Allaah Tied Guidance and Striving together

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:


Allaah (The Most High) said: ‘’As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths.’’ [Al-Ankaboot: Ayah: 69]


 
 
Allaah (subhaanah) tied guidance and striving together, thus the people with the most perfect guidance are those with the greatest striving. And the most obligatory (type) of striving is to strive against the soul, desires, shaytaan and the worldly life.

So whoever strives against these four (affairs), Allaah will guide him to the paths of His pleasure that leads to His Paradise. And whoever abandons striving, he will lose guidance in accordance with what he neglected of striving. Al-Junayd (rahimahullaah) said (with regards to the above ayah Ankaboot Ayah: 69):

‘’Those who strive hard against their desires in (Our Cause) with repentance, We will guide them to the paths of sincerity.’’


It is not possible to strive against the enemy in the open, except for the one who strives against these enemies inwardly.

So whoever is aided against them, he will be victorious against his enemy. And whoever is made to be overcome by them, his enemy will be made victorious over him.

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[Source: Al-Fawaa-d: page:97]