Politics In Islam (45): The Path to Restoration: Reconnecting with Divine Guidance

 

Politics in Islam Series

A nation that remains divided, weak, and ineffective—despite tireless efforts and great sacrifices—will never achieve real change unless it fully reconnects with its divine reference point. Success lies in holding fast to God’s guidance, embracing it in obedience and arbitration, and returning to it as the ultimate source of wisdom, solutions, and salvation. Only through this commitment can we steer our ship through the raging storms of uncertainty, navigate the towering waves of adversity, and reach the shores of promised victory and empowerment.


"But whoever is blind in this world will be blind in the Hereafter and even more astray from the path." (Qur’an 17:72)

This verse does not speak of physical blindness but of a far more dangerous affliction—the blindness of insight. It warns of those who fail to recognize the completeness and relevance of the Qur’an in guiding both individuals and societies. Those who refuse to see this truth remain blind in this world and will be resurrected as such on the Day of Judgment—may Allah protect us from such a fate.


The Qur’an outlines three distinct levels of relationship with divine guidance, along with the inevitable fate of those who fall into each category:

  1. Complete detachment from divine guidance

  2. Partial adherence, leading to gradual deviation

  3. Unwavering connection and steadfastness


The final verse in this passage declares that these principles are timeless, a divine law that does not change or favor anyone:

"This was the way of those whom We sent before you of Our messengers, and you will not find any change in Our way." (Qur’an 17:77)


1. Complete Detachment: The Path of Total Deviation

"And indeed, they were about to tempt you away from that which We revealed to you so that you might invent something else against Us, and then they would have taken you as a close friend." (Qur’an 17:73)

This verse describes those who fully detach from divine guidance. It begins by revealing the tactics of the enemies of truth—their relentless efforts to divert people from God’s path. Those who succumb to this pressure and reject the sufficiency of divine law in favor of man-made ideologies and secular systems have severed their connection with divine guidance entirely. They walk away from the straight path, adopting an alternative worldview in direct opposition to God’s command. Such individuals become allies of those who oppose divine truth.


2. Partial Adherence: The Danger of Gradual Deviation

"And had We not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined toward them a little." (Qur’an 17:74)

This verse highlights a subtle but serious issue—partial adherence to divine guidance. Any degree of deviation, no matter how small, compromises one’s connection to the truth. The verse warns that even slight inclinations toward falsehood can have devastating consequences.


God's divine reference point is comprehensive and absolute. It is not enough to believe in it while making small concessions in the name of pragmatism or compromise. Those who justify even a minor departure from divine law—thinking it will bring political gain or societal acceptance—have unknowingly begun a downward spiral.

"They wish that you would compromise with them, so they would compromise with you." (Qur’an 68:9)


The consequence of such a path is failure and divine abandonment:

"Then We would have made you taste double (punishment) in life and double after death, and then you would not find for yourself against Us any helper." (Qur’an 17:75)

This verse makes it clear—victory is reserved only for those who hold firmly to divine guidance without compromise. Those who attempt to balance between truth and falsehood will only find themselves in a cycle of repeated failures. Their efforts will be exhausting yet fruitless, as if the tools they use have lost their effectiveness. This may even be a form of divine punishment, designed to force them to re-evaluate their path and return fully to God’s guidance.


3. Complete Connection: The Path of Steadfastness

"And indeed, they were about to provoke you out of the land to expel you from it, but then they would not have remained after you except for a little." (Qur’an 17:76)

This verse brings us to the third and highest levelabsolute adherence to divine guidance. It describes the inevitable reaction of those who oppose the truth: When they fail to manipulate or deceive those who remain steadfast, they resort to direct hostility. The verse depicts their desperation, as they attempt to forcibly remove the faithful from their position of strength.


But divine law remains unshaken:

  • A slight inclination toward falsehood leads to complete loss: "You almost inclined toward them a little."

  • A small act of steadfastness leads to decisive victory: "They would not have remained after you except for a little."

A person must choose between these two “small” choices—one leading to eternal loss, the other to divine support and triumph.


"This was the way of those whom We sent before you of Our messengers, and you will not find any change in Our way." (Qur’an 17:77)

This final verse seals the message with an undeniable truth: These principles are not subject to change. Every nation that deviated from divine law suffered the same fate—weakness, humiliation, and failure. The current state of the Muslim world is no exception. Our struggles, setbacks, and wasted efforts are not random misfortunes but rather the direct consequence of our failure to fully embrace divine guidance.


Conclusion: The Choice is Ours

The path to success is neither mysterious nor out of reach. It has been clearly defined by God Himself:

  • Reject divine guidance, and you will be lost.

  • Partially follow it, and you will struggle endlessly.

  • Hold onto it completely, and victory is assured.

The question remains—which path will we choose?

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