Guide us to the straight path Guidance hidāya is direction irshād and its basic meaning is to influence someone's inclinations. The one who is guided is one who is aware of the Real سبحانه and prefers His good pleasure and has faith in Him. The com- mand in this verse is elided for the meaning is “Say: Guide us.” The believers are already being rightly guided in the present moment so the meaning is to petition for ongoing and ever increasing [guidance]. The straight path is the true path upon which are the people who declare God's oneness. The meaning of guide us is “cause us to incline to You” “take us as Yours” “be our guide dalīl to You” “facilitate our way to You” “arouse our aspira- tion for You” and “bring our concerns together through You.” “Prevent our innermost selves from witnessing all others aghyār. Show in our hearts the rising of lights anwār. Keep our seeking of You from the blemish of traces or effects āthār.65 And cause us to rise from the waystations of studying and reasoning to gather jamʿ [together] on the plains of nearness and communion.” “Take away our comfort with simulacra amthāl and outward appear- ances ashkāl through the intimate kindnesses and secrets you share with us [as we] find communion and witness the sublime and beautiful.” “Direct us to the Real so that we will not put our trust in the intermediar- ies of [our] deeds and so that the dust of vain opinions and suppositions will not fall upon the intent to profess divine unity.” Guide us to the straight path that is “Remove from us the darkness of our states so that we may be illuminated by the lights of Your holiness from the shadows of our own seeking. And lift from us the shadow of our effort so that we may gain insight by the stars of Your liberality and find You through You.” “Guide us to the straight path so that no associate from Satan's insinua- tions and whisperings and no friend from the inclinations and murmurings of the lower selves become our companions. Let not any stay in the familiar territories of blind following taqlīd keep us from the communion [of lovers]. Do not let reliance on routine instruction come between us and insight.
