These, then, are the very people whose path Allah has ordered His servants to ask to be guided to.

As for the Christians who adhered to the religion of the Messiah before it was abrogated and altered, they are counted among those whom Allah favored—just as the Jews who followed the religion of Moses before it, too, was abrogated and tampered with were likewise among the favored.

Once that revelation had been abrogated and distorted, however, the Christians came to be numbered among those who have gone astray, not among the favored, in the judgment of Allah and His Messenger. Allah, exalted is He, says:

“Say, O People of the Book, do not go to extremes in your religion beyond the truth, and do not follow the whims of a people who went astray before, led many others astray, and strayed far from the right path.” ⦗5:77⦘

He—exalted is He—also says:

“How clearly will they hear and see on the Day they come to Us! Yet today the wrongdoers are in manifest error.” ⦗19:38⦘

Idol-worshipers likewise belong to those who have gone astray and incurred wrath. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “The Jews are those who incurred wrath, and the Christians are those who went astray,” as narrated by the Imam.