The Illuminations of Guidance in Surah Al-An’am :An Exegesis of Verse 125

Abstract

This paper examines the divine verse: “So whoever Allah wills to guide—He opens his heart to Islam; and whoever He wills to leave astray—He makes his breast tight and constricted, as though he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe” (Qur’an, al-Anʿām 6:125). The study aims to extract guiding principles from this verse and to apply its insights to the contemporary crises confronting the Muslim community, which stem from a departure from Qur’anic guidance.

Employing both inductive and analytical methods, the research seeks to uncover the structural coherence and moral vision embedded in the verse. It concludes by urging scholars and seekers of guidance to revive the contemplative methodology of the early generations and to fulfill the Qur’anic command to reflect upon the Divine Word. The paper also recommends institutional initiatives, such as academic competitions on tadabbur (contemplation), to compile collective insights into comprehensive reference works that serve the broader ummah.