Who Holds the Reins of Life? The Secret to Human Guidance in a Quranic Verse and a Sermon of Nahj al-Balagha

Why do some people lose control of their decisions along the way, becoming captive to mistakes and temptations, while others consciously choose their path? The Holy Quran, by presenting piety as the foundation of guidance, and Imam Ali (peace be upon him), by likening sins to unbridled horses and piety to a swift mount, offer a thought-provoking answer: reaching the destination requires, above all, the ability to master oneself.

According to the Missionary Thought and Culture Base, piety in the eyes of the Holy Quran does not only mean avoiding sin; Rather, it is a kind of self-awareness, responsibility and the ability to consciously choose the path of life. Just as a skilled rider takes the reins of a horse and directs it to its destination, a pious person does not allow his decisions and behaviors to get out of control under the influence of emotions, temptations, and surrounding circumstances; A concept that has a central position in the verses of the Quran and the words of Amirul Momineen (AS).

piety; The condition of benefiting from the guidance of the Qur'an

At the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, the Holy Quran introduces itself as the source of guidance for the pious; Where he says: "Zhulk al-kitab la riba fieh hodhi lilmutaqeen"; This is a book in which there is no doubt and it is a guide for the pious.

In the explanation of this verse, the difference between "guidance for the believers" and "guidance for the pious" is emphasized. Based on this, piety should not be considered only as a characteristic of a person who has already believed in religion; Rather, this feature can be a basis for finding the truth and moving towards faith.

If a person, even before accepting religion, has cultivated the spirit of self-care, evaluating behaviors and avoiding wrong choices, such an approach can put him on the path of knowing the truth and accepting faith. On the other hand, faith without piety may also be vulnerable to unfavorable conditions and environmental influences and lose its stability.

A pious person rides the horse of life

In its simple and practical meaning, piety can be seen as conscious care of oneself; That a person knows what he is doing, why he makes a decision and makes every move with will, thought and choice.

To clarify this concept, a pious person can be compared to a rider who sits on a walking horse, holds its reins and knows his destination. Such a person consciously chooses his path and does not allow a force outside of his will to pull him in any direction.

On the contrary, someone who has distanced himself from piety may lose control of his decisions and behaviors; Just like a person who rides a rebellious horse, but does not have the skill to guide it. In this situation, although he has the reins in his hand, he does not know how to use them, and in the end, it is the horse that determines his direction.

This image is the central theme of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali's speech in the 16th sermon of Nahj al-Balagha; Where mistakes and sins are likened to unruly horses whose reins have been removed and lead their riders to the fire, while piety has become like tame and walking elephants whose reins are in the hands of the riders and lead them to heaven.

piety; A practical way to make everyday choices

With such an understanding of piety, moving in the right direction of life can become clearer and more attainable; However, this path is not always easy and requires practice, precision and determination.

For a young person, living an Islamic life does not necessarily begin with big decisions and complex actions; Rather, it can be formed in everyday choices. Before doing something, a person should ask himself if this behavior is right or wrong; Is this friendship, this word, this decision, this lesson or this action compatible with moral and human standards or not?

This pause and review is an effort to take care of oneself and a step on the path of piety. It is important that a person is not indifferent to his behavior and thinks about its correctness and consequences before making any choice.

This approach is not limited to people who consider themselves religious from the beginning. A person who has not yet believed in religion, but seeks to distinguish right from wrong and feels responsible for his actions, can move towards knowing the truth from this point.

From this point of view, piety is not only the result of faith, but it can also be the basis for its formation and strengthening. On the other hand, if a person has faith but is not careful in his behavior and decisions, his belief stability may also be affected by the environment and life conditions.

Nahj al-Balagha; Piety, control of error and human guidance

In the 16th sermon of Nahj al-Balagha, Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s.) clearly outlines the consequences of the two paths of piety and sin. In this word, piety is likened to a tame inkwell that the rider has control over; On the other hand, mistakes and sins are depicted as unruly horses that lead people to an undesirable end by breaking the reins.

In the continuation of the same sermon, Imam Ali (a.s.) emphasizes the importance of adhering to the Book of God and the works of the Prophet (s.a.w.), referring to deviant paths and the middle path, and introduces piety as a firm root that cannot be destroyed.

The message of these words is that in order to reach the desired destination, a person does not only need motivation or a claim of faith; But he must also acquire the ability to guide his behavior and decisions. Knowing the right path, continuously taking care of yourself and correcting mistakes is an important part of this movement.

The result of these teachings is that piety should be seen beyond a set of abstinences and restrictions. Piety is a kind of alertness to choices, paying attention to the consequences of behavior and the ability to maintain discretion in the path of life.

Just as a rider must know the path and have a compound harness in order to reach the destination, a human being must have self-awareness and discernment to move on the path of truth.

In the second verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, the Holy Qur'an calls this book "Hodhi for the pious"; It introduces the guidance of the pious. This interpretation is a reminder that taking advantage of divine guidance is connected with the inner preparation of a person, taking care of behavior and the will to move in the right direction.

Finally, piety can be seen as the daily practice of conscious choice; An exercise that begins with small decisions, expands in human behavior and relationships, and can be the basis for the steadfastness of faith and movement towards a brighter destination.

- Holy Quran, Surah Baqarah, verse 2.

- Statements of the Martyr Leader in a group meeting with the youth, May 7, 1377.