Allah, the Creator of this Universe, not only brought everything into existence but also provided it guidance towards the fulfilment and actualization of its potential. The major difference between human beings and other beings is that the other beings have been provided guidance by default while human beings are provided guidance by choice through Allah’s chosen Messengers, in the form of Divine Books – the last and final version being the Quran.

إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ

Surely, it is for Us to provide guidance.

[Al-Quran Surah 92: Verse 12]

رَبُّنَا الَّذِي أَعْطَىٰ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلْقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ

Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance.

[Al-Quran Surah 20: Verse 50]

الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ

 Who created [everything], and thereupon formed it in accordance with what it is meant to be, and Who determined the nature [of all that exists], and thereupon provided it guidance [towards its fulfilment].

[Al-Quran Surah 87: Verse 2-3]

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

O MANKIND! There has come unto you an admonition from your Sustainer, and a cure for all [the ill] that may be in men’s hearts, and guidance and grace unto all who believe.

[Al-Quran Surah 10: Verse 57]

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind.

[Al-Quran Surah 2: Verse 185]

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَنِ اهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا

O mankind! The truth from your Sustainer has now come unto you. Whoever, therefore, chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and whoever chooses to go astray, goes astray to his own hurt.

[Al-Quran Surah 10: Verse 108]

Allah does not impose guidance upon human beings by force but they have been given choice to accept His guidance or not. Allah has also defined various criteria according to which He guides the people.

وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَآتَيْنَا كُلَّ نَفْسٍ هُدَاهَا

Had We so willed, We could indeed have imposed Our guidance upon every human being.

[Al-Quran Surah 32: Verse 13]

وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَىٰ بَل لِّلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا أَفَلَمْ يَيْأَسِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن لَّوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا

Had there been a Qur’an whereby mountains could be moved, or whereby the earth could be torn asunder, or whereby the dead could be made to speak (it is this very Qur’an indeed). Behold! the commandment and all power belongs to Allah. Have not those who believe realized yet that if Allah had (enforced) His will He would have indeed guided all mankind.

[Al-Quran Surah 13: Verse 31]

إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).

[Al-Quran Surah 76: Verse 3]

ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ

That is Allah’s guidance: He guides therewith him who wills [to be guided].

[Al-Quran Surah 39: Verse 23]

أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يُرِيدُ

Allah guides him who wills.

[Al-Quran Surah 22: Verse 16]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ

Surely, Allah lets go astray who wills (to go astray), and He guides to Himself those who turn to Him.

[Al-Quran Surah 13: Verse 27]

اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ

Allah draws unto Himself everyone who is willing, and guides unto Himself everyone who turns unto Him.

[Al-Quran Surah 42: Verse 13]

مَن يُؤْمِن ْبِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ

Whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart.

[Al-Quran Surah 64: Verse 11]

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Surely Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to a straight upright path.

[Al-Quran Surah 22: Verse 54]

وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا

And those who strive hard for Us, We shall most certainly guide them to our Ways.

[Al-Quran Surah 29: Verse 69]

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَا يَهْدِيهِمُ اللَّهُ

Surely, Allah does not guide those who do not believe in His Signs (given in His revealed Book and His created universe).

[Al-Quran Surah 16: Verse 104]

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَظَلَمُوا لَمْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقًا

Surely, those who disbelieve and transgress, Allah is not going to forgive them, nor to guide them to away

[Al-Quran Surah 4: Verse 168]

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًا لَّمْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ سَبِيلًا

Indeed, those who believe, then disbelieve and then believe again and then reject faith once more and then advance further in denying faith, Allah will never forgive them, nor guide them to the straight road

[Al-Quran Surah 4: Verse 137]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ

Surely, Allah does not guide the deviant people (who intend to deviate from the right course).

[Al-Quran Surah 63: Verse 6]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Surely, Allah does not guide the unfair people (who intend to transgress or fall short of propriety).

[Al-Quran Surah 5: Verse 51]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ

Surely, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people (who refuse to acknowledge the Truth and intentionally reject His Guidance).

[Al-Quran Surah 5: Verse 67]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ كَذَّابٌ

Surely, Allah does not guide any extravagant, inveterate liar.

[Al-Quran Surah 40: Verse 28]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ

Surely, Allah does not guide any stubborn disbelieving liar.

[Al-Quran Surah 39: Verse 3]