Accordingly, anyone who does not affirm what the Quran reports about Allah’s attributes and the Last Day is, in the view of the one who brought the Quran, ignorant and astray. What, then, of someone who asserts the opposite?

The former, in the view of the one who brought the Quran, suffers from simple ignorance, whereas the latter suffer from compound ignorance. For this reason, Allah, Most High, gave a parable for each group. He said:

“As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage on a level plain, which a thirsty person thinks is water, until, when he reaches it, he finds nothing, but finds Allah there, who settles his account in full. And Allah is swift in reckoning.”
[Al-Nūr: 39]

This is the parable of those who suffer from compound ignorance.

And He, Most High, said:

“Or like layers of darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds—layers of darkness, one above another. When he holds out his hand, he can hardly see it. Whoever Allah does not grant light has no light.”
[Al-Nūr: 40]

This is the parable of those who suffer from simple ignorance.

For a complete understanding of this, one must recognize that misguidance has two comparable aspects: first, turning away from what the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, brought; and second, opposing it with what contradicts it. Beliefs that conflict with the Quran and Sunnah belong to the second category.

Thus, anyone who reports something contrary to what the Messenger has reported concerning any aspect of faith in Allah