لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَا آيَاتٍ مُّبَيِّنَاتٍ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Certainly We have sent down manifest signs, and Allah guides whomever He wishes to a straight path.
EXPOSITION
Like the previous section, this section of verses closes with a reminder of the surah’s main theme: God reveals the ‘clear command’ (or manifest signs), which is here to guide us on the straight path, the path of harmonious existence for which we were created. After the section dealing with how God’s command has brought harmony to the natural world, we are once again returned to examine how His command brings harmony to the Muslim community. This is foremost a reminder that whilst God has created everything harmoniously and with purpose, man has been given the choice to bring himself within the fold of that harmony, or rebel against it. God does not force him, but rather communicates to him His manifest signs.
And Allah guides whomever He wishes to a straight path: this is the blessing of God to those who seek guidance and wish to be righteous.[1] Like with other things in His creation, His will manifests itself through cause and effect. Those who wish to be guided and seek it will in turn be blessed with it.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[2]
[1] See Tibyan, 7/449.
[2] Proverbs 3:5-6.