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As-Sirat Al-Mustaqeem: The Straight Path

Anas bin Malik (ra) narrates that he asked Allah’s Messenger ﷺ if he would intercede on his behalf on the Day of Judgement. “I will,” the Prophet ﷺ replied.

“So, where should I look for you on the Day of Judgement?” enquired Anas (ra).

“When you need me, first of all look for me at Sirat [the bridge],” said the Prophet ﷺ.

“And if I do not find you there?” asked Anas (ra).

“Look for me, then, at the Mizan [the Scales],” replied the Prophet ﷺ.

“Where may I seek you,” asked Anas (ra), “if you are not near the Mizan as well?”

“Then look for me at the Hawd [the Pond]. I will not go away from these three places at that time,” the Prophet ﷺ replied. (Tirmidhi)


Thus the first place to ask intercession from the Prophet ﷺ will be at the sirat. The sirat itself is a bridge over hell that one must pass to get to Paradise. It is described as a thin bridge – as thin as a hair – and is slippery. So how will we pass over it?

People pass over it according to their deeds: the first of them as fast as lighting, then as fast as wind, then as fast as birds, and then as fast as a running man. The Prophet ﷺ will be standing on the path saying “Lord, Save! Save!” as some people’s deeds will fall short. Some of them will come crawling. At both sides of the path there are hooks designed to take whom Allah wills: some are saved but bruised; others are thrown into Hell. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Ibn Al Qayyim stated that in this life, Allah has given us a straight path and has invited us all to it. Thus, whomever is guided to the straight path in this life, will make it over the straight path in the next life, insha’Allah. Our situation on the sirat, whether we fly over it or crawl, depends on our sticking to it on this life.

Can we see the importance of the du`a’ that we make in every prayer?