After submission to the will and wish of God; the servant's first request is to be guided to the straight path, which is the road to piety, purity, good deeds and justice.

      A question arises here, that, ``Why should we always ask our Lord, in our daily prayers to, GUIDE US IN THE STRAIGHT PATH? Does it not mean that we are always astray and misled?''

       Our answer to the question is:

      Man, even in the straight path of guidance, is always exposed to erring and slip - every now and then, he may be seduced by devils, and lose his balance and fall down!

      He therefore has to commend himself to the care of God, and pray for truth and evolution.

      As a matter of fact, guidance means to lead the man in the path of EVOLUTION, and gradual perfection, leaving in behind of him, all deficiencies and weak points. Absolute and ideal perfection, only belongs to God, and it seems not so strange even when we see the prophets and the saints too, pray for GOD'S GUIDANCE!

Imam Sadiq (AS) has understood the above VERSE to mean:

      ``Guide us to a path that leads us to Your LOVE and PARADISE, and protect us from our caprices and freaks.''

WHAT IS THE STRAIGHT PATH?

      The straight path is the true religion of God, and obeying God's commandments, as it is found in the HOLY QURÄN through the following verse:

      ``Say my Lord has guided me to the STRAIGHT PATH which is a right religion - the path trod by ABRAHAM, a man of pure faith, who was not of the polytheists.''

QURÄN - S 6:161