and discourse, while the former exhibit a deviation resembling that of the Christians, the people of worship and spiritual aspiration.

Allah has said concerning the two groups:

“The Jews say, ‘The Christians have nothing to stand on,’ and the Christians say, ‘The Jews have nothing to stand on,’ although they both recite the Scripture. Those who have no knowledge say the same as they do. Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they differed.” [Surah al-Baqarah 113]

This is why you find mutual aversion between jurists and Sufis, and between scholars and the spiritual poor, in this respect.

The correct approach is to praise whatever in each group’s conduct Allah and His Messenger have praised, as set forth in the Quran and Sunnah, and to condemn whatever in each group’s conduct Allah and His Messenger have condemned, as set forth in the Quran and Sunnah. The Muslim should strive to fulfil the meaning of His words:

“Guide us to the straight path—the path of those You have blessed, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.” [Surah al-Fātihah 6–7]

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “The Jews have incurred Allah’s wrath, and the Christians have gone astray.” We have already discussed some of what relates