Ar-Rasheed — The Guide to Path of Rectitude
الرَّشِيدُ
Name 98 of the ninety-nine. The Guide to the Right Path
Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is Ar-Rasheed (in Arabic: ٱلْرَّشِيدُ), the one who guides to rectitude.
The root
From the root ra-shin-dal (ر ش د), which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to be directed aright, to be caused to follow the right course, to be directed to take the right way, to be caused to hold a right belief, to adopt the right path.
Reflection
We can find peace in knowing that Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is Al-Rasheed. The guidance that He has provided is divine guidance. He is the unerring director and the infallible teacher. Therefore His direction through the Qur'an and His Messengers (may peace be upon them) is the truth that we seek. We should ask to be rightly guided in all matters.
We should approach each problem we face with the looming thought, what response would please Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ? And to be rightly guided to fulfill then whatever Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ seeks. Sometimes it may not be apparent, but in understanding this name, we can trust the guidance that Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ provided for us is what was best for us anyways.
We should have no regret knowing the actions taken were for the best. In the personal striving to have the best character, we should seek to be rightly guided in our speech, knowledge, justice, and emotions. There is a balance to emotions that require mastery. When we suffer a loss, we are allowed to grieve, but we shouldn't become so hurt that we are unhappy with Allah's qadr.
It's also possible to be rightly guided in anger. For example, anger for the sake of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is justified. It is said the Prophet ﷺ only got angry when the commandments of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ were violated. But this was done eloquently, not to quarrel and publicly humiliate, but to instruct one back to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ.
This requires a level of control and balance only the unique possess. We should ask Allah to be increased in guidance and among those rightly guided in all respects.