Islam is the Straight Path
Allah commands His Prophet , the chief of the Messengers, to convey the news of being guided to Allah's straight path. This path is neither wicked, nor deviant,
دِينًا قِيَمًا
(a right religion...) that is, established on firm grounds,
مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(The religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan and he was not of the Mushrikin.) Allah said in similar Ayat,
وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَهِيمَ إِلاَّ مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ
(And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim except him who deludes himself) 2:130, and,
وَجَـهِدُوا فِى اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَـدِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَـكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكمْ فِى الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَهِيمَ
(And strive hard in Allah's cause as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship: it is the religion of your father Ibrahim.) 22:78, and,
إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - شَاكِراً لانْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَـهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ - وَءاتَيْنَـهُ فِى الْدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ - ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah (or a nation), obedient to Allah, a Hanif, and he was not one of the Mushrikin. (He was) thankful for His (Allah's) favors. He (Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous. Then, We have sent the revelation to you (saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrahim, (he was a) Hanif, and he was not of the Mushrikin") 16:120-123. Ordering the Prophet to follow the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanifiyyah, does not mean that Prophet Ibrahim reached more perfection in it than our Prophet . Rather, our Prophet perfectly established the religion and it was completed for him; and none before him reached this level of perfection. This is why he is the Final Prophet, the chief of all the Children of Adam who holds the station of praise and glory, the honor of intercession on the Day of Resurrection. All creation (on that Day) will seek him, even Ibrahim the friend of Allah, peace be upon him to request the beginning of Judgement. Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, `Which religion is the best with Allah, the Exalted' He said,
«الْحَنِيفِيَّةُ السَّمْحَة»
(Al-Hanifiyyah As-Samhah (the easy monotheism))"
The Command for Sincerity in Worship
Allah said next,
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ
(Say: "Verily, my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the all that exists.") Allah commands the Prophet to inform the idolators who worship other than Allah and sacrifice to something other than Him, that he opposes them in all this, for his prayer is for Allah, and his rituals are in His Name alone, without partners. Allah said in a similar statement,
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
(Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice.) 108:2, meaning, make your prayer and sacrifice for Allah alone. As for the idolators, they used to worship the idols and sacrifice to them, so Allah commanded the Prophet to defy them and contradict their practices. Allah, the Exalted, commanded him to dedicate his intention and heart to being sincere for Him alone. Mujahid commented,
إِنَّ صَلاَتِى وَنُسُكِى
(Verily, my prayer and my Nusuk...) refers to sacrificing during Hajj and `Umrah.
Islam is the Religion of all Prophets
The Ayah,
وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
(and I am the first of the Muslims.) means, from this Ummah, according to Qatadah. This is a sound meaning, because all Prophets before our Prophet were calling to Islam, which commands worshipping Allah alone without partners. Allah said in another Ayah,
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ
(And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): "None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.") 21:25 Allah informed us that Nuh said to his people,
فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِّنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
(But if you turn away, then no reward have I asked of you, my reward is only from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of the Muslims.) 10:72 Allah said,
وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَهِيمَ إِلاَّ مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَـهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ - إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ - وَوَصَّى بِهَآ إِبْرَهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَـبَنِىَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إَلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
(And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim except him who deludes himself Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, "Submit (i.e. be a Muslim)!" He said, "I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the all that exists." And this was enjoined by Ibrahim upon his sons and by Ya`qub (saying), "O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except as Muslims.")2:130-132. Yusuf, peace be upon him, said,
رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِى مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ الاٌّحَادِيثِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّ فِى الدُّنُيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِالصَّـلِحِينَ
(My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams -- the (Only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector) in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous.) 12:101 Musa said,
وَقَالَ مُوسَى يقَوْمِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءامَنْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُواْ إِن كُنْتُم مُّسْلِمِينَ - فَقَالُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لاَ تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ - وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَـفِرِينَ
(And Musa said: "O my people! If you have believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims." They said: "In Allah we put our trust. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the folk who are wrongdoers. And save us by your mercy from the disbelieving folk") 10:84-86 Allah said,
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالاٌّحْبَارُ
(Verily, We did send down the Tawrah, therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah's will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests did also.) 5:44, and,
وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَنْ ءَامِنُواْ بِى وَبِرَسُولِى قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ
(And when I (Allah) inspired Al-Hawariyyun (the disciples) of `Isa to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: "We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims.") 5:111 Therefore, Allah states that He sent all His Messengers with the religion of Islam, although their respective laws differed from each other, and some of them abrogated others. Later on, the Law sent with Muhammad ﷺ abrogated all previous laws and nothing will ever abrogate it, forever. Certainly, Muhammad's ﷺ Law will always be apparent and its flags raised high, until the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet said, C
«نَحْنُ مَعَاشِرُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَوْلَادُ عَلَّاتٍ دِينُنَا وَاحِد»
(We, the Prophets, are half brothers, but our religion is one.) Half brothers, mentioned in the Hadith, refers to the brothers to one father, but different mothers. Therefore, the religion, representing the one father, is one; worshipping Allah alone without partners, even though the laws which are like the different mothers in this parable, are different. Allah the Most High knows best. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ali said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to start the prayer with Takbir saying, "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Great) he would then supplicate,
«وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين»
(I have directed my face towards He Who has created the heavens and earth, Hanifan and I am not among the Mushrikin. Certainly, my prayer, sacrifice, living and dying are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds.)
«اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَنْتَ رَبِّي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي جَمِيعًا لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَاهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْك»
(O Allah! You are the King, there is no deity worthy of worship except You. You are my Lord and I am Your servant. I have committed wrong against myself and admitted to my error, so forgive me all my sins. Verily, You, only You forgive the sins. (O Allah!) Direct me to the best conduct, for none except You directs to the best conduct. Divert me from the worst conduct, for only You divert from the worst conduct. Glorified and Exalted You are. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.) This Hadith, which was also recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, continues and mentions the Prophet's supplication in his bowing, prostrating and final sitting positions.
Say ‘As for me my Lord has guided me to a straight path ilā sirātin mustaqīm is substituted by the following dīnan qiyaman a right religion an upright one the creed of Abraham a hanīf; and he was not of the idolaters’.
Say: “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.” The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.” O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You. * You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
Say: “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.” The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.” O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You. * You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
Say: “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.” The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.” O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You. * You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
Say: “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.” The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.” O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You. * You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
Say: �As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.�The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it.The Pir of the Tariqah said, �Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.�O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You.*You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
قل -أيها الرسول- لهؤلاء المشركين: إنني أرشدني ربي إلى الطريق القويم الموصل إلى جنته، وهو دين الإسلام القائم بأمر الدنيا والآخرة، وهو دين التوحيد دين إبراهيم عليه السلام، وما كان إبراهيم عليه السلام من المشركين مع الله غيره.
يقول تعالى آمرا نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم سيد المرسلين أن يخبر بما أنعم به عليه من الهداية إلى صراطه المستقيم الذي لا اعوجاج فيه ولا انحراف "دينا قيما" أي قائما ثابتا "ملة إبراهيم حنيفا وما كان من المشركين" كقوله "ومن يرغب عن ملة إبراهيم إلا من سفه نفسه" وقوله "وجاهدوا في الله حق جهاده هو اجتباكم وما جعل عليكم في الدين من حرج ملة أبيكم إبراهيم" وقوله "إن إبراهيم كان أمة قانتا لله حنيفا ولم يك من المشركين شاكرا لأنعمه اجتباه وهداه إلى صراط مستقيم وآتيناه في الدنيا حسنة وإنه في الآخرة لمن الصالحين ثم أوحينا إليك أن اتبع ملة إبراهيم حنيفا وما كان من المشركين" وليس يلزم من كونه صلى الله عليه وسلم أمر باتباع ملة إبراهيم الحنيفية أن يكون إبراهيم أكمل منه فيها لأنه عليه السلام قام بها قياما عظيما وأكملت له إكمالا تاما لم يسبقه أحد إلى هذا الكمال ولهذا كان خاتم الأنبياء وسيد ولد آدم على الإطلاق وصاحب المقام المحمود الذي يرغب إليه الخلق حتى الخليل عليه السلام وقد قال ابن مردوية حدثنا محمد بن عبد الله بن حفص حدثنا أحمد بن عصام حدثنا أبو داود الطيالسي حدثنا شعبة أنبأنا سلمة بن كهيل سمعت ذر بن عبد الله الهمداني يحدث عن ابن أبزى عن أبيه قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا أصبح قال أصبحنا على ملة الإسلام وكلمة الإخلاص ودين نبينا محمد وملة أبينا إبراهيم حنيفا وما كان من المشركين وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا يزيد أخبرنا محمد بن إسحاق عن داود بن الحصين عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أنه قال: قيل لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أى الأديان أحب إلى الله تعالى ؟ قال الحنيفية السمحة وقال أحمد أيضا حدثنا سليمان بن داود حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن أبي الزناد عن هشام بن عروة عن أبيه عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: وضع رسول الله صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله وسلم ذقني على منكبه لأنظر إلى زفن الحبشة حتى كنت التي مللت فانصرفت عنه. قال عبد الرحمن عن أبيه قال: قال لي عروة إن عائشة قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يومئذ لتعلم يهود أن فى ديننا فسحة إني أرسلت بحنيفة سمحة أصل الحديث مخرج في الصحيحين والزيادة لها شواهد من طرق عدة وقد استقصيت طرقها في شرح البخاري ولله الحمد والمنة.
ثم ختمت السورة الكريمة بخمس آيات جامعة لوجوه الخير ، من تأملها تجلى له أنها ختام حكيم يناسب هذه السورة التى هى سورة البلاغ والإعلان ، والمبادىء العليا لدعوة الإيمان .أما الآيات الخمس فهى قوله - تعالى - : { قُلْ إِنَّنِي . . . } .أى : قل يا محمد لهؤلاء الذين فرقوا دينهم وكانوا شيعا ، ولغيرهم ممن أرسلت إليهم ، قل لهم جميعاً : لقد هدانى خالقى ومربينى إلى دين الإسلام الذى ارتضاه لعباده { دِيناً قِيَماً } أى : ثابتاً أبداً لا تغيره الملل والنحل ولا تنسخه الشرائع والكتب .وقوله { دِيناً } نصب على البدل من محل { إلى صِرَاطٍ } لأن معناه هدانى صراطاً ، أو مفعول لمضمر يدل عليه المذكور . أى : عرفنى ديناً .وقوله { قِيَماً } صفى ل { دِيناً } والقَيِّم والقِيَم لغتان بمعنى واحد وقرىء بهما .وقوله { مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ } منصوب بتقدير أعنى أو عطف بيان ل { دِيناً } و { حَنِيفاً } حال من إبراهيم . أى : هدانى ربى ووفقنى إلى دين الإسلام الذى هو الصراط المستقيم والدين القيم المتفق مع ملة إبراهيم الذى كان مائلا عن كل دين باطل إلى دين الحق ، والذى ما كان أبدا { مِنَ المشركين } مع الله آلهة أخرى فى شأن من شئونه . لا كما يزعم المشركون وأهل الكتاب أن إبراهيم كان على دينهم .
القول في تأويل قوله : قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (161)قال أبو جعفر: يقول تعالى ذكره لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: (قل)، يا محمد، لهؤلاء العادلين بربهم الأوثان والأصنامَ =(إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم)، يقول: قل لهم إنني أرشدني ربي إلى الطريق القويم, هو دين الله الذي ابتعثه به, وذلك الحنيفية المسلمة, فوفقني له (74) =(دينًا قيمًا)، يقول: مستقيمًا =(ملة إبراهيم)، يقول: دين إبراهيم (75) =(حنيفًا) يقول: مستقيمًا =(وما كان من المشركين)، يقول: وما كان من المشركين بالله, يعني إبراهيم صلوات الله عليه, لأنه لم يكن ممن يعبد الأصنام .* * *واختلفت القرأة في قراءة قوله: (دينًا قيمًا).فقرأ ذلك عامة قرأة المدينة وبعض البصريين: " دِينًا قَيِّمًا " بفتح " القاف " وتشديد " الياء "، إلحاقًا منهم ذلك بقول الله: ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ [سورة التوبة: 36 / سورة يوسف: 40 / سورة الروم: 30]. وبقوله: وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ [سورة البينة: 5].* * *وقرأ ذلك عامة قرأة الكوفيين: ( دِينًا قِيَمًا ) بكسر " القاف " وفتح " الياء " وتخفيفها. وقالوا: " القيِّم " و " القِيَم " بمعنى واحد, وهم لغتان معناهما: الدين المستقيم .* * *قال أبو جعفر: والصواب من القول في ذلك عندي أنهما قراءتان مشهورتان في قرأة الأمصار, متفقتا المعنى, فبأيتهما قرأ القارئ فهو للصواب مصيبٌ, غير أن فتح " القاف " وتشديد " الياء " أعجب إليّ, لأنه أفصح اللغتين وأشهرهما .* * *ونصب قوله: (دينًا) على المصدر من معنى قوله: (إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم)، وذلك أن المعنى: هداني ربي إلى دين قويم, فاهتديت له " دينا قيما "= فالدين منصوب من المحذوف الذي هو " اهتديت "، الذي ناب عنه قوله: (إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم) .* * *وقال بعض نحويي البصرة: إنما نصب ذلك، لأنه لما قال: (هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم)، قد أخبر أنه عرف شيئًا, فقال: " دينًا قيمًا "، كأنه قال: عرفت دينًا قيما ملّة إبراهيم .* * *وأما معنى الحنيف, فقد بينته في مكانه في" سورة البقرة " بشواهده، بما أغنى عن إعادته في هذا الموضع . (76)--------------------الهوامش :(74) انظر تفسير (( الهدى )) فيما سلف من فهارس اللغة ( هدى ) . = وتفسير (( صراط مستقيم )) فيما سلف ص : 288 ، تعليق 1 ، والمراجع هناك .(75) انظر تفسير (( الملة )) فيما سلف 2 : 563 / 3 : 104 / 9 : 250 .(76) انظر تفسير (( الحنيف )) فيما سلف 3 : 104 - 108 / 6 : 494 / 9 : 250 ، 251 / 11 : 487 .
قوله - عز وجل - : ( قل إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم دينا قيما ) قرأ أهل الكوفة والشام " قيما " بكسر القاف وفتح الياء خفيفة ، وقرأ الآخرون بفتح القاف وكسر الياء مشددا ومعناهما واحد وهو القويم المستقيم ، وانتصابه على معنى هداني دينا قيما ، ( ملة إبراهيم حنيفا وما كان من المشركين )
استئناف ابتدائي للانتقال من مجادلة المشركين ، وما تخلّلها ، إلى فذلكة ما أُمر به الرّسول صلى الله عليه وسلم في هذا الشّأن ، غَلقاً لباب المجادلة مع المعرضين ، وإعلاناً بأنّه قد تقلّد لنفسه ما كان يجادلهم فيه ليتقلّدوه وأنَّه ثابت على ما جاءهم به ، وأنّ إعراضهم لا يزلزله عن الحقّ .وفيه إيذان بانتهاء السّورة لأنّ الواعظ والمناظر إذا أشبع الكلام في غرضه ، ثمّ أخذ يبين ما رَضِيه لِنفسه وما قَرّ عليه قَراره ، علم السّامع أنَّه قد أخذ يطوي سجلّ المحاجّة ، ولذلك غيّر الأسلوب . فأمر الرّسول صلى الله عليه وسلم بأن يقول أشياء يعلن بها أصول دينه ، وتكرّر الأمر بالقول ثلاث مرّات تنويهاً بالمقول .وقوله : { إنني هداني ربي } متصل بقوله : { وأنّ هذا صراطي مستقيماً فاتبعوه } [ الأنعام : 153 ] الذي بيّنه بقوله : { وهذا كتاب أنزلناه مبارك } [ الأنعام : 92 ] فزاده بياناً بقوله هذا : { قل إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم } ، ليبيّن أنّ هذا الدّين إنَّما جاء به الرّسول صلى الله عليه وسلم بهدي من الله ، وأنَّه جعله ديناً قيّماً على قواعد ملّة إبراهيم عليه السّلام ، إلاّ أنَّه زائد عليه بما تضمّنه من نعمة الله عليه إذ هداه إلى ذلك الصّراط الذي هو سبيل النّجاة . وافتُتح الخبر بحرف التّأكيد لأنّ الخطاب للمشركين المكذّبين .وتعريف المسند إليه بالإضافة للاعتزاز بمربوبية الرّسول صلى الله عليه وسلم للَّه تعالى ، وتعريضاً بالمشركين الذين أضلّهم أربابهم ، ولو وحّدوا الربّ الحقيق بالعبادة لهداهم .وقوله : { هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم } تمثيليّة : شبّهت هيئة الإرشاد إلى الحقّ المبلّغ إلى النّجاة بهيئة من يدلّ السّائر على الطّريق المبلّغة للمقصود .والمناسبة بين الهداية وبين الصّراط تامّة ، لأنّ حقيقة الهداية التّعريف بالطّريق ، يقال : هو هاد خِرّيت ، وحقيقة الصّراط الطّريق الواسعة . وقد صحّ أن تستعار الهداية للإرشاد والتّعليم ، والصّراطُ للدين القويم ، فكان تشبيهاً مركّباً قابلاً للتفكيك وهو أكمل أحوال التّمثيليّة .ووُصف الصّراط بالمستقيم ، أي الذي لا خطَأ فيه ولا فساد ، وقد تقدّم عند قوله تعالى : { وأنّ هذا صراطي مستقيماً فاتبعوه } [ الأنعام : 153 ] ، والمقصود إتمام هيئة التّشبيه بأنَّه دين لا يتطرّق متّبعه شكّ في نفعه كما لا يتردّد سالك الطّريق الواسعة التي لا انعطاف فيها ولا يتحيَّر في أمره .وفي قوله : { ديناً } تجريد للاستعارة مؤذن بالمشبّه ، وانتصب على الحال من : { صراط } لأنَّه نكرة موصوفة .والدّين تقدّم عند قوله تعالى : { إن الدِّين عند الله الإسلام } [ آل عمران : 19 ] وهو السّيرة التي يتّبعها النّاس .والقَيِّم بفتح القاف وتشديد الياء كما قرأه نافع ، وابن كثير ، وأبو عمرو ، وأبو جعفر ، ويعقوب : وصف مبالغة قَائم بمعنى معتدل غير معوج ، وإطلاق القيام على الاعتدال والاستقامة مجاز ، لأنّ المرء إذا قام اعتدلت قامته ، فيلزم الاعتدال القيام .والأحسن أن نجعل القيم للمبالغة في القيام بالأمر ، وهو مرادف القيّوم ، فيستعار القيام للكفاية بما يحتاج إليه والوفاء بما فيه صلاح المقوّم عليه ، فالإسلام قيّم بالأمّة وحاجتها ، يقال : فلان قيّم على كذا ، بمعنى مدبّر له ومصلح ، ومنه وصف الله تعالى بالقيُّوم ، وهذا أحسن لأنّ فيه زيادة على مفاد مستقيم الذي أخذ جزءاً من التّمثيليّة ، فلا تكون إعادة لبعض التّشبيه .وقرأ عاصم ، وحمزة ، وابن عامر ، والكسائي ، وخلف : { قيماً } بكسر القاف وفتح الياء مخفّفة وهو من صيغ مصادر قام ، فهو وصف للدّين بمصدر القيام المقصودِ به كفاية المصلحة للمبالغة ، وهذه زنة قليلة في المصادر ، وقَلْبُ واوه ياء بعد الكسرة على غير الغالب : لأنّ الغالب فيه تصحيح لامِه لأنَّها مفتوحة ، فسواء في خفّتِها وقوعها على الواو أو على الياء ، مثل عِوَض وحِوَل ، وهذَا كشذوذ جياد جمع جواد ، وانتصب { قيماً } على الوصف ل { دينا }.وقوله : { ملة إبراهيم } حال من : { ديناً } أو من : { صراط مستقيم } أو عطفُ بيان على { ديناً }.والملّة ، الدّين : فهي مرادفة الدين ، فالتَّعبير بها هنا للتَّفنّن ألا ترى إلى قوله تعالى : { ووصى بها إبراهيم بنيه ويعقوب يا بني إن الله اصطفى لكم الدين } [ البقرة : 132 ].و { ملّة } فِعْلة بمعنى المفعول ، أي المملول ، من أمللت الكتاب إذا لقَّنت الكاتب ما يَكتب ، وكان حقّها أن لا تقترن بهاء التّأنيث لأنّ زنة ( فِعْل ) بمعنى المفعول تلزم التّذكير ، كالذِّبح ، إلاّ أنَّهم قرنوها بهاء التّأنيث لما صيّروها اسماً للدّين ، ولذلك قال الرّاغب : الملّة كالدّين ، ثمّ قال : «والفرق بينها وبين الدّين أنّ الملّة لا تضاف إلاّ إلى النَّبيء الذي تسند إليه نحو ملّة إبراهيم ، ملّة آبائي ، ولا توجد مضافة إلى الله ولا إلى آحاد الأمّة ، ولا تستعمل إلاّ في جملة الشّريعة دون آحادها لا يقال الصّلاة ملّة الله» أي ويقال : الصّلاةُ دين الله ذلك أنَّه يراعى في لفظ الملّة أنَّها مملول من الله فهي تضاف للّذي أُمِلَّت عليه .ومعنى كون الإسلام ملّةَ إبراهيم : أنَّه جاء بالأصول التي هي شريعة إبراهيم وهي : التّوحيد ، ومسايرة الفطرة ، والشّكر ، والسّماحة ، وإعلان الحقّ ، وقد بيَّنتُ ذلك عند قوله تعالى : { ما كان إبراهيم يهودياً ولا نصرانياً ولكن كان حنيفاً مسلماً } في سورة آل عمران ( 67 ).والحنيف : المُجانب للباطل ، فهو بمعنى المهتدي ، وقد تقدّم عند قوله تعالى : { قل بل مِلَّة إبراهيم حنيفاً وما كان من المشركين } في سورة البقرة ( 135 ). وهو منصوب على الحال .وجملة : وما كان من المشركين } عطف على الحال من { إبراهيم } عليه السّلام المضاف إليه ، لأنّ المضاف هنا كالجزاء من المضاف إليه ، وقد تقدّم في آية سورة البقرة .
يأمر تعالى نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم، أن يقول ويعلن بما هو عليه من الهداية إلى الصراط المستقيم: الدين المعتدل المتضمن للعقائد النافعة، والأعمال الصالحة، والأمر بكل حسن، والنهي عن كل قبيح، الذي عليه الأنبياء والمرسلون، خصوصا إمام الحنفاء، ووالد من بعث من بعد موته من الأنبياء، خليل الرحمن إبراهيم عليه الصلاة والسلام، وهو الدين الحنيف المائل عن كل دين غير مستقيم، من أديان أهل الانحراف، كاليهود والنصارى والمشركين.
قوله تعالى قل إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم دينا قيما ملة إبراهيم حنيفا وما كان من المشركينقوله تعالى قل إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم لما بين تعالى أن الكفار تفرقوا بين أن الله هداه إلى الدين المستقيم وهو دين إبراهيمدينا نصب على الحال ; عن قطرب . وقيل : نصب ب هداني عن الأخفش . قال غيره : انتصب حملا على المعنى [ ص: 138 ] لأن معنى هداني عرفني دينا . ويجوز أن يكون بدلا من الصراط ، أي هداني صراطا مستقيما دينا . وقيل : منصوب بإضمار فعل ; فكأنه قال : اتبعوا دينا ، واعرفوا دينا .قيما قرأه الكوفيون وابن عامر بكسر القاف والتخفيف وفتح الياء ، مصدر كالشبع فوصف به . والباقون بفتح القاف وكسر الياء وشدها ، وهما لغتان . وأصل الياء الواو " قيوم " ثم أدغمت الواو في الياء كميت .ومعناه دينا مستقيما لا عوج فيه .ملة إبراهيم بدل حنيفا قال الزجاج : هو حال من إبراهيم . وقال علي بن سليمان : هو نصب بإضمار : أعني .
In the pages of the Quran, God has revealed His religion in the uncorrupted state in which He had given it to Abraham and other prophets. Now, one who wants to be blessed by the Grace of God and His support should adopt this religion. He should dedicate his prayers to God; he should have a relation with God at the level of sacrifice; if he lives, he should live for the sake of God, and when he is overtaken by death, he should by that time have unreservedly become a subject of God, in body and soul. The vast universe with its heavenly bodies follows this religion of obedience to God. Then, how can a man adopt a path other than this? In the world of obedience to God, how can arrogance directed against God lead to success? This is a matter which concerns every individual. Nobody can share another’s reward or suffer another’s punishment. The individual should be as serious about this as he is about all matters which concern him personally.
Commentary
These are the last five verses of Surah Al-An'am. It will be recalled from previous verses how people had altered the true religion through a process of excess and deficiency, making many more out of it, and had themselves split into factions and groups. In contrast, the first three of the present verses present an authentic profile of the true religion describing its fundamental principles, and some important subsidiaries and details. The first two verses carry the principle while the third mentions their subsidiaries - and in both, the address is to the Holy Prophet ﷺ where he has been asked to convey the message to these people.
(Say) O Muhammad, to the people of Mecca, the Jews and to the Christians: (Lo! As for me, my Lord hath guided me unto a straight path) my Lord has honoured me with His religion and has commanded me to call people to His religion; it is also said that this means: my Lord has shown how to call people to His to (a right religion, the community of Abraham) the religion of Abraham, (the upright) who surrendered to Allah and (who was no idolater) he did not follow the idolaters in their religion.
Islam is the Straight Path
Allah commands His Prophet , the chief of the Messengers, to convey the news of being guided to Allah's straight path. This path is neither wicked, nor deviant,
دِينًا قِيَمًا
(a right religion...) that is, established on firm grounds,
مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(The religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan and he was not of the Mushrikin.) Allah said in similar Ayat,
وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَهِيمَ إِلاَّ مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ
(And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim except him who deludes himself) 2:130, and,
وَجَـهِدُوا فِى اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَـدِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَـكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكمْ فِى الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَهِيمَ
(And strive hard in Allah's cause as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship: it is the religion of your father Ibrahim.) 22:78, and,
إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - شَاكِراً لانْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَـهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ - وَءاتَيْنَـهُ فِى الْدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ - ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah (or a nation), obedient to Allah, a Hanif, and he was not one of the Mushrikin. (He was) thankful for His (Allah's) favors. He (Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous. Then, We have sent the revelation to you (saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrahim, (he was a) Hanif, and he was not of the Mushrikin") 16:120-123. Ordering the Prophet to follow the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanifiyyah, does not mean that Prophet Ibrahim reached more perfection in it than our Prophet . Rather, our Prophet perfectly established the religion and it was completed for him; and none before him reached this level of perfection. This is why he is the Final Prophet, the chief of all the Children of Adam who holds the station of praise and glory, the honor of intercession on the Day of Resurrection. All creation (on that Day) will seek him, even Ibrahim the friend of Allah, peace be upon him to request the beginning of Judgement. Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, `Which religion is the best with Allah, the Exalted' He said,
«الْحَنِيفِيَّةُ السَّمْحَة»
(Al-Hanifiyyah As-Samhah (the easy monotheism))"
The Command for Sincerity in Worship
Allah said next,
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ
(Say: "Verily, my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the all that exists.") Allah commands the Prophet to inform the idolators who worship other than Allah and sacrifice to something other than Him, that he opposes them in all this, for his prayer is for Allah, and his rituals are in His Name alone, without partners. Allah said in a similar statement,
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
(Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice.) 108:2, meaning, make your prayer and sacrifice for Allah alone. As for the idolators, they used to worship the idols and sacrifice to them, so Allah commanded the Prophet to defy them and contradict their practices. Allah, the Exalted, commanded him to dedicate his intention and heart to being sincere for Him alone. Mujahid commented,
إِنَّ صَلاَتِى وَنُسُكِى
(Verily, my prayer and my Nusuk...) refers to sacrificing during Hajj and `Umrah.
Islam is the Religion of all Prophets
The Ayah,
وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
(and I am the first of the Muslims.) means, from this Ummah, according to Qatadah. This is a sound meaning, because all Prophets before our Prophet were calling to Islam, which commands worshipping Allah alone without partners. Allah said in another Ayah,
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ
(And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): "None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.") 21:25 Allah informed us that Nuh said to his people,
فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَمَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِّنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
(But if you turn away, then no reward have I asked of you, my reward is only from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of the Muslims.) 10:72 Allah said,
وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَهِيمَ إِلاَّ مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَـهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ - إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ - وَوَصَّى بِهَآ إِبْرَهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَـبَنِىَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إَلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
(And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim except him who deludes himself Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, "Submit (i.e. be a Muslim)!" He said, "I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the all that exists." And this was enjoined by Ibrahim upon his sons and by Ya`qub (saying), "O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except as Muslims.")2:130-132. Yusuf, peace be upon him, said,
رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِى مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ الاٌّحَادِيثِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّ فِى الدُّنُيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِالصَّـلِحِينَ
(My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams -- the (Only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector) in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous.) 12:101 Musa said,
وَقَالَ مُوسَى يقَوْمِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءامَنْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُواْ إِن كُنْتُم مُّسْلِمِينَ - فَقَالُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا رَبَّنَا لاَ تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّـلِمِينَ - وَنَجِّنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْكَـفِرِينَ
(And Musa said: "O my people! If you have believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims." They said: "In Allah we put our trust. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the folk who are wrongdoers. And save us by your mercy from the disbelieving folk") 10:84-86 Allah said,
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالاٌّحْبَارُ
(Verily, We did send down the Tawrah, therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah's will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests did also.) 5:44, and,
وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَنْ ءَامِنُواْ بِى وَبِرَسُولِى قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ
(And when I (Allah) inspired Al-Hawariyyun (the disciples) of `Isa to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: "We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims.") 5:111 Therefore, Allah states that He sent all His Messengers with the religion of Islam, although their respective laws differed from each other, and some of them abrogated others. Later on, the Law sent with Muhammad ﷺ abrogated all previous laws and nothing will ever abrogate it, forever. Certainly, Muhammad's ﷺ Law will always be apparent and its flags raised high, until the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet said, C
«نَحْنُ مَعَاشِرُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَوْلَادُ عَلَّاتٍ دِينُنَا وَاحِد»
(We, the Prophets, are half brothers, but our religion is one.) Half brothers, mentioned in the Hadith, refers to the brothers to one father, but different mothers. Therefore, the religion, representing the one father, is one; worshipping Allah alone without partners, even though the laws which are like the different mothers in this parable, are different. Allah the Most High knows best. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ali said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to start the prayer with Takbir saying, "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Great) he would then supplicate,
«وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين»
(I have directed my face towards He Who has created the heavens and earth, Hanifan and I am not among the Mushrikin. Certainly, my prayer, sacrifice, living and dying are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds.)
«اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَنْتَ رَبِّي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي جَمِيعًا لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَاهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْك»
(O Allah! You are the King, there is no deity worthy of worship except You. You are my Lord and I am Your servant. I have committed wrong against myself and admitted to my error, so forgive me all my sins. Verily, You, only You forgive the sins. (O Allah!) Direct me to the best conduct, for none except You directs to the best conduct. Divert me from the worst conduct, for only You divert from the worst conduct. Glorified and Exalted You are. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.) This Hadith, which was also recorded by Muslim in the Sahih, continues and mentions the Prophet's supplication in his bowing, prostrating and final sitting positions.
Say: “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.” The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.” O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You. * You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
Say: “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.” The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.” O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You. * You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
Say: “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.” The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.” O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You. * You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
Say: “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.” The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.” O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You. * You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
Say: �As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path.�The straight path has a beginning and an end. The beginning is the Sunnah and the congregation, and the end is the intimacy of finding and the continuity of contemplation. The Sunnah and the congrega- tion are that you accept the verses and reports about the unperceived attributes with spirit and heart. You come forward with assent and surrender and you stand with the name and the outwardness. You do not wander around it with imagination. You avoid self-exertion, interpretation, and reflective thinking about it. You stipulate it in its entirety, without addition or subtraction, without judgment, declaring similarity, or concealment. And you convey it exactly as you received it.The Pir of the Tariqah said, �Everyone who enters by the door of surrender and assent is given one of three drinks: Either he is given the drink of recognition, so his heart comes to life through the Real, or he is given poison through which the commanding soul is slain beneath his own severity, or he is given a wine through the finding of which the spirit becomes drunk and per- plexed. From here begins the finding of the Haqiqah and the intimacy of companionship. He finds the pleasure of service and the sweetness of obedience. He joins with the joy of recognition and reaches the repose of whispered prayer. Then he falls into an occupation that cannot be expressed until he becomes all life in that.�O life of the spirit, what is it with me that I know nothing of my state? The spirit from You fills me, but my heart's blood is empty of You.*You are not empty of me, but I do not see Your face, You are a spirit with me, but I do not see You.
القول في تأويل قوله : قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (161)قال أبو جعفر: يقول تعالى ذكره لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: (قل)، يا محمد، لهؤلاء العادلين بربهم الأوثان والأصنامَ =(إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم)، يقول: قل لهم إنني أرشدني ربي إلى الطريق القويم, هو دين الله الذي ابتعثه به, وذلك الحنيفية المسلمة, فوفقني له (74) =(دينًا قيمًا)، يقول: مستقيمًا =(ملة إبراهيم)، يقول: دين إبراهيم (75) =(حنيفًا) يقول: مستقيمًا =(وما كان من المشركين)، يقول: وما كان من المشركين بالله, يعني إبراهيم صلوات الله عليه, لأنه لم يكن ممن يعبد الأصنام .* * *واختلفت القرأة في قراءة قوله: (دينًا قيمًا).فقرأ ذلك عامة قرأة المدينة وبعض البصريين: " دِينًا قَيِّمًا " بفتح " القاف " وتشديد " الياء "، إلحاقًا منهم ذلك بقول الله: ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ [سورة التوبة: 36 / سورة يوسف: 40 / سورة الروم: 30]. وبقوله: وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ [سورة البينة: 5].* * *وقرأ ذلك عامة قرأة الكوفيين: ( دِينًا قِيَمًا ) بكسر " القاف " وفتح " الياء " وتخفيفها. وقالوا: " القيِّم " و " القِيَم " بمعنى واحد, وهم لغتان معناهما: الدين المستقيم .* * *قال أبو جعفر: والصواب من القول في ذلك عندي أنهما قراءتان مشهورتان في قرأة الأمصار, متفقتا المعنى, فبأيتهما قرأ القارئ فهو للصواب مصيبٌ, غير أن فتح " القاف " وتشديد " الياء " أعجب إليّ, لأنه أفصح اللغتين وأشهرهما .* * *ونصب قوله: (دينًا) على المصدر من معنى قوله: (إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم)، وذلك أن المعنى: هداني ربي إلى دين قويم, فاهتديت له " دينا قيما "= فالدين منصوب من المحذوف الذي هو " اهتديت "، الذي ناب عنه قوله: (إنني هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم) .* * *وقال بعض نحويي البصرة: إنما نصب ذلك، لأنه لما قال: (هداني ربي إلى صراط مستقيم)، قد أخبر أنه عرف شيئًا, فقال: " دينًا قيمًا "، كأنه قال: عرفت دينًا قيما ملّة إبراهيم .* * *وأما معنى الحنيف, فقد بينته في مكانه في" سورة البقرة " بشواهده، بما أغنى عن إعادته في هذا الموضع . (76)--------------------الهوامش :(74) انظر تفسير (( الهدى )) فيما سلف من فهارس اللغة ( هدى ) . = وتفسير (( صراط مستقيم )) فيما سلف ص : 288 ، تعليق 1 ، والمراجع هناك .(75) انظر تفسير (( الملة )) فيما سلف 2 : 563 / 3 : 104 / 9 : 250 .(76) انظر تفسير (( الحنيف )) فيما سلف 3 : 104 - 108 / 6 : 494 / 9 : 250 ، 251 / 11 : 487 .
In the pages of the Quran, God has revealed His religion in the uncorrupted state in which He had given it to Abraham and other prophets. Now, one who wants to be blessed by the Grace of God and His support should adopt this religion. He should dedicate his prayers to God; he should have a relation with God at the level of sacrifice; if he lives, he should live for the sake of God, and when he is overtaken by death, he should by that time have unreservedly become a subject of God, in body and soul. The vast universe with its heavenly bodies follows this religion of obedience to God. Then, how can a man adopt a path other than this? In the world of obedience to God, how can arrogance directed against God lead to success? This is a matter which concerns every individual. Nobody can share another’s reward or suffer another’s punishment. The individual should be as serious about this as he is about all matters which concern him personally.
Commentary
These are the last five verses of Surah Al-An'am. It will be recalled from previous verses how people had altered the true religion through a process of excess and deficiency, making many more out of it, and had themselves split into factions and groups. In contrast, the first three of the present verses present an authentic profile of the true religion describing its fundamental principles, and some important subsidiaries and details. The first two verses carry the principle while the third mentions their subsidiaries - and in both, the address is to the Holy Prophet ﷺ where he has been asked to convey the message to these people.
(Say) O Muhammad, to the people of Mecca, the Jews and to the Christians: (Lo! As for me, my Lord hath guided me unto a straight path) my Lord has honoured me with His religion and has commanded me to call people to His religion; it is also said that this means: my Lord has shown how to call people to His to (a right religion, the community of Abraham) the religion of Abraham, (the upright) who surrendered to Allah and (who was no idolater) he did not follow the idolaters in their religion.