Arguments from the Quran

Straight Path refers to the provision of detailed laws, as Ibn Kathir wrote: This means that by establishing the laws of the Shariah and true religion, He has shown you the Straight Path (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 7, p. 327). If the believers had not been granted dominance and the opportunity to organize their own independent society, they would not have encountered all the situations of life. As a result, the laws related to every aspect of life would not have been revealed either. It is Allah’s tradition that laws concerning practical situations are revealed only after the relevant circumstances arise. Considering these points, it becomes clear why Abdullah ibn Abbas provided the aforementioned interpretation of the Ayah. This is essentially a statement of the specific wisdom hidden within the scheme of the dominance of religion. This discussion does not imply that the task of establishing dominance was solely the responsibility of the era of Prophethood, and that now we need not do anything regarding it. In reality, whenever there is a confrontation between religion and secularism, it becomes the duty of Muslims to stand firm and strive to establish religion. However, to categorically declare this as the mission of all Muslims and to interpret religion in such a way that this becomes the primary task is not correct.