Tafsir of Al-An'am 6:161

Surah Al-An'am (The Cattle): Verse 161

[Translator's Note:] The preceding verses established various proofs for Monotheism (Tawhid) and refuted those who asserted partners, equals, or adversaries to God. After extensively confirming the establishment of Tawhid and refuting those who denied Divine Decree and Predestination (Qada' wa Qadar), and responding to the falsehoods of the people of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), God commanded the Prophet (peace be upon him) to conclude the discourse with the statement: {Indeed, I have been guided by my Lord to a straight path}.

This indicates that guidance is achieved only through God.

The phrase {صراطاً مستقيماً} (a straight path) is in the accusative case (mansub) for two reasons:

1. It functions as a substitute (badal) for the implied object of the verb hadani (guided me), meaning: "My Lord guided me to a straight path," similar to the verse: {And He guides you to a straight path} (Al-Fath: 2).
2. Alternatively, the implied meaning is: "Adhere to a religion that is straight."

Regarding the reading of {قيماً} (steadfast/upright):

• The reading adopted by the author of Al-Kashshaf (Al-Zamakhshari) uses the fatha on the qaf (قيماً), making it an active participle (ism fa'il) derived from the root qama, similar to sayyid from sada. This form is considered more emphatic than qa'im (standing).
• The people of Kufa read it with a kasra on the qaf (قيّماً), with a light ya' (vowelized ya'). Al-Zajjaj stated that this form is a verbal noun (masdar) meaning "standing/uprightness," similar to sighar (smallness) and kibar (greatness), or hawl (a year) and shaba' (fullness). The interpretation then becomes: "a religion possessing uprightness." This description is used to emphasize the religion.

{ملة إبراهيم حنيفاً} (the religion/path of Abraham, inclining to truth):

• The word {ملة} (religion/path) is a substitute (badal) for {ديناً قيماً} (a steadfast religion).
• {حنيفاً} (inclining to truth) is in the accusative case, functioning as a circumstantial adverb (hal) describing Abraham.
• The meaning is: "My Lord guided me and made me recognize the path of Abraham, while it is characterized by Hanifiyyah (pure monotheism)."

Then, concerning the description of Abraham: {وما كان من المشركين} (and he was not among the polytheists). The purpose of this statement is to refute the polytheists (Mushrikeen).

{قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ}

{لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ}