As Allah Most High says:

“Had they gone forth with you, they would only have added to your confusion, and they would have hurried about among you, seeking to stir up discord; and among you are those who listen to them.” (al-Tawbah: 47)

He thus states that, had the hypocrites marched with the Muslim army, they would only have added to its confusion and would have hastened about among its ranks, seeking to stir up discord. Among the believers are those who accept what they say and respond to them, whether because of a mistaken assumption, some inclination of their own desires, or both. For Satan gains access to a believer only through some form of conjecture and the believer’s following his own desires. Thus, it is reported in a hadith that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah loves penetrating insight when doubts arise, and He loves sound judgment when desires arise.”

He has commanded the believers to say in their prayers:

“Guide us to the straight path * The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.” (al-Fātihah: 6–7)

Those who incurred His wrath knew the truth but did not act upon it, while those who went astray worshipped Allah without knowledge. Thus, Allah declared His Prophet free of both failings, saying:

“By the star when it descends * Your companion has neither strayed nor erred.” (al-Najm: 1–2)

Allah Most High also says:

“And remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men of strength and insight.” (Sād: 45)

The previously mentioned rejection, by the leading Iraqi scholars among al-Shāfi‘ī’s followers, of the position held by Ibn Kullāb and his followers concerning the Quran is well known from their books,