Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 9

(Ayah 10,9){اِنَّ هٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنَ يَهْدِيْ لِلَّتِيْ هِيَ اَقْوَمُ … : } That is, this Quran guides towards the straightest path in all religious and worldly matters. In it, the way to establish a relationship with Allah Almighty is taught, which is better than any other way, but it also forbids abandoning the world, adopting monasticism, and violating the demands of human nature. Rather, instead, it teaches such an excellent way to live honorably and dominantly in the world and to benefit from the natural needs and comforts of life, which is free from all kinds of excess, rebellion, and lust, and is a guarantor of peace and security for every Muslim and non-Muslim in the world.

Yes, for those who believe in it and do righteous deeds accordingly, it also gives the glad tidings of a great reward, and for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, it also informs them that no matter how prosperous and endowed with wealth and children they may appear in the world, there is punishment for them in this world as well (see Tawbah: 55; Ta-Ha: 124 to 127), and in the Hereafter, there is a painful punishment for them, which is much more severe than the punishment of this world, as stated at the end of the mentioned verses of Surah Ta-Ha: «وَ لَعَذَابُ الْاٰخِرَةِ اَشَدُّ وَ اَبْقٰى » "And surely the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more lasting." For Muslims, there are two glad tidings in these two verses: one is the great reward for them, and the other is that the punishment of their enemies is also a source of happiness for them.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

This Quran certainly guides to that which is most upright [9.1], and gives glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.

[9۔ 1] Before this, the Torah was being mentioned, and because the Children of Israel did not act upon it, numerous religious and worldly calamities befell them. Even though they had already been warned that if they did not act upon it, this would be their fate. After that, two things were stated regarding the Noble Quran. First, that in all religious and worldly matters, whatever is the best code and the straightest path to the intended destination, this Quran guides towards it. The Quran has not left out anything regarding the guidance of mankind, nor about their happiness or misery. Second, it fully informs about the outcomes of good and bad deeds, the manifestation of which will occur in the Hereafter, whereas the Torah contained very few details about the Hereafter. Observe the virtues and excellences of the Quran in the following hadith:

How is the Quran the Best Speech?

Harith al-A'war says that I met Sayyiduna Aliؓ in the mosque and said, "Look at what kinds of things these people are engaged in." Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I heard the Messenger of Allahﷺ say: 'Listen! Soon a tribulation will arise.' I asked, 'O Messenger of Allahﷺ, what is the way to be saved from that tribulation?' Heﷺ said: 'The way to be saved from it is the Book of Allah, in which are the accounts of those before you and those after you, and the rulings concerning your mutual matters. It speaks decisively; it does not speak in jest. Whoever abandons it out of contempt, Allah will break him into pieces. And whoever seeks guidance from other than the Quran, Allah will lead him astray. It is the strong rope of Allah and the wise reminder, it is the straight path from which desires do not deviate, and tongues do not make it doubtful. The scholars are never satiated by it, nor does one tire of reading it repeatedly, nor does it ever seem old. Its wonders never cease. The Quran is such a book that when the jinn heard it, they immediately said, "We have heard a wondrous Quran," so we believe in it. Whoever speaks according to the Quran has spoken the truth, and whoever acts according to it will be rewarded, and whoever judges by it has done justice, and whoever calls people to the Quran has been guided to the straight path. O A'war! Remember these things well.' [ترمذی۔ ابواب فضائل القرآن۔ باب فی فضل القرآن]