16. [an-Nahl, Mecca 70]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَعَلَى اللّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ...   

16: 9.     And unto Allah leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside:

C2029. Through material things "the Way" does always lead to Allah. But some minds are so obsessed with material things that they miss the pointers to the spiritual.

Allah could have forced all to the true Way, but in His Will and Plan is the training of man's will, and that is done by the Signs in nature and Revelation.

... وَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٩﴾ 

if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of you.

Pickthall’s Version:

16: 9

Pickthall And Allah's is the direction of the way, and some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all aright.

Transliteration Wa 'alalla_hi qasdus sabili wa minha_ ja_'ir(un), wa lau sya_'a lahada_kum ajma'in(a).