“Al-Hasan said: ‘It means a straight path to Me.’ Mujāhid said: ‘The truth returns to Me, and its path leads to Him without turning aside to anything else.’ Al-Akhfash said: ‘It means that pointing out the straight path rests with Me.’ Al-Kisā’ī said: ‘This is a threat and a warning, as when a man says to someone with whom he is disputing, “Your path passes by me”—meaning, “You will not escape me”—as Allah Most High says, “Indeed, your Lord is ever watchful.”’ It has also been said: ‘It means that its straightness rests with Me, through clarification, proof, the granting of success, and guidance.’”

Thus, they mentioned the three interpretations and also al-Akhfash’s interpretation: “Pointing out the straight path rests with Me.” This resembles the last interpretation, but there is a distinction between them. One says: “Its straightness rests with Me, through establishing the evidence; whoever follows it is therefore on a straight path.” The other says: “It rests with Me to direct creation to it by establishing the proofs.”

Both interpretations therefore affirm that He has made the straight path clear by setting forth the evidence. However, one makes pointing out the path His responsibility, while the other makes its straightness His responsibility—that is, making its straightness clear. The two necessarily entail one another. This is why—and Allah knows best—Abū al-Faraj did not count it as a fourth interpretation.

They also mentioned the alternative reading reported from Ya‘qūb and others, meaning “lofty.” Al-Baghawī said: “Some expressed its meaning as: ‘Too lofty to be reached, too straight to be bent.’”