Follow Allah’s guidance
قَالَ ٱهۡبِطَا مِنۡهَا جَمِيعَۢاۖ بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ۬ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأۡتِيَنَّڪُم مِّنِّى هُدً۬ى فَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشۡقَىٰ (١٢٣) وَمَنۡ أَعۡرَضَ عَن ذِڪۡرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُ ۥ مَعِيشَةً۬ ضَنكً۬ا وَنَحۡشُرُهُ ۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ أَعۡمَىٰ (١٢٤)
God said, ‘Get out of the garden as each other’s enemy.’ Whoever follows My guidance, when it comes to you [people], will not go astray nor fall into misery, but whoever turns away from it will have a life of great hardship. We shall bring him blind to the Assembly on the Day of Resurrection [20:123-124]
Allah’s promise to the believers
These two ayahs from Surah Ta Ha give us two promises from Allah. First, that we will get guidance from Him, and if we follow it, we will be safe and won’t go astray. This is the same thing we are constantly asking Allah in Surat al-Fatiha, repeating it a minimum of seventeen times a day in our salah.
ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٲطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ (٦) صِرَٲطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ (٧)
Guide us to the straight path: the path of those You have blessed, those who incur no anger and who have not gone astray. [1:6-7]
Note the conditional sentence: if we follow His guidance. As always, Allah is stressing that it is always our choice to be guided or to reject the message.
Allah’s promise to the neglectful
The second promise is to those who choose to reject the message: they will have a difficult life. This could mean physical or financial difficulties, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be – it could also be emotional or spiritual problems that make you miserable. Neglecting Allah’s message is choosing to live both this life and the Hereafter in punishment.
Ibn Hajar’s story
There is an anecdote about the famous scholar of hadith, Ibn Hajar. He was once out riding on his horse, when he was stopped by a poor non-believer who referred to these ayahs and compared them to Ibn Hajar, who was a wealthy man, a himself, who was wretched and miserable.
Ibn Hajar replied that what was waiting for this man in the akhirah would be much worse than what he was currently facing, so much so that his state in the dunya would be considered luxurious compared to the punishment for his disbelief.
Following Allah’s guidance will help you live in tranquillity no matter what situation you are in. We ask Allah to make us among those who follow His guidance and be among those who are close to Him. Ameen.
Based on the Ramadan Reflection Night 19 by Shaykh Haytham Tamim. Transcribed by Hana Khan.
The promise of guidance
By Samia Ahmed
On the nineteenth night of Ramadan, Shaykh Haytham reflected on a powerful promise from Allah in Surah Ta Ha. After the story of Adam عليه السلام and the reminder of humanity’s journey on earth, Allah lays down two clear paths and two clear outcomes.
Allah says:
قال اهبطا منها جميعا بعضكم لبعض عدو فاما ياتينكم مني هدى فمن اتبع هداي فلا يضل ولا يشقى
“He said: Descend from it, all of you. Some of you will be enemies to others. Then when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor suffer.” (Surah Ta Ha 20:123)
Here Allah gives the first promise.
Whoever follows His guidance will not be lost and will not live a life of misery.
Guidance comes only from Allah. It cannot be manufactured by human effort alone. This is why even when we are believers, even when we pray, we still ask Allah repeatedly for guidance.
Every day we recite:
اهدنا الصراط المستقيم
“Guide us to the straight path.” (Surah al-Fatihah 1:6)
Guidance is not a one-time event. It is a continual gift. The heart needs it every day, every moment, every decision.
Allah never breaks His promise.
But Allah also tells us the other side of the choice.
ومن اعرض عن ذكري فان له معيشة ضنكا ونحشره يوم القيامة اعمى
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance, indeed he will have a constricted life, and We will raise him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” (Surah Ta Ha 20:124)
Turning away from Allah does not only affect the Hereafter. It begins in this life.
Allah describes it as a constricted life.
This does not necessarily mean physical poverty or hardship. A person may possess wealth, comfort and status yet still feel a tightness within the heart. Restlessness. Anxiety. A lack of peace.
The difficulty is internal.
When the heart is disconnected from Allah, the soul struggles to find stability. Challenges feel heavier because they are not carried with faith.
But when a believer is guided, even trials become manageable. Hardship may exist physically, but the heart remains anchored.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“How wonderful is the affair of the believer. All of his affairs are good. If something pleasing happens to him, he is grateful and that is good for him. If hardship befalls him, he is patient and that is good for him.” (Muslim)
Guidance transforms how we experience life.
It does not remove every difficulty, but it gives meaning and direction to every moment.
Allah also reminds us:
الا بذكر الله تطمئن القلوب
“Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.” (Surah ar-Rad 13:28)
Peace does not come from circumstances alone. It comes from connection.
Yet Allah has given human beings a choice. We can follow guidance or turn away. But every choice carries consequences.
Shaytan will always try to lead us astray. Our desires will constantly pull us in different directions. The struggle between guidance and temptation continues throughout life.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“All of my nation will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” The companions asked, “Who would refuse, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me has refused.” (Bukhari)
The path is clear. But are we using the right lenses to see the way?
Guidance is a gift not only for the Hereafter, but for this world as well. It gives clarity in confusion, patience in hardship, and peace in uncertainty.
This is why we keep asking for it.
Because without guidance, the heart wanders.
But with guidance, even the most difficult journey becomes purposeful.
May Allah grant us firm guidance in this life and the next.
May He keep our hearts attached to His remembrance.
And may He make us among those who follow His guidance and never go astray.
Ameen.