After asking Allah for help, the slave then proceeds to mention the greatest matter for which he is need of help, guidance to, and on, the Straight Path. We are told that guidance to this Straight Path cannot occur unless Allah favors us, “the Path of those You have favored” and that this path lies in firmly adhering to what the Messengers came with.

The Path of those whom You have favored After the slave has requested guidance to the Straight Path, Allah then proceeds to clarify further what this Straight Path is, by pointing out those who traverse it, and this in turn is explained in greater detail in Surah an-Nis

وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُولَٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا

And whosoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, they will be in the company of those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favour: the Prophets, the sincerely truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. What an excellent company these are! [NISA: 65-69]

Ibn ‘Abbas said in commentary to this verse, [Those who you have favored] by making them obedient to You and worship You from the Angels, the Prophets, the sincerely truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. This is like what our Lord, Exalted is He has said,”They will be in the company of those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favor: …”

Allah, Exalted is He, also says,

‏أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۖ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ

They are the ones Allah has guided, so be guided by their guidance» [AN’AAM: 90]

In explaining to us the Straight Path by directing us to those who traverse it, lies an indication that we should be careful of the company we keep, this is a principle repeatedly taught to us by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

A man is upon the religion of his close friend, so look carefully as to who you take as your close friend. [TIRMIDI]

The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like the seller of musk and the blacksmith. As for the seller of musk, either he will give some to you, or you will try and buy it from him, or its scent will rub off on you. As for the blacksmith, either your clothes will be burned or his rancid odor will rub off on you. [DAWUD]

Moreover by directing our attention to those who traverse the Straight Path one is comforted and no longer feels lonely and isolated; for those traversing this Path, amongst man, are few. Some of the Salaf would say, ‘Follow the path of truth and do not despair because of the few who traverse it, beware of the path of misguidance and do not be deceived by the many who traverse it’ So each time one feels isolated, look to those who have traversed the path before you, those who have been favoured, take comfort in that, keep your gaze directed at them, your desire being to aspire to their company, and let not your desire be distracted to other than them; for they can never bring you any benefit before Allah. [IBN AL-QIYYIM]

This verse constitutes clear proof that the obedience of Allah, Exalted is He, can only come about by Allah favoring us and His granting us His divine accord [TAWFEEQ]. Allah, Exalted is He says,

قُلْ لِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ۚ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Say: Both east and west belong to Allah, He guides whoever He wills to a straight path» [BAQARAH: 143]

يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوا ۖ قُلْ لَا تَمُنُّوا عَلَيَّ إِسْلَامَكُمْ ۖ بَلِ اللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ هَدَاكُمْ لِلْإِيمَانِ

‘They think they have done you a favor by becoming Muslim [accepting Islam]Say, “Do not consider your Islam a favor to me. No! Rather, Allah has favoured you by guiding you to Islam’ [HUJURAAT:7]

Hence by the explicit mention of YOU in the statement ‘You have favored’ by the slave saying this, he is reminding himself that Allah is the one who has blessed him with guidance and that Allah is the One who should be thanked for this.