good-doers. (Surah Luqman: 2-3)

O mankind! Admonition has come to you from your Lord, and also healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Surah Yunus: 57)

As these verses state, the Qur'an admonishes humanity and guides all Muslims who are humble and observe Allah's limits. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, a great Turkish Islamic scholar, writes that the Qur'an is a guide for Allah's devoted servants: "The All-Wise Qur'an is the leader to the aware and the conscious, the guide of jinn and men [and women], the teacher of those attaining to perfection, and instructor of those seeking reality." (Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, "The Letters: The 26th Letter")