benefit is there in seeking guidance?” Some answer that the intended meaning is, “Keep us steadfast upon guidance,” just as the Arabs say to someone asleep, “Sleep until I come to you.” Others say it means, “Bind our hearts to guidance,” with the object being bound left unexpressed. Still others say it means, “Increase me in guidance.”

They raise this question only because they have not properly understood the straight path to which the servant seeks guidance. What is meant is to do whatever Allah has commanded and refrain from whatever He has forbidden in all matters. Although a person may acknowledge in general terms that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and that the Quran is true, he remains unaware of most of what he needs to know about what benefits and harms him, and what Allah has commanded and forbidden in specific matters and their particulars. Even much of what he does know, he has not put into practice. Even supposing that every command and prohibition in the Quran and Sunnah had reached him, the Quran and Sunnah state only general, universal matters—it could not be otherwise—and do not specify what pertains individually to each servant. This is why a person is commanded to ask for guidance to the straight path in such matters.

Guidance to the straight path encompasses all of this: being taught in detail what the Messenger brought, being shown what falls under his universal commands, and being inspired to act upon what one knows. Merely knowing the truth does not make a person rightly guided unless he acts upon his knowledge. This is why Allah said to His Prophet after the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyah:

“Indeed, We have granted you a clear triumph, so that Allah may forgive you your past and future sins, perfect His favor upon you, and guide you