Jābir ibn ‘Abd Allāh said:

“Qasd al-sabīl (the straight path) means explaining the religious laws and obligations.”

‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Mubārak and Sahl ibn ‘Abd Allāh said:

“‘The straight path’ is the Sunnah, while ‘And some paths deviate’ refers to whims and religious innovations. The evidence for this is His saying, Exalted is He: ‘Indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths, for they will lead you away from His path.’”

However, al-Baghawī also mentioned the other interpretation, citing it from al-Farrā’ in his commentary on the words of the Exalted, “Indeed, it is for Us to give guidance,” as will be discussed below. Thus, in discussing the three verses, he mentioned both interpretations, following his predecessors such as al-Tha‘labī and others. Al-Mahdawī mentioned two of the three interpretations concerning the first verse; concerning the second, he mentioned what al-‘Awfī reported and another interpretation.

He said:

“His words, ‘He said: This is a straight path incumbent upon Me,’ mean: in accordance with My command and will. It is also said that this is a threat, as when someone says, ‘Your road leads to me, and to me you will ultimately return.’”

Concerning His words, “And it is for Allah to show the straight path,” he said:

“Ibn ‘Abbās said: ‘It means making guidance distinct from misguidance.’ It is also said that the path is Islam. ‘And some paths deviate’ means that some paths turn away from the truth. Another interpretation is that the meaning is ‘And there are paths that deviate from it’—that is, from the path—so min (from/among) is used in the sense of ‘an (away from).

“It is also said that qasd al-sabīl means your going and returning, and that ‘the path’ is singular in form but plural in meaning.”