The Quran about the way

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful

The choice of a life path is important for any person. The right way influence on both well-being in this life, and in the future. After all, no matter how people are equipped, the wrong choice will lead only to confusion and disappointment.

For Muslims there is no doubt that the Quran indicates the right way. However, among believers arose a dual notion about it. On the one hand, the Quran is the way, on the other hand – Muhammad – showed the way, which is not reflected in the Prescription. The following verses are cited as evidence:

And whoever opposes the messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way (sabiili) of the believers – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination! (4:115)

Indeed, those who closed themselves and averted from the way (sabiili) of God and opposed the messenger after guidance had become clear to them – never will they harm God at all, and He will render worthless their deeds! (47:32)

The term “sabile” – “road” is used here. Traditionalists believe that words derived from this root point to the way of Muhammad. This is an important argument in justifying the traditions about the hadiths of the messenger of God. Moreover, for those who do not follow the Sunnah, the following threatening passage is cited:

Indeed, those who closed themselves from God and His messengers and wish to discriminate between God and His messengers and say, “We believe in some and closed themselves from others,” and wish to adopt a way (sabiilyan) in between – Those are the truly closed. And We have prepared for the closed ones a humiliating punishment! (4:150-151)

As saying goes, “opinions differ”. Therefore, we turn only to the statements of the Creator.

And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice! None can alter His word! And He is the Hearing, the Knowing!

And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way (sabiili) of God. They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying! (6:115-116)

There is a “binding” of the Lord’s way to his Words, and instructions of people to the assumptions.

This statement is strengthened by the information about the pointing to the true road.

And upon God is the direction of the way (assabiili), and among the various paths are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all! (16:9)

Whom does the Almighty direct on the indicated route? They are those who made efforts to find the truth.

And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways (subulyana). And indeed, God is with the doers of good! (29:69)

On the contrary, those who do not use his mind to think, who are negligent in understanding the signs of the Creator, will certainly choose the way of error.

I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way (sabiilya) of consciousness, they will not adopt it as a way (sabiilyan); but if they see the way (sabiilya) of error, they will adopt it as a way (sabiilyan). That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them. (7:146)

I would like to remind you that the signs of God are in written form in the Quran. It cannot be said that people do not think about the Creator at all, but their main mistake is to rely on human concepts and developments. Only reliance on the Prescription of the Lord allows you not to get lost in the wilds of human thoughts.

And of the people is he who disputes about God without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening Prescription, twisting his neck to mislead from the way (sabiili) of God. For him in the world is disgrace, and We will make him taste on the day of standing before God the punishment of the burning fire. (22:8-9)

And in this place you can see the binding of the way and the Prescription.

The well-known fact is that the Prescriptions were distributed by messengers among the nations.

Their messengers said to them, “We are only men like you, but God confers favor upon whom He wills of His servants. It has never been for us to bring you evidence except by permission of God. And upon God let the believers rely. And why should we not rely upon God while He has guided us to our ways (subulyana). And we will surely be patient against whatever harm you should cause us. And upon God let those who would rely [indeed] rely!” (14:11-12)

As can be seen from the statement of the messengers, their journey was determined by God, but not by their personal vision. Muhammad was no exception in the line of the messengers.

Alif, Lam, Ra.

The Prescription.

Which We have revealed to you, that you might bring mankind out of darknesses into the light by permission of their Lord – to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy – God, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And woe to the closed ones from a severe punishment the ones who prefer the worldly life over the hereafter and avert from the way (sabiili) of God, seeking to make it deviant! Those are in extreme error! (14:1-3)

It is the Quran that is called to lead people out of the darkness of ignorance and distortion. It was to the distortion of the meaning that the opponents of truth sought to. The most effective way to get away from a true way is by offering a parallel way. In order for believers to have no doubts, this parallel way was attached to the messenger by the witnesses of his life. However, the Lord is the witness that the Prescription is the true way.

But God bears witness to that which He has revealed to you. He has sent it down with His knowledge, and the maintainers bear witness. And sufficient is God as Witness!

Indeed, those who closed themselves and avert from the way (sabiili) of God have certainly gone far astray. (4:166-167)

Denial of the precepts of revelation gives the notion of error.

Along with this, the desire to coordinate each step with the prophet is also not approved by the Creator.

Or do you intend to ask your messenger as Musa (Moses) was asked before? And whoever exchanges faith for closed nature has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way (sabiili). (2:108)

After all, the children of Israel meticulously tried to find out from Moses different answers, despite the clear original prescription. The same picture is also observed among Muslims for whom God’s explanations are not enough. This is used by the guiding layer between the Creator and the believers, who on behalf of Muhammad gives answers systematized in the form of “hadiths,” which is what is called the “sunna” of the prophet.

Invite to the way (sabiili) of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation, and argue with them in a way that is best! Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way (sabiilihi), and He is most knowing of who is guided! (16:125)

Muhammad was prescribed to call for the road indicated by the Almighty. The prophet clearly indicated that the Prescription is his way.

Say, “This is my way (sabiilii)! I invite to God with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is God; and I am not of those who associate others with Him!”

And We sent not before you except men to whom We suggested from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the hereafter is best for those who were circumspect! Then will you not reason? (12:108-109)

And again, the way indicated by the messenger is inextricably linked with the revelation, which is shown on the basis of past events.

There is no doubt that what is meant by suggestion is the Prescription. The theme of “suggestion” is disclosed in the article “The Quran about suggestion”.

This is confirmation of the fact that Muhammad invited to listen information that is being read, meaning Quran.

Say, “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you… (6:151)

And just in a short space the messenger again claims that his way is the Quran.

This is my path (siyrotal mustakim), which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow other ways (subulya), for you will be separated from His way (sabiilihi). This has He instructed you that you may beware! (6:153)

A close look will reveal the identity of the straight path (syrotal mustakim) and the way (sabile) of God. In this passage we see the categorical instruction of the messenger to follow the Word of the Creator. He clearly reported that the Quran is his way, according to which all the faithful ones were invited to follow by the prophet.

To those who did not perceive the Prescription, the Creator recommended not to impose it to them and leave them alone.

So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life.

That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way (sabiilihi), and He is most knowing of who is guided! (53:29-30)

This “message” is one of the synonyms of the Quran. The entire mission of the messenger was subject to the dissemination of the Prescription. Naturally, there were many opponents, but the Lord firmly protected Muhammad from their influence.

And when you recite the Literature (Quran), We put between you and those who do not believe in the hereafter a concealed veil. And We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness.

And when you mention your Lord alone in the Literature (Quran), they turn back in aversion. We are most knowing of how they listen to it when they listen to you and when they are in private conversation, when the obscurantists say, “You follow not but a man affected by magic!”

Look how they strike for you comparisons; but they have strayed, so they cannot find a way (sabiilyan)! (17:45-48)

Those who contradict the Quran, the ones closed from the Prescription of God, are deceived, unable to find the right way. Only the criterion of conformity to the Prescription gives grounds to consider the chosen way to be correct.

And those who closed themselves say, “This is not except a libel he invented, and another people assisted him in it.” But they have committed an injustice and a lie.

And they say, “Ancient legends! Which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.”

Say, “It (Literature) has been revealed by He who knows the secret within the heavens and the earth. Indeed, He is ever Forgiving and Merciful.”

And they say, “What is this messenger that eats food and walks in the markets? Why was there not sent down to him a maintainer so he would be with him a warner? Or a treasure presented to him, or does he not have a garden from which he eats?”

And the obscurantists say, “You follow not but a man affected by magic!”

Look how they strike for you comparisons; but they have strayed, so they cannot find a way (sabiilin)! (25:4-9)

As a result, the Creator compares those who have closed themselves from the signs with those who believe. This comparison is based on the acceptance of the Prescription – the Quran.

Those who closed themselves and avert from the way (sabiili) of God – He will waste their deeds.

And those who believe and corrected themselves and believe in what has been sent down upon Muhammad – and it is the truth from their Lord – He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition! (47:1-2)

Indicative is the appeal to the holders of the Prescription, which reveals the essence of the early distortions of the truth.

O holders of the Prescription! There has come to you Our messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Prescription and overlooking much. There has come to you from God a light – a clear Prescription. By which God guides those who pursue His contentment to the ways (subulya) of humility and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path (syrotyn mustakym). (5:15-16)

The “priests” of the holders of the Prescription clearly understood a source of threat for them and undertook, and still are undertaking, a series of measures to discredit the Quran.

Say, “O holders of the Prescription! Why do you avert from the way of God those who believe, seeking to make it deviant, while you are witnesses? And God is not unaware of what you do!” (3:99)

How did they try to deviate believers from the true way? By the nature closed from the signs.

O holders of the Prescription! Why do you close yourselves from the signs of God while you witness? (3:70)

Say, “O holders of the Prescription! Why do you close yourselves from the signs of God while God is witness over what you do?”(3:98)

The main event for all people will be, of course, the Day of Debt. On this day, the true cause of delusion will be revealed. “Debriefing” will certainly come to the attitude to the sent Prescription.

And the day He will gather them and that which they worship besides God and will say, “Did you mislead these, My servants, or did they themselves stray from the way (sabiilya)?”

They will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any patrons. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a nation ruined!” (25:17-18)

In contrast, tradition gives the following argument:

And the day the obscurantists will bite on his hands, he will say, “Oh, I wish I had taken with the messenger a way (sabiilyan)! (25:27)

It is to imply that the one who not walking on the way of “sunna” will grieve. However, if you look at the entire context and read further, everything falls into place.

Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend. He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is the disobedient, to man, a deserter.”

And the messenger has said, “O my Lord! Indeed my nation has taken this Literature (Quran) as abandoned!” (25:28-30)

The choice of the way with the messenger is to follow the Prescription, and the main notion of Muhammad against people will be precisely their attitude to the Quran.

If we go back to the passages in which the sunna is supposedly meant, then it is worth reading them in context. As it turns out, we should understand the following:

And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way (sabiili) of the believers – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination! (4:115)

It is necessary having in mind the following:

Indeed, We have revealed to you, the Prescription in truth so you may judge between the people by that which God has shown you. And do not be for the traitors a rival. (4:105)

And the following excerpt:

Indeed, those who closed themselves and averted from the way (sabiili) of God and opposed the Messenger after guidance had become clear to them – never will they harm God at all, and He will render worthless their deeds! (47:32)

from this:

Then do they not reflect upon the Literature (Quran), or are there locks upon their hearts? (47:24)

The following warning:

Indeed, those who closed themselves from God and His messengers and wish to discriminate between God and His messengers and say, “We believe in some and closed themselves from others,” and wish to adopt a way (sabiilyan) in between – Those are the truly closed. And We have prepared for the closed ones a humiliating punishment! (4:150-151)

It is necessary to study at least with:

O you who have believed! Believe God and His messenger and the Prescription that He sent down upon His messenger and the Prescription which He sent down before. And whoever closes himself from God, His maintainers, His Prescription, His messengers, and the last day has certainly gone far astray! (4:136)

Most people’s attitude and opinion is formed by their spiritual leaders and authorities. The result of such state of affairs will be the despair on the Day of Debt.

And they will say, “Our Lord! Indeed we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they led us astray from the way!” (33:67)