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Bismillahi ar-rahmani ar-rahim

Al-sirat al-mustaqim has been translated as the straight path, the right path, or the right way. In the five salat prayers, al-Fatiha is repeated 17 times each day. Every single time they pray, the mu’minun (believers) ask Allah to guide them to the straight path.

Al-Fatiha 1:6,7

ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَصِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

Guide us to the Straight Way, The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.

The straight path is mentioned often in the Qur’an (1:7 and 37:118 as “the straight path”, 7:16 as “your straight path,” 6:126 as “your Lord’s straight path,” 6:153 as “my straight path,” and 2:108, 142,213, 3:51,101, 4:68, 175, 5:12,16,60, 77, 6:39,87,161, 10:25, 11:56, 15:41, 16:76, 121, 19:36,43, 20:135, 22:54, 23:73, 24:46, 28:22, 36:4,61, 38:22, 42:52, 43:43,61,64, 46:30, 48:2, 20, 60:1, 67:22 as “a straight path.”). Five of these many references (3:51, 6:153, 19:36, 36:61, and 43:61,64) actually say what al-sirat al-mustaqim is.

A) Ali Imran 3:45-51

This passage teaches us many points which constitute the straight path. This includes believing that:

1) Isa (aws) is a word from Allah, Masih (Christ), son of Maryam, highly exalted in this age and the hereafter, 2) he has been brought close to Allah, 3) he was taught the book, wisdom, the Tawrah and the Injil, 4) he is a messenger to the people of Israel, 5) he brought a sign from the Lord 6) he created a bird, healed the blind from birth and the leper, gave life to the dead, and proclaimed what people ate and stored by Allah’s permission, 7) he confirmed the Tawrah, 8) he allowed forbidden things. It also consists of 9) fearing Allah, 10) obeying Isa, 11) believing in the one Allah who is Isa’s and our Lord, and 12) worshiping Allah.

B) Al-An’am 6:153-154

From the context of speaking about what Allah gave to Musa (aws) we understand that al-sirat al-mustaqim involves keeping the commandments of Allah. These are the Ten Commandments that Musa was given by Allah (Tawrah, Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21).

C) Maryam 19:19-36

Like the first one, this passage is one of the most complete in its explanation. It both confirms and expands the guidance found in surah Ali Imran. It teaches that the straight path includes believing that:

1) Isa (aws) is sinless, 2) his mother was a virgin, 3) Isa is a sign and mercy that were predestined, 4) Isa is Allah’s servant, 5) Allah gave Isa a book and made him a prophet, 6) Allah blessed him and commanded him to pray, give alms, and respect his mother, 7) he was not proud or disobedient, 8) he ordains peace 9) he was the statement of truth, 10) Allah would never choose a boy for himself, 11) Allah says “Be” when he decrees something, 12) Allah is one, and He is Isa’s and our Lord 13). It also teaches that to walk the straight path, one owes to worship Allah.

D) Ya-Sin 36: 60-61

This passage is the least complete in its explanation, but from it we can conclude that the straight path includes: 1) not worshiping Satan, and 2) worshiping Allah.

E) Al-Zukhruf 43: 57-64

Again, we learn many points from this text, which teaches us that being on the straight path includes:

1) not rejecting Isa, 2) believing that Isa is a blessed slave, a proverb, and the sign of the Hour, 3) not doubting the Hour, 4) following Allah, 5) not letting Sheytan block you, 6) believing that Isa brought miracles and wisdom, 7) believing that Isa came to clarify differences, 8) fearing Allah, 9) obeying Isa, 10) worshiping the one God, who is Isa’s Lord and ours, and 11) worshiping Allah.

Rab, Guide us to this beautiful and blessed path: the Straight Way, The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.