صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ 7
Translations
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
Transliteration
Sirat-al-ladhina an'amta 'alaihim ghair-al-maghdub 'alaihim wa la ad-dallin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the supplication of Surah Al-Fatihah by specifying the path we seek: the path of those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favors (the prophets, the righteous, and the believers), while explicitly excluding two deviant paths—the path of those who incurred Allah's wrath (those who knowingly rejected truth) and the path of those who went astray (those who were misguided). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse encapsulates the Islamic creed and the correct understanding of monotheism, as it guides believers away from theological errors and moral corruption.
Revelation Context
While Surah Al-Fatihah was revealed in Mecca as a whole, this particular verse serves as the culmination of the supplication that Muslims make in every prayer (salah). The surah itself is thematic rather than historically occasioned—it addresses the universal human need for divine guidance and protection from error. This final verse crystallizes the prayer's purpose: seeking steadfastness on the straight path while avoiding deviation and divine displeasure.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in a hadith: 'Every action of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting, which is for Me and I will reward for it' (Sahih Bukhari). More directly related, scholars reference the hadith that those 'upon whom Allah has bestowed favors' refers to the prophets, the truthful (as-siddiqun), the martyrs (ash-shuhada), and the righteous (as-salihun) as mentioned in Surah An-Nisa 4:69.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to consciously seek Allah's guidance in every prayer, recognizing that the spiritual journey requires constant, sincere supplication to remain steadfast and avoid the pitfalls of ignorance and deliberate rejection of truth. It reminds us that guidance is not merely intellectual knowledge but a continuous divine blessing that protects the heart from arrogance, disbelief, and waywardness.
Related Ayahs
أَوْ كَظُلُمَـٰتٍ فِى بَحْرٍ لُّجِّىٍّ يَغْشَىٰهُ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِۦ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِۦ سَحَابٌ ۚ ظُلُمَـٰتٌۢ بَعْضُهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ إِذَآ أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُۥ لَمْ يَكَدْ يَرَىٰهَا ۗ وَمَن لَّمْ يَجْعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ نُورًا فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن نُّورٍ
Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allāh has not granted light - for him there is no light.
وَمَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن مُّضِلٍّ ۗ أَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِعَزِيزٍ ذِى ٱنتِقَامٍ
And whoever Allāh guides - for him there is no misleader. Is not Allāh Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution?
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
[The one] who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided
وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ دَارِ ٱلسَّلَـٰمِ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allāh invites to the Home of Peace [i.e., Paradise] and guides whom He wills to a straight path.