In the five daily prayers, when reading the verses from the Qur'an that were probably the first we ever memorized, Muslims ask for guidance from Allah, at least 17 times each day.
{Guide us to the straight path}; guide us to the siraat al-mustaqeem. The straight path in this lifetime is belief in One God and in the Prophets sent by God. It is a life of worship, devotion, and self-discipline, not giving in to base desires, and it is a life of service and goodness towards humanity and all of creation.
The straight path in the afterlife is literally a path, the siraat; it is a bridge that must be crossed to reach salvation, to get to the Heavens. Our ability to successfully tread across the bridge is determined by the way we live our lives in this world.
The siraat is a bridge that stretches over the Hellfire, and every soul ever created must walk on this bridge.
The verse in the Chapter of Maryam refers to the siraat: {And there is none of you except he will come to it [the siraat]. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed.} (chapter 19, verse 71) The happy ones are those who will cross the bridge to its end; arriving in Heaven, without stumbling and falling down into the pits of the Hellfire. It is a difficult and treacherous bridge to pass.
As described by the Prophet (peace be upon him), the siraat is thinner than a human hair and shaper than the edge of a sword. It is a slippery bridge on which there are clamps and hooks that are like the branches of a sharp, thorny plant. These hooks will snatch and grab at the people walking over the bridge. How difficult it is to pass and whether an individual makes it across to safety or not, depends on each person's deeds.
Some people will be ruined because of their evil deeds. Some will be cut into pieces and fall down to Hell for eternity, but some will be saved afterwards and taken out of the Hellfire. Some people will get by with a few cuts and scratches, and others will be completely unscathed.
The pious believers, the righteous men and women will sail over the bridge swiftly, without distress or anxiety. Some will pass by as fast as the wind, some like lightening, some like a falling star, others like a racing horse. For these believers, the Hellfire will call out to them from underneath, “O Believer! Pass over me quickly, for your light is extinguishing my fire.” Some believers will run across the bridge, others will walk, and some will crawl.
Not only are there the clamps and hooks to dodge and avoid, but there are seven obstacles that may stand in our way on the siraat.
There are seven stations where we will be stopped and asked about how we performed certain acts of worship and how we treated one another in this life. Whoever fails at any of these obstacles will slip and fall into the Hellfire, to be punished until their sins are expiated or until Allah wills.
If our answers were satisfactory, we will be free to pass, until we step foot on a beautiful land, bathe in a fresh spring, and drink the purest, most refreshing water that we never even imagined could exist. We can prepare for what we will answer on that day when we stop at each obstacle.
One: we will be asked about our faith, our eman. The six pillars of faith are the belief in Allah, the Angels, the Holy Books, the Prophets, the Day of Judgment, and fate (both good and bad).
Two: we will be asked about our obligatory prayers, our salah, the five daily prayers and if we performed them or not, performed them correctly and on time. For the one who was keen on praying on time and praying mindfully, the prayer will serve as a bright light, showing the way and aiding him/her to cross the siraat.
Three: we will be asked about paying the zakat to the poor. A severe punishment awaits those who withhold their wealth, and do not give the required 2.5% of the wealth each year to the poor. For those who pay the zakat each year and give even more in charity, they will pass by this obstacle like a cool breeze.
Four: we will be asked about fasting the month of Ramadan. Fasting and reading the Holy Qur'an will come to the aid of the believer when enduring the hardships of the Day of Judgment. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: “O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.” The Qur'an will say: “I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.” And their intercession will be accepted.” (Ahmad)
Five: we will be asked about the Haj. In order to successfully pass this station, every Muslim who is physically and financially capable must perform the pilgrimage once in a lifetime.
Six: we will be asked about our wudu and ghusl, the ablution and ritual bathing, to cleanse and purify our bodies before performing acts of worship. Cleanliness is a cornerstone of the Islamic faith. Muslim children are taught from a young age the steps of ablution. In our times, the information age, ignorance is no excuse. Even if we were not taught as children, we have access to a wide range of sources to learn the proper, step-by-step ablution and bathing.
Seven: we will be asked about the rights of other people. Did we uphold others' rights and treat them with dignity, respect, and kindness, or did we violate people's rights and oppress them and harm them? How did we treat our parents, children, siblings, neighbors, friends, grandparents? Abusing, backbiting, robbing, and harming others will cast a dark cloud on the siraat, making it harder to see the way. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Beware of oppression (dhulm), for oppression will be darkness (dhulumaat) on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim)
Once the believer passes the siraat, he/she is safe, blissful, relieved; no more difficulty, no more worry.
When the believers cross the siraat, they will come to two springs of water; the banks of which are of jewels. The believers will bathe in one spring and drink from the other. They walk to the gate of Paradise, and the Angels greeting them at the gate will say, “Peace be upon you. Welcome! Enter here eternally.”
