The Three Categories of People

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is taken from a transcript of discourse given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

In Surah al-Fatihah, Allah (s.w.t.) Identified three categories of people about whom we make mention of in our swalah and further Identifies one of those categories that we wish to be a part of.  That is those who are being Guided by Allah (s.w.t.) and Receiving His blessings. 

سُوۡرَةُ الفَاتِحَة

صِرَٲطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ (٧) 

The way of those on whom You have Bestowed Your Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath and who go not astray. (Surah al-Fatihah:7) 

The word “ni’mah” denotes to Allah’s (s.w.t.) Blessings.  So in Surah al-Fatihah, we are asking Him to Include us among those persons whom He Bestows His Ni’mah upon.  And we further beg Him to Prevent us from falling into the other two categories of people; those who have gone astray, they know the message but their focus and purpose have been diverted and those who have rejected Allah (s.w.t.) outright.  They have both opened themselves to the Wrath of Allah (s.w.t.). 

We do not want to be misguided nor be the recipient of Allah’s (s.w.t.) Wrath.  We want to be Counted amongst the favourable ones.  This is one reason why we identify Him as the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful.  Because we know that if we sincerely try to earn the Pleasure of Allah (s.w.t.); through His Grace and Mercy, He will Take Care of our affairs.  Our concept of Allah (s.w.t.) is not one of a vengeful God.  Even though much focus is paid by some to Allah’s (s.w.t.) Wrath and constant reference to man as a sinful being; Allah (s.w.t.) is the Most Loving and Most Merciful.  Allah (s.w.t.) says that He connects Himself to His creatures through the quality of Compassion.  We need to always be sincere with our faith and keep Allah (s.w.t.) in our heart and nothing else.  We must recognise Allah (s.w.t.) as That Incomparable and Unimaginable Being. 

When we go higher in the spiritual world, we will understand the importance of sincerity because we can see and feel when a wrong is committed it is damaging to our faith.  We will understand that at that point in time you do not have true faith.  We must keep Allah (s.w.t.) in our heart at all and be sincere about it.  We need His Mercy, Compassion and Forgiveness; and understand that He Knows what is best for us. 

May Allah (s.w.t.) Guide us and Protect us from falling into the hypocritical and misguided categories of people and may He Enable us to successfully get back to Him, insha’Allah.