by Hazrat Amir Dr Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha
“Guide us on the Right Path” is a verse of the first chapter of the Holy Quran, Al Fatiha. This is preceded by attributes of Allah and is the first prayer found in the Holy Text. The straight path is the shortest path which leads man to Allah. The verses which follow asking Allah to save us from going astray like others. We always point to other people who went astray but these verses apply to Muslims also. So, it includes those Muslims who do not act in accordance with the injunctions of the Holy Quran as much as other nations who distorted and corrupted the teachings of their religion.
The verse says: Guide us on the Right Path. It uses the plural rather than the singular. So when saying this prayer one is not only praying for one’s self but for the whole humanity. Islam is the only religion whose most important prayer which is recited in every salaat has a supplication for the whole humanity. It is incumbent upon a Muslim to recite these words otherwise his prayer is incomplete.