Will he find the way who grovels flat on his face, or he who walks straight on the right path?
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Tafseer
'Abdullāh Ibn 'Abbās / Muḥammad al-Fīrūzabādī
تفسير : (is he who goeth groping on his face) bent down in his error and disbelief, i.e. abu jahl ibn hisham (more rightly guided) more correct in his religion, (or he who walketh upright on a beaten road) on an established religion with which allah is pleased, i.e. islam? this refers to muhammad (pbuh).
Jalāl al-Dīn al-Maḥallī
تفسير : is he who walks cast down, fallen, on his face more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path? (the predicate of the second man, ‘who’, has been omitted, but is indicated by the predicate of the first, namely, ahdā, ‘more rightly guided’; the similitude refers to the believer and the disbeliever and to which of the two is more rightly guided).
Sahl al-Tustari
تفسير : is he who walks prone upon his face, more rightly guided…?he said:is he who is bent over [in pursuit] of the desire of his lower self, due to its natural disposition, and who is without guidance from his lord, better guided?
…or one who walks upright on a straight way?he said:by which is meant: or one who follows the laws of islam, and emulates the prophets, ⸢adhering to it [the straight path] (muqīman ʿalayhi)⸣? but god, glorified and exalted is he, knows best. his words, exalted is he:
