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Supplication for Guidance to the Path of Eternal Success

Moiz Amjad · October 3, 2001

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All gratitude is due only to Allah, the Lord[1]

of the vastness of the universe[2],

Who is infinitely Merciful, Whose mercy extends forever, the Owner[3]

of the Day of Judgment. (1 – 3)

[Lord,] Only You do we worship and only You do we turn for help. Guide us

in adhering to the straight path; the path of those upon whom you showered

your blessings, not [the path] of those who [,due to their disobedience and

transgressions,] became deserving of your wrath[4]

and neither of those who [, due to their own additions in Your guidance,] went

astray[5].

(4 – 6)

Note: The opening chapter of

the Qur’an – Al-Faatihah – is a

comprehensive supplication seeking God’s guidance for the eternal success in the

hereafter. Due to its extra-ordinary significance, which is apparent from its

content and subject matter, this supplication is one of the permanent parts of

our daily prayers.

The last part of the supplication is to remind ourselves the right spirit

with which God’s guidance should be followed. It is to remind ourselves that for

our eternal success in the hereafter, we should neither be guilty of

disobedience and transgression toward the guidance that God has given us nor

should we add anything to this corpus of our own accord.

[1]  The

literal meaning of the word ‘Rubb‘

is Provider. The implication of ‘Lord’ is basically an extension on the

meaning of ‘Provider’.

[2]  The

Arabic word ‘`aalameen‘ is

the plural form of the word ‘`aalam‘

meaning ‘world’. In the Arabic language, plural form may, if the words or

the context so require, denote the vastness or the greatness or the enormity

of a thing, as it denotes the plurality of number.

[3] 

i.e. the Sole Authority.

[4] 

According to the Qur’an one can become eserving of God’s wrath due to one’s

disobedience and transgressions. Thus, becoming deserving of God’s wrath

involves an element of intentionally straying from God’s path by ignoring

His directives.

[5] 

According to the Qur’an, straying from the right path does not necessarily

involve an element of transgression on one’s part. One may stray from the

right path due merely to an incorrect interpretation of a directive.

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