And in another narration: "O Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmaan, what is the straight path?" He said: "The Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) left us upon the nearest end of the line and its other end is in Paradise. And to its left and right are roads in which there are men who invite those who pass by them, saying: ‘Come this way! Come this way!" So whoever is taken by them to those paths will end up in Hellfire and whoever remains steadfast upon the great path will end up, through it, in Paradise." The Ibn Mas’ood recited:

"And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqûn" [Al-An’aam 6:153]

And Mujaahid said about the saying of Allaah:

…and follow not (other) paths [Al-An’aam 6:153]

"The innovations and doubts."

And Abdur-Rahmaan bin Mahdee said: "Maalik bin Anas had been asked about the Sunnah and he said: ‘It is whatever has no other name for it except ‘the Sunnah’ and he recited:

"And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. [Al-An’aam 6:153]

Bikr bin ‘Alaa said: "He means - if Allaah wills - the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood that the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) drew a line..." and he mentioned the hadeeth.

And this explanation (tafseer) shows that the verse includes all the different paths of innovation and does not specify one innovation over others.

And also amongst the verses [that are related to the censure of innovation] is the saying of Allaah the Exalted:

And upon Allâh is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path but there are ways that turn aside. And had He willed, He would have guided you all (mankind). [An-Nahl 16:9]

The explained path is the Path of Truth and that which is other than it, turns away from the truth - and these are the paths of innovations and misguidance - may Allaah protect us, by His Excellence, from travelling upon them. It is sufficient for whatever turns away [from the Truth] that it is warned against and the verse contains a warning and a prohibition [of taking other paths that turn deviate from the Truth].

And Ibn Waddaah mentioned, saying: "’Aasim bin Bahdalah was questioned: ‘O Abu Bakr, have you considered the saying of Allaah, the Exalted:

And upon Allâh is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path but there are ways that turn aside. And had He willed, He would have guided you all (mankind). [An-Nahl 16:9]

He replied: ‘Abu Waa’il informed us, from ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood saying: "Abdullaah bin Mas’ood drew a straight line and drew lines to its right and to its left and then said: ‘The Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) drew just like this, and he said about the straight line: ‘This is the path of Allaah’ and about the lines to its right and left he said: ‘These are different ways, upon each of these ways is a devil calling to it." Allaah the Exalted said:

"And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it… [Al-An’aam 6:153]

to the end of the verse.

From at-Tustaree, that he said: "Explanation of the path (qasd us-sabeel) - that is the path of the Sunnah, ‘ ways that turn aside’ (wa minhaa jaa’ir) - meaning to the Hellfire and they are the sects and innovations."

And from Mujaahid, that he said: ""Explanation of the path (qasd us-sabeel) - meaning the one who is justly balanced between exaggeration and negligence and this shows that the one who turns aside is one who commits excesses or is negligent, and both of them are amongst the descriptions of the innovations."

And from ‘Alee (radiallaahu ‘anhu), that he used to read it: "Wa minkum jaa’ir…" (And amongst you is one that turns aside). They said: ‘He means by that this Ummah.’

So it is as if this verse along with the one before it have come with the same meaning.

And amongst the verses is the saying of Allaah: