And upon Allāh693 is the direction of the [right] way, and among them [i.e., the various paths] are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all.
Notes
[693] Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) has taken it upon Himself to guide man to the right path. The meaning has also been interpreted as "To Allāh..."
Verse 9 of Surah An-Nahl (16:9), a Meccan surah, is in juz 14, on page 268 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.
Listen to verse 9 of Surah An-Nahl
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Tafsir of verse 9
Al-Mukhtasar
Allah has made it a duty upon Himself to show the Path that leads to His Pleasure, which is Islam. Some paths are that of Satan that deviate away from the truth. Any path other than the path of Islam is deviated. Had Allah willed to guide you all to Faith He would have guided you alltogether.
It is upon Allah to show the straight path, while other ways are deviant. If He had willed, He could have guided you all.
And upon Allâh is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path9. But there are ways that turn aside (such as Paganism, Judaism and Christianity). And had He willed, He would have guided you all (mankind).
Notes
[9] (V.16:9) i.e. Islâmic Monotheism for mankind i.e. to show them legal and illegal, good and evil things; so whosoever accepts the guidance, it will be for his own benefit and whosoever goes astray, it will be for his own destruction.
And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright.
And unto Allah leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside: if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of you.
And upon Allah it rests to show the right way, and there are some deviating (ways); and if He please He would certainly guide you all aright.
And up to Allah is adoption of the (moderate) way; (i.e., it is up to É Allah "i.e., He has the authority" to guide to the moderate way) and (some) of them are trespassing; and if He had (so) decided, He would have guided you all together.
Ḥajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made ḥajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of iḥrām], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during ḥajj. And whatever good you do - Allāh knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allāh. And fear Me, O you of understanding.
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember.
And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, [O Muḥammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?
