'Then where are you going?'

Picture a man travelling in a busy city. He has just jumped off a train and is walking when he sees a new modern eco-bus; being impressed, he hops on, sits and begins to enjoy the ride. He peers out of the window and relaxes, admiring the view. After a short while he notices that the new trams have started running, so at the next stop he decides to jump off the bus and catch the next tram. Within a few moments the tram arrives and he excitedly hops on and gets seated to enjoy the ride. It’s comfortable and quiet, and as he glides through the city he peers out of the window. He sits back and admires the brand new carriage, the new comfortable seats and impeccable flooring; he thinks how smoothly the tram runs and enjoys the ride knowing that it’s only a matter of time before the tram reaches its destination. After some time the public address system announces that the tram has arrived and will terminate at the airport. Upon arrival, though, he is rather bemused and becomes upset with the realisation that he’s not anywhere near where he was required to be. He complains to the tram manager, who reminds him that he was on the airport tram and asks, “Where are you going?”

Of course, this is only a story, maybe a rather trivial journey; however, it remains that actions that we take lead us to what we have in life and to that which we attain as the destination.

The above story may seem rather unlikely, yet how often do we focus only on the journey and neglect to really reflect on one’s ultimate goal and destination when making one’s choices in life? Whether it is a matter of choosing where to live, choosing a course of study, choosing a career path or job, choosing one’s friends and associates or even the choice of a life-time spouse, one’s actions often show that the journey is more important than the destination.

We live in the modern world, with all of its modern ‘conveniences’. We have appliances, contraptions and gadgets allowing us to communicate with one another at the speed of light no matter where one is in the world, to be kept up to date with the latest news and events, to read a book on the latest tablet device or perhaps have the book read to us, to travel in comfort, to have an espresso coffee in an instant…the list goes on and on. I’m even able to write these words on my smartphone without the need for pen and paper. Alhumdolilla, modern technology has given us many comforts. Life in the world we live in is full of ‘conveniences’, yet how often do we really stop and think, where is this all leading us?

Imagine scheduling a meeting or an action when we already have a busy diary that day. It would not be common sense to arrange this without consulting one’s diary. Yet when we plan the day, how much thought is given to the scheduled meeting with Allahﷻ , i.e. the time of salat?

It is important that one is constantly reviewing one’s actions and one’s planned actions, in the hope of better understanding the impact that these actions will have on one’s life and how these actions may lead us astray, distract us or prevent us from performing salat at the correct time.

The straight path

Surah 81 At-Takwir Ayah 26-29

Faayna tathhaboona

In huwa illa thikrun lilaaalameena

Liman shaa minkum an yastaqeema

Wama tashaoona illa an yashaa Allahu rabbu alaaalameena

Then where are you going?

Verily, this is no less than a reminder for the creatures

To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight

And you cannot will unless Allah wills – the Lord of all that exists.

The action is to reflect on siraatal mustaqim and take action, and to seek the help of

Allahﷻ .

Intention – niyah

It is with sincerity in one’s supplications to Allahﷻ , for Himﷻ to guide us in salat, that one is able to reflect – reflect and become aware of how we resist the guidance to siraatal mustaqim. It is only with reflection on this that one can become present and acknowledge that one is often misguided; misguided by oneself, misguided by misplaced interest and misplaced priorities, and misguided due to financial pressures or pressures from others. Guidance will come, in’shaAllah, and then one must follow with action.

Actions are necessary!

Correct one’s intentions during salat. Allahﷻ will guide us to siraatal mustaqim. We must intend and act to walk on siraatal mustaqim.

Surah 10 Yunus Ayat 25

WaAllahu yadaaoo ila darI alssalamI wayahdee man yashao ila siratin mustaqeemin

And Allah invites to the home of peace and guides whom he wills to a straight path

Siraatal mustaqiim is mentioned in the opening Surah of the Qur’an:

Surah Al-Fatiha Ayat 6.

Ihdina alssirata almustaqeema

Show us the straight way

Sirat al mustaqiim: the straight path, the path of guidance, the path of Allahﷻ Himself.

Surah 11 Hud Ayah 56

Innee tawakkaltu aaala AllahI rabbee warabbikum ma min dabbatin illa huwa akhithun binasiyatiha inna rabbee aaala siratin mustaqeemin

I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but he has the grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the straight path (the truth)

As for the meaning of as-Sirat Al-Mustaqim, Imam Abu Ja‘far At-TabarI said, “The ummah agreed that Sirat Al-Mustaqim is the clear path without branches.” (Tafsir ibn Kathir)

The straight path mentioned in the Qur’an refers to Islam. Imam Ahmad recorded in his musnad that An-Nawwas bin Sam‘an said that the Prophetﷺ said:

“Allah has set an example: a sirat (straight path) that is surrounded by two walls on both sides, with several open doors within the walls covered with curtains. There is a caller on the gate of the sirat who heralds, ‘O people! Stay on the path and do not deviate from it.’ Meanwhile, a caller from above the path is also warning any person who wants to open any of these doors, ‘Woe unto you! Do not open it, for if you open it you will pass through.’ The straight path is Islam, the two walls are Allah’s set limits, while the doors resemble what Allah has prohibited. The caller on the gate of the sirat is the book of Allah, while the caller above the sirat is Allah’s admonishment in the heart of every Muslim.”

Allahﷻ describes to us in the glorious Qur’an the people before us who were at a loss as they did not follow Siraat Al Mustaqim. Such were the people at the times of Prophet Noah (as) and Prophet Hud (as).

Surah 41 Fussilat Ayat 6

Qul innama ana basharunmithlukum yooha ilayya annama ilahukum ilahunwahidun fastaqeemoo ilayhI wastaghfiroohuwawaylun lilmushrikeen

Say: I am only a human being like you. It is inspired in me that your God is one God – Allah; therefore, take the straight path to Him and show obedience to Him, and seek forgiveness of Him. And woe to al-mushrikun (the disbelievers in the oneness of Allah).