Surah An Nahl Tafseer

Explanation of the Different Religious Paths

When Allah mentioned the animals which may be used for the purpose of physical journeys, He also referred to the moral, religious routes that people may follow. Often in the Qur'an there is a shift from physical or tangible things to beneficial spiritual and religious matters, as when Allah says,

وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى

And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is Taqwa (piety, righteousness). (2:197)

And,

يَـبَنِى ادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَرِى سَوْءَتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ

O Children of Adam! We have granted clothing for you to cover yourselves, as well as for adornment; but the raiment of righteousness, that is better. (7:26)

Since Allah mentioned cattle and other such animals in this Surah, all of which are ridden or can be used in any way necessary, carrying people's necessities for them to distant places and on difficult journeys - then He mentions the ways which people follow to try to reach Him, and explains that the right way is the one that does reach Him.

He says:

وَعَلَى اللّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ

And it is up to Allah to show the right way.

This is like the Ayat,

وَأَنَّ هَـذَا صِرَطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ

And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow the (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path. (6:153)

and,

قَالَ هَذَا صِرَطٌ عَلَىَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ

(Allah) said:"This is the way which will lead straight to Me." (15:41)

وَعَلَى اللّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ

And it is up to Allah to show the right way.

Mujahid said:

"The true way is up to Allah."

Al-Awfi said that Ibn Abbas said:

"It is up to Allah to clarify, to explain the guidance and misguidance."

This was also reported by Ali bin Abi Talhah, and was also the opinion of Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak.

Hence Allah said:

وَمِنْهَا جَأيِرٌ

But there are ways that stray.

meaning they deviate from the truth.

Ibn Abbas and others said:

"These are the different ways,"

and various opinions and whims, such as Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism.

Ibn Mas`ud recited it as

وَمِنْ

كُمْ

جَأيِرٌ

,

"But among you are those who stray."

Then Allah tells us that all of that happens by His will and decree.

He says:

وَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

And had He willed, He would have guided you all.

And Allah says:

وَلَوْ شَأءَ رَبُّكَ لامَنَ مَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا

If your Lord had willed, then all who are in the earth would have believed. (10:99)

وَلَوْ شَأءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَا يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ

إِلاَّ مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَلِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبّكَ لَامْلَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ

And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely, have made humanity one Ummah, but they will not stop disagreeing. Except those for whom your Lord has granted mercy. And it is for this that He did create them; and the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (i.e. His saying):"Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinn and men all together." (11:118-119