The Straight Path and Steadfastness

Tafsir of Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi

Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi writes: “The straight path is the clear path leading to Allah and His Paradise, which consists in knowing the truth and embodying it in deeds. The supplication for guidance includes a request for direction and for steadfastness. A person needs this supplication in every one of his states and in every moment of his life.”

Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir

Imam Ibn Kathir emphasises: “Since the servant of Allah needs steadfastness on the straight path day and night in all his affairs, Allah has prescribed that he recite this supplication in every rak’ah of the prayer. Those who have been blessed are the prophets, the most truthful, those who fell for the faith, and the righteous.”

Tafsir al-Baghawi

The words of Allah, the Exalted: “The path of those whom You have favored, not of those who have incurred (Your) anger, nor of those who are astray.”

“...The path of those whom You have favored...” That is, those to whom You granted guidance to the true path and assistance in following it.

‘Ikrimah said: Those to whom You granted steadfastness in faith and uprightness—and these are the prophets (peace be upon them).

It is also said that this refers to all those whom Allah established in faith, among the prophets and the believers. Ibn ‘Abbas said: These are the peoples of Musa and ‘Isa (peace be upon them both), before they distorted their belief.

‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd said: This is the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and those who are with him.

Abu al-‘Aliyah said: This is the family of the Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and the members of his family.

‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Zidan said: This is the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the members of his family.

Shahr ibn Hawshab said: These are the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and his family.

The words of Allah, the Exalted, “...not of those who have incurred (Your) anger...” mean: not the path of those with whom You are angry.

“...nor of those who are astray...” means: not the path of those who have strayed from the true path. In its basic sense, the word “misguidance” means destruction and an unconscious state. It is said, “The water was lost in the milk,” when it became indistinguishable and disappeared.

The word “ghayr” (“not,” “without”) in this expression means “not,” rather than “without.”

It is said that “...those who have incurred anger...” refers to the Jews, while “those who are astray” refers to the Christians, because Allah, the Exalted, decreed anger concerning the Jews, saying: “(The recompense is) for those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He is angry...” (Surah al-Ma’idah, verse 60)

And Allah decreed misguidance concerning the Christians, saying:

“...and do not follow the desires of people who had already gone astray before...” (Surah al-Ma’idah, verse 77)

Sahl ibn ‘Abdullah said: Not the path of those upon whom anger fell because they began to introduce innovations, nor the path of those who went astray by turning away from the Sunnah.

According to the Sunnah, it is recommended for the person reciting Surah al-Fatihah to say “amin” after reciting the surah, pausing briefly and separating this word from al-Fatihah. “Amin” may be pronounced in the shortened form; however, according to the grammarians, it may be pronounced either at length or in the shortened form. The meaning of “amin” is: “O Allah, hear and answer!”

The words of Allah, the Exalted: “Guide us to the Straight Path.” “Guide us” means: show us the way and lead us to it.

‘Ali and Ubayy ibn Ka‘b said: Establish us in it. This is like saying to someone who is standing, “Stand until I return to you,” that is, “Remain in the state in which you are.”

This supplication comes from the believers even though they are already upon the straight path; it is made in the sense of asking to be established in the truth and seeking further guidance, for the blessings and guidance of Allah, the Exalted, are limitless, according to the beliefs of the adherents of the Sunnah.

The word “as-sirat” (“the path”) may also be pronounced “sirat” (with the letter sin), and this is its original form. The path is called “sirat” because it “swallows up” (takes in) those who walk upon it.

It is also permissible to recite this word with the letter za (zirat), while Hamzah recited it by combining the sounds of za and sad. All these forms are permissible dialectal variants, but the recitation with sad is considered preferable, according to the majority of reciters, because it corresponds to the spelling in the mushaf (Qur’an). “The Straight Path”:

Ibn ‘Abbas and Jabir said: It is Islam, and this was also the view of Muqatil. Ibn Mas‘ud said: It is the Qur’an. It is transmitted from ‘Ali that the Prophet said: “The Straight Path is the Book of Allah.” (At-Tabari relates it.)

Sa‘id ibn Jubayr said: It is the road to Paradise. Sahl ibn ‘Abdullah said: It is the path of the Sunnah and the community. Bakr ibn ‘Abdullah al-Muzani said: It is the path of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Abu al-‘Aliyah and al-Hasan said: It is the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his two Companions. In the Arabic language, the word “sirat” means a clear (manifest) path.