upward, raising its traveler to the Most High, the Most Great, whereas the path of misguidance leads downward, plunging its traveler to the lowest of the low.

There is a third interpretation of Allah Most High’s words:

He said, “This is a straight path to Me.” (15:41)

This is al-Kisā’ī’s view: the statement conveys a threat and warning, like His words:

“Indeed, your Lord is ever watchful.” (89:14)

It resembles saying, “Your road passes by me,” or “You must pass my way,” to someone whom you wish to inform that he cannot escape or elude you. Yet anyone who reflects on the context will see that it rules out this interpretation and does not accord with it. Allah said this in reply to Iblīs, who had said:

“I will surely lead them all astray, except Your chosen servants among them.” (15:39)

That is: I have no means of leading them astray and no way to gain power over them. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, affirmed this most emphatically, declaring that sincerity is a straight path to Him. Thus, you have no authority over My servants who follow this path, for it is a path to Me. Iblīs has no access to this path and cannot even hover around its precincts, for Allah guards and protects it. The enemy of Allah therefore cannot reach those who follow it.

Let the discerning reader reflect deeply on this passage, consider this meaning, and weigh it against the other two interpretations: which best suits the two verses and is closest to the Quran’s intent and the statements of the Salaf?

As for al-Kisā’ī’s comparison with His words, “Indeed, your Lord is ever watchful,” the difference in both context and meaning is plain. Reflect on it. One does not threaten someone who does not follow a path by saying, “This is a straight path to Me.” Nor is the path of the person being threatened straight. He is not being threatened with Allah’s straight path, and the path he follows does not lead straight to Allah. This interpretation is therefore wholly untenable.

As for those who interpret it as expressing an obligation—meaning, “It is incumbent upon Me to explain its straightness and point the way to it”—the meaning is sound. Whether it is what the verse intends, however, is open to question. It assumes an omission where nothing indicates the omitted words. Nor is this particular omission customary, such that the omitted words could readily be understood. This differs from omitting the governing word of an adverbial phrase when that phrase functions as an adjective: that is a familiar, customary omission, so much so that the governing word is not even mentioned