Understanding Salat — Page 157
Jilsah 157 Allah Almighty gives us hope and tells us that through His attribute of ‘the Merciful’ ( ُ ۡم ي حِ َّ اَلر ), He has taken people to heights that we cannot imagine. While we may not be able to reach ‘the Most High’ ( َعْلَى اَلْأ ), we can reach heights that we never thought were possible. In this way, the attribute of ‘the Most High’ ( َعْلَى ْأ اَل ) raises our ambitions, and the attribute of ‘the Merciful’ ( ُ ۡم ي حِ َّ اَلر ) is how we can achieve those ambi- tions. When we say ‘have mercy on me’ ( ْ ارْحَمْنِي ) between our prostrations, we should beg our Lord to favor us with those spiritual heights that are so lofty that they can never be reached except through His special mercy. ________ O _________ ْ وَاهْدِنِي and guide me If we have already been guided to Islam, then what need is there to ask for guidance? We still need to ask because guidance has three meanings, all of which are relevant to us. It means to be shown the right path, to be taken to the right path, and to be led on the right path. ( Tafs ī r-e-Kab ī r, vol. 1, pp. 32, 34)