over Allah’s religion, which is Islam, after knowledge had come to them; it was transgression that drove them to differ. This is as He said:

“He has ordained for you the religion He enjoined upon Noah, what We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: ‘Uphold the religion and do not divide within it.’ What you call the polytheists to is intolerable to them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns to Him. {13} They did not divide until after knowledge had come to them, out of mutual transgression. Had it not been for a prior decree from your Lord postponing judgment until an appointed time, the matter would have been settled between them. Those who inherited the Scripture after them are indeed in disquieting doubt about it. {14} So invite to this, and remain steadfast as you have been commanded. Do not follow their desires, but say, ‘I believe in whatever Scripture Allah has revealed, and I have been commanded to deal justly between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. We have our deeds, and you have yours. There is no argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is the final return.’ {15}” [al-Shūrā 13–15]

We have discussed elsewhere the differences among the People of the Scripture concerning Allah’s religion, which is Islam. One aspect of this is that arrogance and hardness of heart predominate among the Jews: they recognize the truth but do not follow it. This is how Allah describes them in the Quran. Those among the scholars and speculative theologians who become corrupt bear a resemblance to them. Thus, a strong resemblance to them is found among the speculative theologians of the Jahmiyyah, including the Mu‘tazilah and others like them. Indeed, some Jewish rabbis expound the five principles of the Mu‘tazilah. Among them one also finds denial of divine decree and the divine attributes, reinterpretation of what is in the Torah, and other