Ya-Sin: (61) And worship Me, this...

When the worship of Satan was forbidden, the command shifted to the worship of the Most Merciful (Allah). The Lawgiver (Sharīʿ) is like a physician of the souls, just as a physician is a physician of the bodies.

A physician tells the patient: "Do not do this, and do not eat that"—this is the dietary restriction (ḥimyah), which is the head of the cure, lest the illness increase. Then the physician says: "Take this specific medicine to strengthen your power to resist the disease."

Similarly, the Lawgiver forbade what corrupts (following Satan) and commanded what brings benefit (worship of the Most Merciful). In this, there are several issues:

Issue 1: The reason for the command

When forbidding the worship of Satan, Allah said: {Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy} (Ya-Sin: 60), because enmity is the strongest deterrent against following someone.

However, when commanding the worship of the Most Merciful, Allah did not say, "Indeed, He is a beloved to you." This is because love does not necessarily compel obedience; rather, it might lead to reliance on that love. A person might say, "He loves me, so there is no need to exert effort in achieving His pleasure."

Instead, Allah mentioned what is the most compelling factor for obedience: that this path is a straight path (ṣirāṭun mustaqīm).

This is because man, in this worldly abode, is in a desolate, fearful stopping place, heading toward the abode of permanence where his brethren reside. One traveling in an empty wilderness fears for his life and property and desires nothing more than a near, safe road. When Allah Almighty said: {This is a straight path}, it became a compelling reason to follow it.

Furthermore, within the statement {This is a path} is an indication that man is a traveler (mujāz). If he were already in the abode of permanence, the statement {This is a straight path} would have no meaning, as the resident would say, "What concern do I have with a path when I am already settled?"

Issue 2: Evidence for it being a straight path

What proves that it is a straight path? We say that man is either traveling back to his homeland or traveling as a merchant dealing in goods. In both cases, Allah is the ultimate destination.

1. The Homeland: True security and peace (amn) are only found with a King whose dominion does not cease. When the dominion of kings ceases, security and comfort vanish. Allah, the Glorified, possesses eternal dominion, while everything else is transient.
2. Trade: A merchant only intends to go to a place where he knows or has heard that his merchandise will find a good market. Allah Almighty states that righteous deeds are rewarded manifold by Him. Allah is the destination, and worshipping Him directs one toward Him. Undoubtedly, one who intends a direction, when facing it, is on the straight path.

Issue 3: The meaning of worship and arrogance

Worship (ʿibādah) implies humility (tadhallul). When commanded not to worship Satan, it necessitates that man acts arrogantly toward everything other than Allah. When commanded: {And worship Me}, it necessitates that he is not arrogant toward Allah.

However, arrogance toward things other than Allah does not mean considering oneself better than others, as one's own self is among those things other than Allah. Therefore, one should not pay attention to the self, even if it adorns itself with the worship of Allah.

Rather, arrogance toward things other than Allah means not submitting to anything except by the permission of Allah. In this arrogance lies the ultimate humility. For then, one does not submit to the self and its desire to surpass others. Thus, one does not strive for superiority, resulting in complete humility.

Also, one does not submit to the command of rulers if they oppose the command of Allah, resulting in complete (rightful) arrogance. Through this, one sees oneself as inferior to the poor person and superior to the prince (in terms of obedience to God).

{ And indeed, many of you have been led astray. Did you not then use reason? }