وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطِى مُسْتَقِيمًا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ 153
Translations
And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
Transliteration
Wa anna hadha siratī mustaqīman fattabi'ūh wa lā tattabi'ū as-subulaā fattafarraqa bikum 'an sabīlih. Dhālikum wassākum bih la'allakum tattaqūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that Allah's path (the way of Islamic monotheism and obedience) is the straight path, and believers are commanded to follow it exclusively while avoiding divergent paths that lead away from Allah's guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a warning against sectarian divisions, innovation (bid'ah), and following desires that contradict Islamic teachings. The ayah concludes that this commandment is given so that believers may achieve taqwa (God-consciousness and piety).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Al-An'am, which is predominantly Meccan. It comes in a section addressing fundamental principles of Islamic belief and practice. The broader context involves Allah's commandments regarding righteous conduct, and this ayah specifically emphasizes religious unity and adherence to the straight path revealed by Allah, contrasting it with the multiplicity of deviant paths followed by those who reject guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of affairs are innovations, and every innovation is misguidance.' (Sahih Muslim 867). Additionally, the hadith of the 73 sects relates to this theme, where the Prophet warned that the ummah would split into many groups, with only one following the correct path (Sunan Ibn Majah 3993).
Themes
Key Lesson
In an age of religious fragmentation and competing ideologies, this ayah reminds believers that there is one clear, straight path of guidance from Allah, and divisive paths that contradict His teachings only scatter the community and distance people from His mercy. True piety (taqwa) is achieved through unified adherence to Allah's revelation, not through following personal desires or invented religious practices that have no basis in the Quran and Sunnah.