Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān, may Allah be pleased with them both, also said:

“O reciters of the Quran, remain steadfast and follow the path of those who came before you. By Allah, if you follow them, you will have forged far ahead; but if you turn to the right or the left, you will have strayed far indeed.”

‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, drew a line for us, then drew other lines around it, to its right and left. He then said: ‘This is Allah’s path, and these are other paths. On each of them is a devil calling people to it.’ Then he recited: ‘And this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths, lest they separate you from His path.’”

He, glorified be He, has commanded us to say in our prayers:

“Guide us to the straight path—the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have incurred Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The Jews have incurred Allah’s anger, and the Christians have gone astray.”

This is because the Jews knew the truth but did not follow it, while the Christians worshipped Allah without knowledge. Hence it used to be said:

“Seek refuge in Allah from the trial posed by the wicked scholar and the ignorant worshipper, for the trial they pose is a trial for all who are put to trial.”

The Most High says:

“When guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor suffer misery. But whoever turns away from My remembrance will have a life of hardship.”

Ibn ‘Abbās, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: “Allah has guaranteed that whoever reads the Quran and acts upon what it contains will neither go astray in this world nor suffer misery in the Hereafter.” He then recited this verse.