The Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew a line for us, then said, "This is the path of Allah." Then he drew lines to its right and to its left, and said, "These are paths, and on every one of them is a devil calling people to it." Then he recited, "And this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow other ways, lest they lead you away from His way" [Anam 6:153].
خط لنا رسول الله ﷺ خطا، ثم قال: هذا سبيل الله، ثم خط خطوطا عن يمينه وعن شماله، ثم قال: هذه سبل، على كل سبيل منها شيطان يدعو إليه ثم قرأ: {وأن هذا صراطي مستقيما فاتبعوه ولا تتبعوا السبل فتفرق بكم عن سبيله} [سورة الأنعام: ١٥٣].
Ahmad narrated it (4142), and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (6 and 7), as did Hakim (2/318), through routes from Hammad bin Zayd, from Asim bin Abu Najud, from Abu Waail, from Abdullah bin Masud, who related it. Hakim said, "A hadith sahih in its chain." Its chain is hasan because of Asim bin Abu Najud. It has also been reported from Ibn Masud in similar form through other routes.Something with the same meaning has been reported from Jabir bin Abdullah, who said, "We were with the Prophet ﷺ when he drew a line, then drew two lines on its right and two lines on its left, then placed his hand on the middle line and said, 'This is the path of Allah,'" then he recited this verse, "And that this is My path, straight, so follow it, and do not follow other paths, for they will separate you from His path" [Anam 6:153].Ibn Majah narrated it (11), and Ahmad (15277), both through the route of Abu Khalid Ahmar, from Mujalid, from Shaybi, from Jabir, who related it. Its chain contains Mujalid, who is Ibn Saeed, and he is daif.