How is the reconciliation achieved between the word "path" (sabil) appearing in the Qur'an sometimes in the plural and sometimes in the singular, since the path leading to Allah is one?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, mentioned the word "path" in the Noble Qur'an in the singular form, as in His saying, the Exalted:[Al-An'am 6:153] This is because the path leading to Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, is one, and it is the path of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as He, the Exalted, said: [Yusuf 12:108] However, the word "path" is mentioned in the plural form in other places in the Noble Qur'an, as in His saying, the Exalted and Majestic: [Al-'Ankabut 29:69] and His saying: [Ibrahim 14:12] So how is this reconciled, or how is this issue resolved, O Shaykh? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The path attributed to Allah, the Exalted, is sometimes singular and sometimes plural. But when it is plural, it must be attributed to Allah. And when it is not attributed to Allah, it refers to the paths of misguidance. The path attributed to Allah, the Exalted, is singular because it is one path that leads to Allah, which is Islam. The paths of misguidance are plural because they are scattered; this is a Christian, this is a Jew, this is a communist, this is a Ba'athist, this is an atheist, and so on. They are scattered paths, and all of them are misguidance. As for the paths attributed to Allah, the Exalted, that He has made plural, He only makes them plural...
Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, mentioned the word "path" in the Noble Qur'an in the singular form, as in His saying, the Exalted:
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
وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيماً فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِThis is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me
قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِيAnd those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَاAnd why should we not rely upon Allah while He has guided us to our [good] ways
وَمَا لَنَا أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانَا سُبُلَنَاThe Shaykh : The path attributed to Allah, the Exalted, is sometimes singular and sometimes plural. But when it is plural, it must be attributed to Allah. And when it is not attributed to Allah, it refers to the paths of misguidance. The path attributed to Allah, the Exalted, is singular because it is one path that leads to Allah, which is Islam. The paths of misguidance are plural because they are scattered; this is a Christian, this is a Jew, this is a communist, this is a Ba'athist, this is an atheist, and so on. They are scattered paths, and all of them are misguidance. As for the paths attributed to Allah, the Exalted, that He has made plural, He only makes them plural...