What is meant by guidance and who attains it in His — Exalted be He — saying: "And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways"? And what is the ruling on those who strove with a sincere intention then deviated from the straight path or went astray, such as some theological sects? And how does one guarantee for oneself not to deviate when seeking knowledge and striving?

The answer can be summarized in several points:

First: The verse, "And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good" (Al-Ankabut: 69), is not exclusive to those who fight in the way of Allah. Rather, it encompasses general striving, which includes striving against oneself, one's desires, Satan, and worldly temptations. Fighting in the way of Allah is considered the greatest form of this striving.

Second: The noble verse clarifies that striving is a means to attain guidance. This principle is reiterated throughout the Holy Quran, where righteous deeds are a cause for guidance, and disobedience is a cause for misguidance and deviation.

Third: A servant's deviation after ostensibly following the path of guidance is not impossible. It occurs due to hidden evil schemes or inner malice, leading to their abandonment and punishment. Ibn Al-Qayyim explained that Allah misguides only the disobedient and the unjust who choose misguidance over guidance. As for the apparent good deeds of the people of Paradise that ultimately lead their doer to Hell, this is due to a hidden affliction or inner deceit that people were unaware of.

Fourth: It is a principle of Ahlus-Sunnah that faith is not invalidated by mere sins and transgressions. A person may have both good deeds and bad deeds, thus being praised and blamed, rewarded and punished, loved and hated. This is the doctrine of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah.

Fifth: Innovations (Bid'ah) are considered misguidance, and the category of innovation is worse than the category of sin, because sin can be repented from, whereas innovation is not easily repented from. Nevertheless, Ahlus-Sunnah do not declare everyone who falls into innovations to be doomed. Some may be excused due to their interpretation or ignorance, and their error may be forgiven or they may even be rewarded for their ijtihad (independent reasoning).