There are thus two ways to Allah...

There are thus two ways to Allah, a near one - the way of the believers - and a distant one, that of the others. It is the first difference between the ways. Second difference: Surely (as for) those who reject Our signs and turn away from them haughtily, the doors of heaven shall not be opened for them (7:40). What is the function of a door? To let authorized people pass through it and bar the entry to unauthorized ones.

The verse shows that there is a passage from the lower level to the upper heights. On the other hand, Allah says: . . . and to whomsoever My wrath descends he shall perish indeed (20:81) . The word translated here as “shall perish” literally means “shall fall down”. Therefore, there is another passage coming for the upper heights to the lower level. Also He says: . . . and whoever adopts unbelief instead of faith, he indeed has gone astray from (i.e., has lost) the right way (2: 108).

Allah uses the term “polytheism” for “going astray”.[^1] Accordingly, people are divided into three categories: First, those who proceed to the upper heights - those who believe in the signs of Allah and are not arrogant to His worship. Second, those who fall down to the lower levels - they are those upon whom the wrath of Allah has descended. Third, those who have gone astray from the right path; they are lost, wandering hither and thither.

The last verse under discussion points to these three categories: “the path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favours, not of those inflicted by Thy wrath, nor of those gone astray.” Obviously, “the straight path” is separate from the last two paths. It is the path of the believers who are not arrogant. At the same time, the following verse shows that the straight path itself may be divided in various “traffic lanes”, ways or branches: . . .

A llah will exalt those of you who believe, and those who are given knowledge, in high degrees . . . (58:11). This statement needs some elaboration: Every straying is polytheism and vice versa, as may be in­ferred from the words of Allah: . . . and whoever adopts un­belief instead of faith, he indeed has gone astray from the right way (2:108). The same is the theme of the verse: Did not I en­join on you, O children of Adam! that you should not worship the Satan? Surely he is your open enemy.

And that you should worship Me; this is the straight path. And certainly he has led astray a great multitude from among you (36:60 - 62) .