to a straight path.” He also said concerning Moses and Aaron:

“We gave them both the clear Scripture, and guided them both to the straight path.”

Muslims have disagreed, as Allah has willed, over matters concerning reports, knowledge, belief, and practice, even though they all agree that Muhammad is truly Allah’s Messenger and that the Quran is true. Had each of them been guided to the straight path concerning their disputed matters, they would not have disagreed. Furthermore, most of those who know what Allah has commanded disobey Him and fail to follow His command. Had they been guided to the straight path in those actions, they would have done what they were commanded and refrained from what they were forbidden.

As for those of this community whom Allah has guided until they became His pious allies, one of the greatest means of attaining this was their supplicating to Allah with this prayer in every prayer, while recognizing their constant need of Allah and their utter dependence upon Him to guide them to the straight path. Through continually making this supplication and acknowledging their need, they became Allah’s pious allies.

Sahl ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Tustarī said, “No path brings a servant closer to his Lord than his need of Him.”

Whatever a person was guided in previously, he still needs guidance in it in the future. This is the true meaning of the interpretation:

“Keep us steadfast, and guide us to remain upon the path.”

The interpretation, “Increase us in guidance,” encompasses what has already been mentioned. Yet all of this is guidance from Him to the straight path in the future, for acting upon knowledge in the future has not yet occurred. A person will not be rightly guided until he acts upon that knowledge in the future. Moreover, knowledge may not be present in