I sometimes wonder… when we ask Allah to guide us to the straight path, is there only the one path, or are there multiple paths? I mean, the path leads from wherever to Allah’s forgiveness and mercy, but you and I, we’re likely coming from many different directions…
I expect some would see this question as heretical. After all, the path to Allah’s forgiveness and mercy is straight through the Quran and Sunnah. It’s obvious, right?
Well…
For a white boy, 2nd or 3rd generation from Keller, TX, nth generation from Tarrant County, it’s was a bit of a circuitous route to the Quran and whatever parts of the sunnah I’ve assimilated into my life at this point. I expect it was a somewhat different route for the African American nth generation kids from Tarrant County, but I really can’t even imagine. I know it was very different from nth generation kids from some tiny village in Bangladesh or Somalia or somewhere. And if the path to the Quran and sunnah was different, I imagine the route through the Quran and sunnah will be different too.
I’m not going to be able (or willing) to do everything you’re able and willing to do, and there might be one or two things I pick up easily that don’t come quite so easily to you.
Anyway. I pray that Allah azza wa jall guide you, me, all of us, to whatever path leads most quickly and easily to His limitless forgiveness and mercy, while simultaneously guiding us away from His wrath, Ameen.
