Rope of Allah and the Straight Path

لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٢٥٦

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the Wrong Path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut, and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most Trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 256

• Literally taghut means anyone who exceeds his legitimate limits. In the Quranic terminology, however, it refers to the creature that exceeds the limits of his creatureliness and arrogates to himself godhead and lordship. That way, taghut means anything worshipped other than Allah – it may be Satan, devils, idols, stones, sun, stars, angels, human beings, who were falsely worshipped and taken as taghut. Likewise, saints, graves, rulers and leaders are also falsely worshipped.
• There are three stages of man’s transgression and rebellion against Allah:

1. The first stage is that one acknowledges in principle that obedience to Allah is right, but disregards it in practice. This is Fisq (transgression).
2. The second stage is that one not only disobeys but also rejects obedience in principle, and thus either refuses to become the subject of anyone at all or adopts someone other than Allah as the object of service and devotion. This is Kufr (infidelity)
3. The third stage is that one not only rebels against one’s Lord but also imposes one’s own will (in disregard of the Will of the Lord) on Allah’s world and Allah’s creatures. Anyone who reaches such a point is termed taghut and no one can be a true believer in Allah unless the authority of such a taghut (evil one) is rejected.

• Mujahid said that “the most trustworthy handhold is Iman (faith)” As Suddi said it refers to Islam. The verse implies also that Tawheed (belief that God is one) is the most trustworthy handhold. A person acquiring tawheed acquires firmness (in the religion) and proceeds on the correct way and the straight path. He will have hold of the true religion with the strongest grasp

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُوهُۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٞ مُّسۡتَقِيمٞ ٥١

[Jesus (Eesa) said] Truly! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path.

Surah 3 Al-Imran Verse 51

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن تُطِيعُواْ فَرِيقٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ يَرُدُّوكُم بَعۡدَ إِيمَٰنِكُمۡ كَٰفِرِينَ ١٠٠ وَكَيۡفَ تَكۡفُرُونَ وَأَنتُمۡ تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ ءَايَٰتُ ٱللَّهِ وَفِيكُمۡ رَسُولُهُۥۗ وَمَن يَعۡتَصِم بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ هُدِيَ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ١٠١

O you who believe! If you obey a group of those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians), they would (indeed) render you disbelievers after you have believed! And how would you disbelieve, while unto you are recited the Verses of Allah, and among you is His Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh)! And whoever holds firmly to Allah, (i.e., follows Islam, Allah’s Religion, and obeys all that Allah has ordered, practically), then he is indeed guided to a Right Path.

Surah 3 Al-Imran Verses 100-101

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ ١٠٢ وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعٗا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْۚ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَآءٗ فَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦٓ إِخۡوَٰنٗا وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٖ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡهَاۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ ١٠٣

O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam. And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s favour on you… Surah 3 Al-Imran Verses 102-103

• ‘Fear’ (Taqwa): that Allah is obeyed and not defied, remembered and not forgotten and appreciated and not unappreciated.
• ‘Rope of Allah’: refers to Allah’s covenant, as also to the religion of Allah, as also to Quran.
• The reason for the use of the word rope (habl) is that it both establishes a bond between man and Allah, and also joins all believers together. To take a firm hold on this rope means that the believers should attach profound importance to their religion; this should always be the centre of their concerns, they should continually strive to establish it, and the common desire to serve it should make them co-operate with each other.
• Narrated Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘It pleases Allah for you to acquire three qualities and displeases Him that you acquire three characteristics. It pleases him that:

1. You worship Him Alone and not associate anything or anyone with Him in worship
2. You hold on to the Rope of Allah altogether and do not divide; and
3. You advise whoever Allah appoints as your leader

The three that displeases Him are that:

1. You say, ‘It was said’, and, ‘So and so said’
2. Asking many unnecessary questions; and
3. Wasting money’

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعۡ غَيۡرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصۡلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَۖ وَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرًا ١١٥

And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verse 115

• ‘believers’ way’ – refers to what the Ummah of Muhammad, pbuh, has agreed on
• When one goes on the wicked path (defying Allah), Allah will punish him by making the evil path appear good in his heart and will beautify it for him so that he is tempted further

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ وَٱعۡتَصَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَأَخۡلَصُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لِلَّهِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَۖ وَسَوۡفَ يُؤۡتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا ١٤٦ مَّا يَفۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمۡ إِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ وَءَامَنتُمۡۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمٗا ١٤٧

Except those who repent (from hypocrisy), do righteous good deeds, hold fast to Allah, and purify their religion for Allah then they will be with the believers. And Allah will grant the believers a great reward. Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verses 146-147

• ‘purify their religion’ means to make one’s faith exclusively for Allah, by worshipping none but Allah, and do good for Allah’s sake, not to show off.
• Narrated Abdullah bin Amr that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics, will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives up:

1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays (proves dishonest)

2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie

3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous

4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent evil and insulting manner’

• ‘thanked’ (Shukr) denotes an acknowledgement of benefaction and a feeling of gratitude. Shukr to Allah requires:

1 That a person should ascribe the benefaction to its real source, letting no one share in either the gratitude or the acknowledgement of benevolence.

2 That his heart should be overflowing with love for and loyalty to, the Benefactor, and that he should have no attachment to His opponents.

3 That he should obey the Benefactor and should not use His bounties contrary to His directives.

• ‘All-Appreciative’ (Shakir) means Allah is appreciative of the services which His servants have rendered and will recompense them liberally

فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱعۡتَصَمُواْ بِهِۦ فَسَيُدۡخِلُهُمۡ فِي رَحۡمَةٖ مِّنۡهُ وَفَضۡلٖ وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَيۡهِ صِرَٰطٗا مُّسۡتَقِيمٗا ١٧٥

So as for those who believed in Allah and held fast to Him, He will admit them to His Mercy and Grace and guide them to Himself by a Straight Path.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verse 175

• Holding fast signifies worshipping Him and relying on Him for each and every thing. Ibn Jurayj said that it means they believe in Allah and hold fast to the Quran.
• ‘Straight path’ is a clear way that has no wickedness in it or deviation

۞وَلَقَدۡ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ وَبَعَثۡنَا مِنۡهُمُ ٱثۡنَيۡ عَشَرَ نَقِيبٗاۖ وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ إِنِّي مَعَكُمۡۖ لَئِنۡ أَقَمۡتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَيۡتُمُ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَءَامَنتُم بِرُسُلِي وَعَزَّرۡتُمُوهُمۡ وَأَقۡرَضۡتُمُ ٱللَّهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنٗا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمۡ سَيِّ‍َٔاتِكُمۡ وَلَأُدۡخِلَنَّكُمۡ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمۡ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ١٢

Indeed, Allah took the covenant from the Children of Israel (Jews), and We appointed twelve leaders among them. And Allah said: “I am with you if you perform As-Salat (the prayer) and give Zakat (obligatory charity) and believe in My Messengers; honour and assist them, and lend to Allah a good loan. Verily, I will remit your sins and admit you to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise). But if any of you after this, disbelieved, he has indeed gone astray from the Straight Path.”

Surah 5 Al-Maidah Verse 12

يَٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ قَدۡ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ كَثِيرٗا مِّمَّا كُنتُمۡ تُخۡفُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَيَعۡفُواْ عَن كَثِيرٖۚ قَدۡ جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٞ وَكِتَٰبٞ مُّبِينٞ ١٥ يَهۡدِي بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَٰنَهُۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَٰمِ وَيُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ١٦

…Indeed, there has come to you (O people of the Scriptures) from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad, pbuh) and a plain Book (this Quran). Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will to light and guides him to the Straight Way.

Surah 5 Al-Mai’dah Verse 15-16

• ‘ways of peace’ – meaning, ways of safety and righteousness. Safety here denotes safety from false perceptions and outlook, safety from misdeeds and their consequences. Whoever seeks guidance from the Book of Allah and from the example of the Messenger (pbuh) can find out how to keep himself safe from errors at each of life’s crossroads

وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا صُمّٞ وَبُكۡمٞ فِي ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِۗ مَن يَشَإِ ٱللَّهُ يُضۡلِلۡهُ وَمَن يَشَأۡ يَجۡعَلۡهُ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٣٩

Those who reject the Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs) are deaf and dumb in the darkness. Allah sends astray whom He wills and He guides on a Straight Path whom He wills.

Surah 6 Al-Anam Verse 39

فَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَهۡدِيَهُۥ يَشۡرَحۡ صَدۡرَهُۥ لِلۡإِسۡلَٰمِۖ وَمَن يُرِدۡ أَن يُضِلَّهُۥ يَجۡعَلۡ صَدۡرَهُۥ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجٗا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّجۡسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ١٢٥ وَهَٰذَا صِرَٰطُ رَبِّكَ مُسۡتَقِيمٗاۗ قَدۡ فَصَّلۡنَا ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لِقَوۡمٖ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ١٢٦

And whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam; and whosoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up the sky. Thus, Allah puts the wrath on those who believe not. And this is the path of your Lord (the Quran and Islam) leading straight. We have detailed Our Revelations for a people who take heed.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verses 125-126

• ‘Rijs (wrath)’ refers to the Shaytan appointed for him to misguide and he lures and hinders him from the path of Allah
• Man, in himself, constitutes a microcosm of society. He has innumerable powers and potentialities, myriad desires, feelings and inclinations, and a host of divergent urges. Social life consists of a huge network of complex relationships, and with the growth of civilization and culture the complexity of these relationships increases. There is also a rich fund of resources in the world and there are countless possibilities for their utilization; as a result man is confronted with a plethora of choices and problems. The fact that man has his inherent limitations means that he is incapable of viewing in one sweep and in a balanced way the entire span of existence. Hence man is in no position to prescribe for his kind a judicious way of life – a way of life wherein justice is done to all his powers and capacities; in which a wholesome balance is maintained between all his inherent potentialities; in which all his urges are given their due; in which two-fold need for inner satisfaction and external self-realisation is fully met; in which

THE STRAIGHT PATH

various aspects of human life are taken into proper consideration, giving birth to an integrated system with a built-in capacity to harmonize the multifarious strains and stresses of social life; in which material resources are fully exploited in the best interests of both the individual and the society, and within the framework of equity, justice and righteousness. Thus, all courses of life charted by man himself are winding and crooked. They move in the wrong direction, reach the wrong end and then turn back in another wrong direction. Among these numerous ways – all false – there is just one way that lies exactly in the middle. This way is ‘Straight’ without crookedness, straight on to his success, right from this world to the Hereafter. The Quran designates this way as Sawa-al-sabil (the Right Way) […Whosoever of you

disbelieves thereafter has indeed gone astray from the right way V 5:12] or Al-sirat al mustaqim (the Straight Way) […Guide us to the Straight Way V 1:6]. Whoever goes along it enjoys rectitude in this world and success and felicity in the Next, but whoever loses this road is bound to become a victim of false beliefs and false ways of conduct and thus comes to have a wrong orientation in life.

• Guidance (in V 1:6) is of two kinds:

1. Guidance of Taufiq and it is totally from Allah i.e. Allah opens one’s heart to receive the truth
2. Guidance of Irshad through preaching by Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and pious preachers who preach the truth

۞قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ أَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡۖ أَلَّا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡ‍ٔٗاۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنٗاۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُم مِّنۡ إِمۡلَٰقٖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُكُمۡ وَإِيَّاهُمۡۖ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا وَمَا بَطَنَۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُواْ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِي حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ١٥١ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ مَالَ ٱلۡيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥۚ وَأَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡكَيۡلَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۖ وَإِذَا قُلۡتُمۡ فَٱعۡدِلُواْ وَلَوۡ كَانَ ذَا قُرۡبَىٰۖ وَبِعَهۡدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡفُواْۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ ١٥٢ وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطِي مُسۡتَقِيمٗا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ ١٥٣

Say (O Muhammad, pbuh): ‘Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty’ – We provide sustenance for you and for them – ‘Come not near Al-Fawahish whether committed openly or secretly; and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic Law). This He has commanded you that you may understand. And come not near to the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice’ – We burden not any person, but that which he can bear – ‘And whenever you give your word (evidence) say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfil the Covenant of Allah. This He commands you that you may remember’. And verily, this is My Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqun’.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verses 151-153

• Al-Fawahish – great sins and illegal sexual intercourse. It applies to all those acts whose abominable character is self evident. In the Quran all extra marital sexual relationships, sodomy, nudity, false accusations to chastity and taking as one’s wife a woman who has been married to one’s father, are specifically reckoned as ‘shameful deeds’ (fawahish). In Hadith, theft, taking intoxicating drinks and begging have been characterised as fawahish as have many other brazenly indecent acts.
• Associating none with Allah – in His Divinity (Essence, Attributes, Powers); nor in the rights He has against His creatures.

Instances of associating others in Allah’s Attributes are beliefs that someone (other than Allah):

• Knows the mysteries of the unseen

• Is all-seeing and all-hearing
• Is free of all defects and weaknesses

Instances of associating others in Allah’s Authority are:

• Belief that someone has the power to either benefit or harm people in supernatural manner
• Belief that someone can fulfil the needs of people and rescue them from distress, to protect and shield them, to hear their prayers, to make or mar their fate
• Recognition of someone as possessing the rightful authority to determine what is lawful and what is unlawful, and to make laws for the regulation of human life

Instances of associating others in Allah’s Rights are:

• Recognition of someone as legitimately deserving that which may be asked of man by Allah alone, as in: bowing and prostration; standing in awe and reverence with folded hands; vowing offerings in his name etc
• To love someone (to the exclusion of all other attachments) or to hold in such awe that one always fears his wrath and dreads the violation of his command both openly and in secret
• (other than Allah) considering somebody’s guidance to be the criterion of right and wrong

• ‘just cause’ – three cases have been embodied in the Quran whereas two additional cases have been stated by the Prophet (pbuh). The cases mentioned in the Quran are:

1. That a man is convicted of deliberate homicide and thus the claim of retaliation is established against him
2. That someone resists the establishment of the true faith so that fighting against him might be necessary
3. That someone is guilty of spreading disorder in the Domain of Islam and strives to overthrow the Islamic order of government

The two cases mentioned in the Hadith are:

1. That a person commits illegitimate sexual intercourse even after marriage
2. That a Muslim is guilty of apostasy and rebellion against the Muslim body-politic

Except for these five reasons, slaying a human being is not permissible, regardless of whether he is a believer, a protected non-Muslim (dhimmi) or an ordinary unbeliever

• ‘Covenant of Allah’ signifies, in the first place, the commitment to Allah as well as to human beings, to which man binds himself in His name. It also signifies the covenant between man and Allah, as well as between one human being and another which automatically takes place the moment a person is born into earth and into human society. The first two covenants are voluntary and deliberate whereas the last one is natural
• The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Whoever fulfils (this pledge, as mentioned in the Ayah) then his reward will be with Allah, but whoever fell into shortcomings and Allah punishes him for it in this life, then that will be his recompense. Whoever Allah delays (his reckoning) until the Hereafter, then his matter is with Allah. If He wills, He will punish him and if He wills, He will forgive him’
• ‘burden …to bear’ – whoever strives while pursuing his rights and giving others people’s full rights, then there is no sin on him if he commits an honest mistake after trying his best and striving to do what is right
• Fulfilling the covenant – you will do so when you obey Him in what He commanded, refrain from what He prohibited and abide by His Book and the Sunnah of His Messesnger (pbuh). This constitutes the fulfilling of the Covenant of Allah
• Narrated An-Nawwas bin Sam’an that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Allah has given a parable of the straight path, and on the two sides of this path, there are two walls containing doorways. On these doorways, there are curtains that are lowered down. On the gate of this path there is a caller heralding, “O People! Come and enter the straight path all together and do not divide” There is also another caller that heralds from above the path, who says when a person wants to remove the curtains of any of these doors, “Woe to you! Do not open this door, for if you open it, you will enter it” The (straight) path is Islam, the two walls are Allah’s set limits, the open doors lead to Allah’s prohibitions, the caller on the gate of the path is Allah’s Book (the Quran), while the caller from above the path is Allah’s admonition in the heart of every Muslim’

قَالَ فَبِمَآ أَغۡوَيۡتَنِي لَأَقۡعُدَنَّ لَهُمۡ صِرَٰطَكَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ ١٦ ثُمَّ لَأٓتِيَنَّهُم مِّنۢ بَيۡنِ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهِمۡ وَعَنۡ أَيۡمَٰنِهِمۡ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمۡۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ شَٰكِرِينَ ١٧

(Iblis) said: ‘Because You have sent me astray, surely, I will lie in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones’.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verses 16-17

• This was the challenge thrown down by Satan to Allah. What it meant is that Satan would make use of the respite granted to him until the Last Day, and he would do so in order to prove that man did not deserve a position superior to his. The respite includes not only the time but also the opportunity to mislead man and to prove his point by appealing to man’s weaknesses. At the same time it has also been made quite clear that Satan was not granted the power to lead man into error against their will (V 17:65). Thus all that Satan can do is to cause misunderstanding, to make people cherish false illusions, to make evil and error seem attractive, and to invite people to evil ways by holding out to them the promise of immense pleasure and material benefits. Accordingly, the Quran makes it quite plain that on the Day of Judgement, Satan would address men who had followed him in the words (V 14:22)

[For V17:65 and V14:22 refer to the chapter on Shaitan]

• Ibn Abbas commented on the meanings:

• ‘I will come to them from before them’ – raising doubts in them concerning the Hereafter
• ‘and (from) behind them’ – making them more eager for this life
• ‘from their right’ – causing them confusion in the religion
• ‘and from their left’ – luring them to commit sins

The Satan did not say that he will come from above them because the mercy descends from above

• ‘You will not find most of them as thankful ones’ – means, those who single Him out (in worship); Also, that they will not be dutiful to you. When Shaitan said this, it was a guess and assumption on his part. Yet, the truth turned out to be the same, for Allah said in the Quran:

وَلَقَدۡ صَدَّقَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ إِبۡلِيسُ ظَنَّهُۥ فَٱتَّبَعُوهُ إِلَّا فَرِيقٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٢٠ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ عَلَيۡهِم مِّن سُلۡطَٰنٍ إِلَّا لِنَعۡلَمَ مَن يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ مِمَّنۡ هُوَ مِنۡهَا فِي شَكّٖۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ حَفِيظٞ ٢١

‘And indeed Iblis (Satan) did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of true believers (in the Oneness of Allah). And he (Satan) had no authority over them except that We might test him who believes in the Hereafter, from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is a Hafiz (Watchful) over everything’ Surah 34 Saba Verses 20-21

سَأَصۡرِفُ عَنۡ ءَايَٰتِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ كُلَّ ءَايَةٖ لَّا يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ سَبِيلَ ٱلرُّشۡدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلٗا وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ سَبِيلَ ٱلۡغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلٗاۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِنَا وَكَانُواْ عَنۡهَا غَٰفِلِينَ ١٤٦

I shall turn away from My Ayat (proofs, signs, verses of the Quran) those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right, and (even) if they see all the Ayat (proofs, signs) they will not believe in them. And if they see the way of righteousness (monotheism, piety and good deeds), they will not adopt it as the Way, but if they see the way of error (polytheism, crime and evil deeds), they will adopt that way, that is because they have rejected Our Ayat and were heedless (to learn a lesson) from them.

Surah 7 Al-A’raf Verse 146

• Allah says “I shall deprive the hearts of those who are too proud to obey Me, and arrogant with people without right, from understanding the signs and proofs that testify to My Might, Law and Commandments”. Sufyan bin Uyaynah commented on this Ayah, “(Allah says) I shall snatch away comprehension of the Quran from them and turn them away from My Ayat”

• It is Allah’s law that evil-doers do not and cannot take any lesson from the otherwise instructive events which they observe. The arrogance mentioned here refers to man’s delusion that he is on a higher plane than Allah’s creatures and servants

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا وَرَضُواْ بِٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱطۡمَأَنُّواْ بِهَا وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا غَٰفِلُونَ ٧ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَأۡوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ ٨ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ يَهۡدِيهِمۡ رَبُّهُم بِإِيمَٰنِهِمۡۖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهِمُ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ فِي جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ٩

Verily, those who hope not for their Meeting with Us, but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present world, and those who are heedless of Our Ayat (signs, evidences). Those, their abode will be Fire, because of what they used to earn. Verily, those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, their Lord will guide them through their Faith; under them will flow rivers in the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).

Surah 10 Yunus Verse 7-9

• The promise is that Allah will guide them because of their faith, or it may mean through their faith. As to the first interpretation, the meaning is that Allah will guide them on the Day of Resurrection to the Straight Path until they pass into Paradise because of their faith in this world. The other meaning is that their faith will assist them on the Day of Resurrection (by the Will of Allah)
• The verse calls for serious reflection. The sequence of ideas presented here is also quite significant because answers have been systematically provided to a number of highly relevant basic questions, as:

Q: Why will the righteous enter Paradise?

A: Because they have followed the Straight Path in their worldly life

Q: How were the righteous able to know the Straight Path?

A: Allah guided them to it as a reward

Q: Why did Allah reward them?

A: The reward is in consideration for a faith that became the moving spirit of a believer’s character and personality. However, the wholesome results as above can only be produced by a faith which deeply permeates man’s entire being, shaping his mental outlook, even becoming his instinct; a faith which is fully reflected in his character, conduct and outlook on life

وَٱللَّهُ يَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ دَارِ ٱلسَّلَٰمِ وَيَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٢٥

Allah calls to the Home of Peace (Paradise) and guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.

Surah 10 Yunus Verse 25

• Narrated Abu Ad-Darda that the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Two angels descend every day in which the sun rises and say that which all Allah’s creatures would hear except jinn and humans: “O People! Come to your Lord! Anything little and sufficient is better than a lot but distractive”’

قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَغۡوَيۡتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَأُغۡوِيَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٣٩ إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنۡهُمُ ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ ٤٠ قَالَ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ عَلَيَّ مُسۡتَقِيمٌ ٤١ إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيۡسَ لَكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ سُلۡطَٰنٌ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡغَاوِينَ ٤٢ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوۡعِدُهُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٤٣

[Iblis (Satan)] said: ‘O my Lord! Because You misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on earth, and I shall mislead them all. Except your chosen (guided) slaves among them’ (Allah) said: ‘This is a way which will lead straight to Me. Certainly, you shall have no authority over My slaves except those who follow you of the Ghawun. And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all’.

Surah 15 Al-Hijr Verses 39-43

• Satan said that he would make the ephemeral benefits and advantages of worldly life so attractive to man that he would forget all about his vicegerency of Allah and His accountability to Him in the Hereafter. Men will thus either altogether forget Allah or if they do remember Him, they will violate His command
• Ghawun – those who go astray
• The basic idea of the verse (V 15:42) is that worshipping Allah constitutes the true way that leads man to Allah. Satan is unable to exercise any dominating influence over the people who chose to follow this way. Allah shall choose such people for Himself. Satan also acknowledges that he is unable to lead such people astray. However, those who disobey Allah will lose the road to their felicity and success. They will fall prey to Satan, will follow him blindly, and will be vulnerable to all his contriving

وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ قَصۡدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمِنۡهَا جَآئِرٞۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ ٩

And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path. But there are ways that turn aside. And had he willed, He would have guided you all.

Surah 16 An-Nahl Verse 9

• ‘responsibility’ – it is up to Allah to clarify, to explain the guidance and misguidance. Allah does so through the Quran
• ‘ways’ – are different belief systems like Judaism, Christianity and various opinions and whims

وَإِذَآ أَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ أَعۡرَضَ وَنَ‍َٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ كَانَ يَ‍ُٔوسٗا ٨٣

And when We bestow Our Grace on man (the disbeliever), he turns away and becomes arrogant (far away from the Right Path). And when evil touches him he is in great despair.

Surah 17 Al-Isra Verse 83

وَيَزِيدُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱهۡتَدَوۡاْ هُدٗىۗ وَٱلۡبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابٗا وَخَيۡرٞ مَّرَدًّا ٧٦

And Allah increases in guidance those who walk aright. And the righteous good deeds that last are better with your Lord for reward and better for resort.

Surah 19 Maryam Verse 76

• Whenever adherents of truth are put to test, Allah grants them the ability to judge correctly and to follow the right path. Allah also protects them from evil and from error. They are constantly helped by Allah’s guidance which enables them to proceed ahead along the right path
• ‘resort’ – final outcome; conducive to a better end

وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهِۦ فَتُخۡبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٥٤

And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it (the Quran) is the truth from your Lord, so that they may believe therein, and their hearts may submit to it with humility. And verily, Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to a Straight Path.

Surah 22 Al-Hajj Verse 54

• Allah made Satan’s evil designs a means of testing people so that those who are righteous may be distinguished from those who are evil. In the nature of things, those whose minds have been corrupted derive wrong conclusions from such things and thus in turn become a means of misleading them. As for those whose minds are straight those very things lead them to confirm the truthfulness of Allah’s Prophets and His Books.
• ‘Allah is the Guide’ – means, in this world and the Hereafter. In this world, He guides them to truth and helps them to follow it and to resist and avoid falsehood; in the Hereafter, He will guide them to the straight path which leads to the degrees of Paradise, and He will save them from the painful torment and the dismal levels of Hell

وَإِنَّكَ لَتَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٧٣ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ عَنِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ لَنَٰكِبُونَ ٧٤

And certainly, you (O Muhammad, pbuh) call them to the Straight Path. And verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter are deviating far astray from the path.

Surah 23 Al-Muminun Verse 73-74

• The real reason why people deviate from the right path is because they do not believe in the Hereafter; they think that no account would be taken from them of what they are doing in this world. Therefore, it did not matter whether they followed the truth or falsehood. Their only aim in life is to gratify the lusts of the flesh and gratify them in the best way possible.

لَّقَدۡ أَنزَلۡنَآ ءَايَٰتٖ مُّبَيِّنَٰتٖۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَهۡدِي مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٤٦

We have indeed sent down (in this Quran) manifest Ayat. And Allah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.

Surah 24 An-Nur Verse 46

• ‘Ayat’ – refers to proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, clear and unambiguous rulings, words of wisdom and parables, lawful and unlawful things, and set the boundaries of Islamic religion, that make things clear (showing the right path of Allah)

وَيَوۡمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيۡهِ يَقُولُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي ٱتَّخَذۡتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلٗا ٢٧ يَٰوَيۡلَتَىٰ لَيۡتَنِي لَمۡ أَتَّخِذۡ فُلَانًا خَلِيلٗا ٢٨ لَّقَدۡ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ ٱلذِّكۡرِ بَعۡدَ إِذۡ جَآءَنِيۗ وَكَانَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ لِلۡإِنسَٰنِ خَذُولٗا ٢٩ وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوۡمِي ٱتَّخَذُواْ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ مَهۡجُورٗا ٣٠

And (remember) the Day when the Zalim (wrong doer, oppressor, polytheist) will bite at his hands, he will say: ‘Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh) Ah! Woe to me! Would that I have never taken so-and-so as a khalil! He indeed let me astray from the Reminder (the Quran) after it had come to me. And Shaitan is to man ever a deserter in the hour of need’. And the Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh) will say: ‘O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Quran’.

Surah 25 Al-Furqan Verses 27-30

• ‘my people deserted this Quran’ – the Arabic word mahjur has more than one meaning. Taken as a derivative of hajr, it means that which is ignored. There are various forms of ignoring (deserting or forsaking) the Quran, as:

1. Rejecting it and not believing in it
2. Not pondering over its meaning nor trying to understand it
3. Not acting upon it i.e. neither following its commandments nor heeding its prohibitions
4. Turning away from it in favour of poetry or songs or idle talk or some other way

وَعَادٗا وَثَمُودَاْ وَقَد تَّبَيَّنَ لَكُم مِّن مَّسَٰكِنِهِمۡۖ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ فَصَدَّهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَكَانُواْ مُسۡتَبۡصِرِينَ ٣٨

And Ad and Thamud (people)! And indeed (their destruction) is clearly apparent to you from their (ruined) dwellings. Shaitan (Satan) made their deeds fair-seeming to them, and turned them away from the (Right) path, though they were intelligent.

Surah 29 Al-Ankabut Verse 38

• ‘though they were intelligent’ – They were not ignorant fools; rather they were a shrewd people, well skilled in the management of worldly affairs. It cannot, therefore, be said that Satan had cast a spell on them, made them blind to facts, robbed them of their ability to think rationally, or that he forced them to follow his way. The fact is that they knowingly chose the way shown to them by Satan because it contained the promise of many benefits and much pleasure. They, therefore, deliberately rejected the way shown by the Prophets for they found it hard and unattractive in view of its many stringent moral interdictions

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٦٩

As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths. And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun.

Surah 29 Al-Ankabut Verse 69

• Those who act upon what they know, Allah will guide them to that path which they do not know, and thus help them to follow true path in this world and the Hereafter.
• Here it is being reassured that Allah does not leave alone those who strive in His cause sincerely, even at the risk of a conflict with the entire world, but He helps and guides them and opens for them ways towards Himself. He teaches them at every step the way of winning His approval and goodwill and He shows them the light at every turning point to discriminate between the right way and the wrong ways of life. In short, Allah helps and succors and guides them according to their sincerity and intensity of desire for goodness.
• ‘Muhsinun’ – narrated Ash Shabi: “Isa bin Maryam (pbuh) said: ‘righteousness means doing good to those who ill-treat you, it does not mean doing good to those who do good to you’.”

فَأَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفٗاۚ فِطۡرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِي فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيۡهَاۚ لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِخَلۡقِ ٱللَّهِۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٣٠

So set you (O Muhammad, pbuh) your face towards the religion of pure Islamic Monotheism Hanifa (worship none but Allah Alone) Allah’s Fitrah (i.e., Allah’s Original Disposition), with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in Khalqillah (i.e., the Religion of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most of men know not.

Surah 30 Ar-Rum Verse 30

• Fitrah - All human beings have been created on the nature that none but One Allah is their Creator and Lord and Deity. One should be steadfast on this nature. If one adopts the attitude of independence, he will be following a way opposed to his nature, and if one serves and worships another besides Allah, then he will be working against his nature. This subject has been explained by the Prophet (pbuh) in a number of Ahadith. According to Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Every child who is born, is born on the human nature; it is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian, etc. afterwards. Its example is that of an animal which gives birth to complete and sound young ones, none is born with torn and cut off ears, but the mushriks tear their ears afterwards on account of their superstitions of ignorance”. According to another Hadith reported in Musnad Ahmad and Nasai, the Muslims in a war killed the children of the enemy. When the Prophet (pbuh) came to know of it, he became very angry, and said: “What has happened to the people that they have transgressed the limits and killed even the children?” A man said, “Were they not the children of the Mushriks?” The Prophet (pbuh) replied: “Even the best of your people are the children of the mushriks!” Then he said: “Every living being is born on the nature: then when he becomes able to speak, his parents turn him into a Jew or a Christian”. In another Hadith which has been reported by lmam Ahmad on the authority of Ayad bin Himar-ul-Mujashii, it has been related that one day the Prophet (pbuh) said during an address: “My Lord says: I had created all My servants on true faith; then the satans came and led them astray from their faith, and made unlawful what I had made lawful for them, and commanded them to associate with Me those for whom I have sent down no authority.”

فَأَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ ٱلۡقَيِّمِ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَ يَوۡمٞ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِۖ يَوۡمَئِذٖ يَصَّدَّعُونَ ٤٣

مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيۡهِ كُفۡرُهُۥۖ وَمَنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمۡ يَمۡهَدُونَ ٤٤

So, set you (O Muhammad, pbuh) your face to the straight and right religion, before there comes from Allah a Day which none can avert (Day of Judgement). On that Day men shall be divided. Whosoever disbelieves will suffer from his disbelief, and whosoever does righteous good deeds, then such will prepare a good place for themselves (in Paradise).

Surah 30 Ar-Rum Verses 43-44

۞وَمَن يُسۡلِمۡ وَجۡهَهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٞ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ ٢٢

And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allah, while he is a Muhsin (good-doer i.e., performs good deeds totally for Allah’s sake without any show-off or to gain praise or fame etc. and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger Muhammad, pbuh), then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah return all matters for decision.

Surah 31 Luqman Verse 22

وَيَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَيَهۡدِيٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ

ٱلۡحَمِيدِ ٦

And those who have been given knowledge see that what is revealed to you (O Muhammad, pbuh) from your Lord is the truth, and that it guides to the path of the Exalted in might, the Owner of all praise.

Surah 34 Saba Verse 6

۞أَلَمۡ أَعۡهَدۡ إِلَيۡكُمۡ يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ أَن لَّا تَعۡبُدُواْ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ مُّبِينٞ ٦٠ وَأَنِ ٱعۡبُدُونِيۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٞ مُّسۡتَقِيمٞ ٦١

Did I not ordain for you, O Children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaitan (Satan)? Verily, he is a plain enemy to you. And that you should worship Me (Alone Islamic Monotheism, and set up not rivals, associate-gods with Me). That is a Straight Path.

Surah 36 Ya-Sin Verse 60-61

قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٞ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞ فَٱسۡتَقِيمُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُوهُۗ وَوَيۡلٞ لِّلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ ٦

Say (O Muhammad, pbuh): “I am only a human being like you. It is inspired in me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God - Allah), therefore take Straight Path to Him and obedience to Him, and seek forgiveness of Him. And woe to Al-Mushrikun (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, idolaters).

Surah 41 Fussilat Verse 6

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ رُوحٗا مِّنۡ أَمۡرِنَاۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدۡرِي مَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ وَلَا ٱلۡإِيمَٰنُ وَلَٰكِن جَعَلۡنَٰهُ نُورٗا نَّهۡدِي بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَاۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهۡدِيٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٥٢

And thus, We have sent to you (O Muhammad, pbuh) Ruh of Our Command. You knew not what is the Book, nor what is Faith. But We have made it (this Quran) a light wherewith We guide whosoever of Our slaves We will. And verily, you are indeed guiding to a straight Path.

Surah 42 Ash Shura Verse 52

• ‘Ruh of Our Command’ – refers to the Quran; it also denotes the message conveyed to the Prophet (pbuh) through revelation

فَٱسۡتَمۡسِكۡ بِٱلَّذِيٓ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٤٣ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذِكۡرٞ لَّكَ وَلِقَوۡمِكَۖ وَسَوۡفَ تُسۡ‍َٔلُونَ ٤٤

So, hold you (O Muhammad, pbuh) fast to that which is revealed to you. Verily you are on a Straight Path. And verily, this (the Quran) is indeed a reminder for you and your people and you will be questioned (about it).

Surah 43 Az-Zukhruf Verses 43-44

أَفَمَن يَمۡشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦٓ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٢٢

Is he who walks prone (without seeing) on his face, more rightly guided, or he who (sees and) walks upright on a Straight Way?

Surah 67 Al-Mulk Verse 22

• This is a parable which Allah made of the believer and the disbeliever. So, the condition of the disbeliever is like one who walks prone on his face. This person does not know where he is going and how. Rather, he is lost, astray and confused. Believer, on the other hand, walks upright, is on a clear path and he is straight within himself and his path is straight as well. This is their likeness in this world, and their likeness will be the same in the Hereafter

وَأَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعۡنَا ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦۖ فَمَن يُؤۡمِنۢ بِرَبِّهِۦ فَلَا يَخَافُ بَخۡسٗا وَلَا رَهَقٗا ١٣ وَأَنَّا مِنَّا ٱلۡمُسۡلِمُونَ وَمِنَّا ٱلۡقَٰسِطُونَۖ فَمَنۡ أَسۡلَمَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ تَحَرَّوۡاْ رَشَدٗا ١٤

[The Jinns said] “And indeed, when we heard the Guidance (this Quran), we believed therein (Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever believes in his Lord shall have no fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase in punishment for his sins. And of us some are Muslims (who have submitted to Allah, after listening to this Quran), and of us some are Al-Qasitun (disbelievers those who have deviated from the Right Path). And whosoever has embraced Islam (i.e., has become a Muslim by submitting to Allah), then such have sought the Right Path”.

Surah 72 Al-Jinn Verses 13-14

قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَدۡعُواْ رَبِّي وَلَآ أُشۡرِكُ بِهِۦٓ أَحَدٗا ٢٠ قُلۡ إِنِّي لَآ أَمۡلِكُ لَكُمۡ ضَرّٗا وَلَا رَشَدٗا ٢١ قُلۡ إِنِّي لَن يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدٞ وَلَنۡ أَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مُلۡتَحَدًا ٢٢ إِلَّا بَلَٰغٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِسَٰلَٰتِهِۦۚ وَمَن يَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ٢٣

Say (O Muhammad, pbuh): “I invoke only my Lord (Allah Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him”. Say: “It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the Right Path”. Say: “None can protect me from Allah’s punishment (if I were to disobey Him), nor should I find refuge except in Him. (Mine is) but conveyance (of the truth) from Allah and His Messages (of Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the Fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever”.

Surah 72 Al-Jinn Verse 20-23

ِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذۡكِرَةٞۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلٗا ٢٩ وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا ٣٠

Verily, this (the Quran) is an admonition, so whosoever wills, let him take a path to his Lord (Allah). But you cannot will, unless Allah wills. Verily, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Surah 76 Al-Insan Verses 29-30

إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٧ لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمۡ أَن يَسۡتَقِيمَ ٢٨ وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٩

Verily, this (the Quran) is no less than a Reminder to the Alamin (mankind and jinn). To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight. And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allah wills – the Lord of the Alamin.

Surah 81 At-Takwir Verses 27-29

• unless that Allah wills - That is, a person’s taking heed does not wholly depend upon his own will, but he takes heed only when Allah also wills to grant him the grace to take heed. In other words, the truth that has been expressed here is that no act of man takes a concrete shape solely by his own will, but each act is implemented only when the will of Allah combines with the will of the man. This is a very delicate question, failure to understand which has often made human thought falter. Briefly it can be understood thus: If in this world every man had the power to accomplish whatever he wanted to accomplish, the system of the world would be disturbed. This system continues to hold only because the will of Allah is dominant over all other wills. Man can accomplish whatever he wants to accomplish only when Allah also wills that he be allowed to accomplish it. The same is also the case with guidance and error. Only man’s own desiring to have guidance is not enough for him to have guidance; he receives guidance only when Allah also takes a decision to fulfill his desire.

وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلۡيُسۡرَىٰ ٨ فَذَكِّرۡ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ ٩ سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخۡشَىٰ ١٠ وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا ٱلۡأَشۡقَى ١١

And We shall make easy for you (O Muhammad, pbuh) the easy way. Therefore, remind (men) in case the reminder profits (them). The reminder will be received by him who fears (Allah). But it will be avoided by the wretched.

Surah 87 Al-Ala’ Verses 8-11

• ‘easy for you the easy way’ – meaning, ‘We will make good deeds and statements easy for you, and We will legislate such laws for you that are easy, tolerant, straight and just, with no crookedness, difficulty or hardship in it’
• ‘Therefore, remind in case the reminder profits’ – From here we get the etiquette of spreading knowledge, that it should not be wasted upon those who are not suitable or worthy of it. Hazrat Ali said “You do not tell people any statement that their intellects do not grasp except that it will be a Fitnah (trial) for some of them”

إِنَّ سَعۡيَكُمۡ لَشَتَّىٰ ٤ فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أَعۡطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ ٥ وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ٦ فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡيُسۡرَىٰ ٧ وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ ٨ وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ٩ فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡعُسۡرَىٰ ١٠ وَمَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ ١١ إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا لَلۡهُدَىٰ ١٢

Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes); As for him who gives and has Taqwa, and believes in Al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness). But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, and denies Al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the path for hardship (evil). And what will his wealth avail him when he goes down (in destruction)? Truly on Us is to give guidance.

Surah 92 Al-Lail Verses 4-12

• ‘diverse’ – means there are those who do good and there are those who do evil
• ‘Al-Husna’ – literally means The Best. Allusion is to the Reward from Allah (as a compensation for what he will spend in Allah’s way; or as blessings of Paradise)
• The path of belief and goodness is called the ‘Path of Ease’, because of the following:

• It is the natural way corresponding to human nature
• It is in accordance with Allah’s Will
• While following this way one does not have to act against his conscience; or abuse one’s mental and physical faculties and abilities
• Peace and tranquillity is on its every step
• Forthright transactions lead to winning public confidence and respect
• Righteousness is held in high esteem

• The path of disbelief and wrongdoing is called the ‘Path of Hardship’, because of the following:

• In following it, all along one battles with one’s own nature and his conscience
• Disgrace and reproach occur due to harming of others
• No earning of anyone’s respect or good wishes
• Low opinion even among close associates

END OF CHAPTER