Believing in God guides a righteous way ahead
God has equipped Muslims with all they need to be guided on a righteous path, the sermon will tell mosquegoers on Friday.
There are many ways to walk a straight path in life. The prophets were each guided by Allah in this way, as the Quran says “and [some] among their fathers and their descendants and their brothers – and We chose them and We guided them to a straight path”. (AlAnaam: 87)
Prophets Musa, Ibrahim, Haroon and Mohammed are singled out in the Quran as having been guided on a straight path. For example, God says about prophet Ibrahim: “Indeed, Ibraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining towards truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah. [He was] grateful for His favours. Allah chose him and guided him to a straight path.” (An-Nahl: 120-121)
With every prayer, a Muslim asks God to guide them so they might live a good life. “Guide us to the straight path – the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” (Al-Fatiha: 6-7). Responding to these calls, Allah says: “This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.”
Guidance to a straight path comes via believing in God and adhering to the teachings of the Quran: “This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.” (Al-Baqara: 2).
Another way of achieving righteousness is by following the Prophet’s example and his advocacies in acts of worship, transactions and good manners.
Allah says Prophet Mohammed came with a mission to guide people, “and indeed, [Oh Mohammed], you guide to a straight path. The path of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the Earth.” (Ash-Shura: 52-53)
Another important source of guidance is knowledge. It guides its seekers to the straight path by making clear to them the righteous way to choose, the sermon will say. With knowledge, one will be able to differentiate between truth and lies, right and wrong.
A Muslim who turns to God in supplication and sincerely asks to be guided on a righteous path, as the Prophet did, will be successful.