either acts in accordance with it or goes against it. These are the categories of those accountable for their deeds; none falls outside them. The one who knows the truth and acts upon it is the one who has been blessed. He has purified his soul through beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds, and he is the successful one:

91:9 “Successful indeed is the one who purifies it.”

The one who knows the truth but follows his own desires is the one who has incurred anger, while the one ignorant of the truth is astray. The one who has incurred anger has strayed from guidance in action, while the one who is astray has incurred anger for straying from the knowledge that calls for action. Thus, each is both astray and subject to anger. Yet the one who fails to act upon the truth after knowing it more fittingly deserves to be described as having incurred anger. This is why the Jews are more deserving of this description, and why the anger against them is more severe. As Allah Most High says concerning them:

2:90 “How wretched is that for which they sold themselves: disbelieving in what Allah has revealed, out of envy that Allah should send down His bounty upon whomever He wills of His servants. Thus they incurred anger upon anger.”

Allah Most High also says:

5:60 “Say, ‘Shall I inform you of those whose recompense with Allah is worse than that? Those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He is angry, some of whom He made apes and pigs, and those who worship false gods. Those are worse in position and further astray from the right way.’”

The one ignorant of the truth more fittingly deserves to be described as astray. Hence the Christians are described in this way in His words:

5:77 “Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, do not go beyond the truth in your religion, nor follow the desires of people who went astray before, led many others astray, and strayed from the right way.’”

The first verse occurs in an address to the Jews, and the second in an address to the Christians.

Al-Tirmidhī and Sahīh Ibn Hibbān contain a hadith narrated by ‘Adī ibn Hātim, who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “The Jews have incurred anger, and the Christians are astray” «1».

Thus, mentioning those who have been blessed—those who know the truth and follow it—those who have incurred anger—those who know it but follow their own desires—and those who are astray—those who are ignorant of it—necessarily affirms the reality of messengership and prophethood. For this division of people is an observable reality, and it is the reality of messengership that gives rise to this division. Allah attributes the blessing to Himself, while leaving unstated whose anger is incurred, for several reasons.