THE STRAIGHT PATH

THE STRAIGHT PATH

Allah taught us to pray as follows:

Guide us (O Lord) on the Straight Path: The Path of those upon whom You have been pleased to bestow favours.

Allah tells us about the Straight Path in the following verses:
Those upon whom Allah has been pleased to show favours.

This way of My sincere servant is the way that leads Straight to Me. (15:41)

So hold fast to the Revelation sent down to thee; verily, you are on the Straight Way. (43:43)

The Straight Path leads us back to our Lord. He says:

Your Lord is your Final Goal. (53:42)

Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (pboh) to invite people to the Path that leads to Him. He says about the Prophet's Mission as follows:

O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as a Witness, a Bearer of Glad Tidings and a Warner; and as one who invites to Allah by His leave. (33:45-46)

Muslims are to be careful as to their choices regarding what they do, as some things may be helpful to us in treading on the Straight Path; while others may be not, but will lead us astray.

Allah tell human beings that in front of every one of them there are two "highways"; one appears to be attractive and easy to go on, while the other appears to be steep and difficult to travel upon. He says:

Have We not made for him a pair of eyes; and a tongue and a pair of lips; and shown him the two highways? But he has made no haste on the path that is steep. (90:8-11)

The highway that appears to be attractive does not lead us back to Allah; it diverts a person's focus and leaves him taken up with the material things which will not last forever. In order to prevent a person from keeping his focus on his return to his Lord, Satan makes the material things appear to be attractive and inviting. Allah says about him and his mission the following:
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Remember! Satan made their sinful act seem alluring to them; and said, no one among men can overcome you this day. (8:48)

Satan's mission is to divert people's focus from the Straight Path. He made a vow to Allah that he will spend his whole life in this world only doing that He said to Allah when he was about to be cast out of the Garden the following:

Because You have thrown me out of the Way, I will lie in wait for them on the Straight Path. (7:16)

The right thinking person will not heed to call of the Evil One, but will aspire to return to Allah, even though such a decision can be challenging. However, Allah gives such a person consolation as He says:

And those who strive in Our Cause, We will certainly guide them to Our Path; for, verily, Allah is with those who do right. (29:69)

Even though the Path that leads back to Allah may seem difficult, one has to always keep in mind that while the present life may appear to be challenging, it is just for a short span of time (just for a few years), but the Hereafter is permanent and everlasting.