وَوَجَدَكَ ضالًّا فَهَدىٰ
Did He not know you to be searching, and guided you?
EXEGESIS
Ḍāllan comes from the root ḍalla, which means to be in a state of total or partial lack of guidance. A person is ḍāll (lacking guidance) either by virtue of rejecting God’s clear signs or by virtue of not having yet received a guidance to which one is fit and ready to accept. Only the second meaning may be conceivable for the Prophet.
Ḍāllan also holds the meaning of being lost in something. Consequently, on one hand, it can mean to be unperceived or hidden like in the expression [unperceived or concealed or] lost in the dust (32:10). With this understanding, many exegetes have taken verse 7 to mean: O Muhammad, you were a precious mark of guidance that was lost and unperceived by your people, so I distinguished you and guided them to you. On the same thread, and with supporting lines of poetry presented by Qurṭubī, ḍāllan can also mean being in love with or in a state of deep yearning for someone or something. Exegetes also provide an example from the Quran, namely verse 12:95. With this understanding, exegetes derived that God knew the Prophet’s genuine yearning for divine guidance and proximity, so He granted these to him.
EXPOSITION
We showed earlier how one of the Messenger of God’s clearest marks of greatness was his reliance on God alone for guidance (34:50, 26:78, 43:27). In return, God poured upon his heart and the heart of his true successors the complete reality of the Holy Quran which is a [full] clarification of all things (16:89).
INSIGHTS FROM HADITH
- Imam Ali (a): ‘Since he [the Prophet] was weaned, God made the greatest of His angels to accompany him (s) who showed him the way of virtues and the best noble traits, night and day.’
[1] Mafahim, 7/63.
[2] Qummi, 2/428.
[3] Qurtubi, 21/97.
[4] Shawkani, 5/558.
[5] Nahj, sermon 192.