To God leads the right path, though some deviate. If He willed He could guide you all to the right way.
And the middle path rightly leads to Allah – any other path is wayward; and had He willed He would have brought all of you upon guidance.
God's it is to show the way; and some do swerve from it. If He willed, He would have guided you all together.
And [because He is your Creator,] it rests with God alone to show you the right path: yet there is [many a one] who swerves from it. However, had He so willed, He would have guided you all aright.
And upon Allah is the direction of the way, and thereof is some crooked; and had He willed He would have guided you all.
And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path (i.e. Islamic Monotheism for mankind i.e. to show them legal and illegal, good and evil things, etc. so, whosoever accepts the guidance, it will be for his own benefit and whosoever goes astray, it will be for his own destruction), but there are ways that turn aside (such as Paganism, Judaism, Christianity, etc.). And had He willed, He would have guided you all (mankind).
It is for God to point out the paths, but some of them are flawed. Had He willed, He could have guided you all.
It rests with Allah alone to show you the Right Way, even when there are many crooked ways. Had He so willed, He would have (perforce) guided you all aright.
And it is up to Allah to show the right way. But there are ways that stray. And had He willed, He would have guided you all.
And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright.
With Allah rests guidance to the straight path, and some of the paths are devious, and had He wished He would have guided you all.
It is for Allah to show the way. Some swerve from it, but had He willed, He would have guided all of you.
And upon Allah is the direction of the [right] way, and among the various paths are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all.
Some paths lead away from God but one must follow the path that leads to God. Had God wanted, He could have guided (all to the right path).
And upon Allah it rests to show the right way, and there are some deviating (ways); and if He please He would certainly guide you all aright.
WaAAal<u>a</u> All<u>a</u>hi qa<u>s</u>du a<b>l</b>ssabeeli waminh<u>a</u> j<u>a</u>irun walaw sh<u>a</u>a lahad<u>a</u>kum ajmaAAeen<b>a</b>
The straight way leads to God and there are ways which deviate from the right course. If He so wished, He would guide you all.
And unto Allah leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside: if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of you.
وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ قَصْدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Allah has made it a duty upon Himself to show the Path that leads to His Pleasure, which is Islam. Some paths are that of Satan that deviate away from the truth. Any path other than the path of Islam is deviated. Had Allah willed to guide you all to Faith He would have guided you alltogether.
Allah has made it a duty upon Himself to show the Path that leads to His Pleasure, which is Islam. Some paths are that of Satan that deviate away from the truth. Any path other than the path of Islam is deviated. Had Allah willed to guide you all to Faith He would have guided you alltogether.
<p>Commentary</p><p>Presented in the previous verses was a description of the great blessings of Allah Ta` ala as rational proof of His Oneness. This description of Divine blessings continues later on as well.</p><p>In between these two, the present verse (9) has been introduced parenthetically for the purpose of warning that Allah Ta’ ala, pursuant to His standing promise, has taken it upon Himself that He makes the straight path which takes its follower to Allah Ta’ ala clear and explicit. Therefore, the objective of the presentation of Divine blessings is to demonstrate proofs of the Being and Oneness of Allah Ta` ala.</p><p>But, counter to this, people have preferred to go by other crooked ways. It is unfortunate that, despite having clear signs and open proofs, they do not benefit by them. Instead, go on straying endlessly.</p><p>After that it was said that Allah Ta’ ala, if He had so willed, would have made all of them to (compulsively) be on the right path. Had He done so, it was within His power. But, wisdom and expedient considerations required that there be no compulsion. Let the two paths be before everyone. Whoever elects to take whichever path should be free to take it. Everyone goes his or her way. The Straight Path (al-Sirat al-Mustaqim) will take people to Allah Ta’ ala and Jannah (Paradise). As for other crooked ways, they will take people to Jahannam (Hell). Human beings have been given the power to choose whichever path they wish to take.</p>
CommentaryPresented in the previous verses was a description of the great blessings of Allah Ta` ala as rational proof of His Oneness. This description of Divine blessings continues later on as well.In between these two, the present verse (9) has been introduced parenthetically for the purpose of warning that Allah Ta’ ala, pursuant to His standing promise, has taken it upon Himself that He makes the straight path which takes its follower to Allah Ta’ ala clear and explicit. Therefore, the objective of the presentation of Divine blessings is to demonstrate proofs of the Being and Oneness of Allah Ta` ala.But, counter to this, people have preferred to go by other crooked ways. It is unfortunate that, despite having clear signs and open proofs, they do not benefit by them. Instead, go on straying endlessly.After that it was said that Allah Ta’ ala, if He had so willed, would have made all of them to (compulsively) be on the right path. Had He done so, it was within His power. But, wisdom and expedient considerations required that there be no compulsion. Let the two paths be before everyone. Whoever elects to take whichever path should be free to take it. Everyone goes his or her way. The Straight Path (al-Sirat al-Mustaqim) will take people to Allah Ta’ ala and Jannah (Paradise). As for other crooked ways, they will take people to Jahannam (Hell). Human beings have been given the power to choose whichever path they wish to take.
<h2 class="title">Explanation of the Different Religious Paths</h2><p>When Allah mentioned the animals which may be used for the purpose of physical journeys, He also referred to the moral, religious routes that people may follow. Often in the Qur'an there is a shift from physical or tangible things to beneficial spiritual and religious matters, as when Allah says, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى</div><p>(And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is Taqwa (piety, righteousness).) 2:197 And, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">يَـبَنِى آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَرِى سَوْءَتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ</div><p>(O Children of Adam! We have granted clothing for you to cover yourselves, as well as for adornment; but the raiment of righteousness, that is better.) 7:26 Since Allah mentioned cattle and other such animals in this Surah, all of which are ridden or can be used in any way necessary, carrying people's necessities for them to distant places and on difficult journeys - then He mentions the ways which people follow to try to reach Him, and explains that the right way is the one that does reach Him. He says: </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ</div><p>(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) This is like the Ayat, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَأَنَّ هَـذَا صِرَطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ</div><p>(And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow the (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path.) 6:153 and, </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">قَالَ هَذَا صِرَطٌ عَلَىَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ </div><p>((Allah) said: "This is the way which will lead straight to Me.") (15:41) </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ</div><p>(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) Mujahid said: "The true way is up to Allah." </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ</div><p>(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said: "It is up to Allah to clarify, to explain the guidance and misguidance." This was also reported by `Ali bin Abi Talhah, and was also the opinion of Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak. Hence Allah said: </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ</div><p>(But there are ways that stray.) meaning they deviate from the truth. Ibn `Abbas and others said: "These are the different ways," and various opinions and whims, such as Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Ibn Mas`ud recited it as (وَمِنْكُمْ جَائِرٌ) "But among you are those who stray. " Then Allah tells us that all of that happens by His will and decree. He says: </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ</div><p>(And had He willed, He would have guided you all.) And Allah says: </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لآمَنَ مَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا</div><p>(If your Lord had willed, then all who are in the earth would have believed.) 10:99 </p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ </div><div class="text_uthmani arabic">إِلاَّ مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَلِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبّكَ لاَمْلاَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ-</div><p>(And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely, have made humanity one Ummah, but they will not stop disagreeing. Except those for whom your Lord has granted mercy. And it is for this that He did create them; and the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (i.e. His saying): "Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinn and men all together.") (11:118-119). </p>
Explanation of the Different Religious PathsWhen Allah mentioned the animals which may be used for the purpose of physical journeys, He also referred to the moral, religious routes that people may follow. Often in the Qur'an there is a shift from physical or tangible things to beneficial spiritual and religious matters, as when Allah says, وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى(And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is Taqwa (piety, righteousness).) 2:197 And, يَـبَنِى آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَرِى سَوْءَتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ(O Children of Adam! We have granted clothing for you to cover yourselves, as well as for adornment; but the raiment of righteousness, that is better.) 7:26 Since Allah mentioned cattle and other such animals in this Surah, all of which are ridden or can be used in any way necessary, carrying people's necessities for them to distant places and on difficult journeys - then He mentions the ways which people follow to try to reach Him, and explains that the right way is the one that does reach Him. He says: وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) This is like the Ayat, وَأَنَّ هَـذَا صِرَطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ(And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow the (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path.) 6:153 and, قَالَ هَذَا صِرَطٌ عَلَىَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ ((Allah) said: "This is the way which will lead straight to Me.") (15:41) وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) Mujahid said: "The true way is up to Allah." وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said: "It is up to Allah to clarify, to explain the guidance and misguidance." This was also reported by `Ali bin Abi Talhah, and was also the opinion of Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak. Hence Allah said: وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ(But there are ways that stray.) meaning they deviate from the truth. Ibn `Abbas and others said: "These are the different ways," and various opinions and whims, such as Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Ibn Mas`ud recited it as (وَمِنْكُمْ جَائِرٌ) "But among you are those who stray. " Then Allah tells us that all of that happens by His will and decree. He says: وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ(And had He willed, He would have guided you all.) And Allah says: وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لآمَنَ مَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا(If your Lord had willed, then all who are in the earth would have believed.) 10:99 وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ إِلاَّ مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَلِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبّكَ لاَمْلاَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ-(And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely, have made humanity one Ummah, but they will not stop disagreeing. Except those for whom your Lord has granted mercy. And it is for this that He did create them; and the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (i.e. His saying): "Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinn and men all together.") (11:118-119). 