The wording thus conveys the meaning of “pointing the way,” since the intention is not to speak of recompense in the Hereafter, for recompense encompasses all creation. Rather, the aim is to explain what Allah has commanded—worshipping and obeying Him, and obeying His messengers: what points the way to this?

It is as though it were said: the straight path points to Allah—to worshipping and obeying Him. This shows that Arabic speakers say, “This road is upon so-and-so,” when it points to him and he is its intended destination. This differs from saying that it is “upon him” in the sense that someone travelling along it passes by him.

As the poet said:

Such are the fates of death: whatever valley I take,
My path leads to them, or theirs leads to me.

This is as al-Farrā’ said: “Whoever follows guidance, his path is upon Allah.” What is meant is the path that points to Him and brings one to Him, just as one says, “If you follow this path, you will come upon your intended destination,” and similar expressions. Likewise, one says, “You have come upon an expert.” When the destination sought is momentous, the traveller comes upon it and casts himself upon it.

Moreover, whoever follows Allah’s path puts his trust in Him. He must therefore both worship Him and put his trust in Him. Thus, saying, “Upon Him is the straight path,” implies that whoever follows it puts his trust in Him