whomever We will of Our servants. And indeed, you guide to a straight path.”

“The path of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Surely, to Allah all matters return.”

The straight path is what Allah sent His Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to teach: doing what he commanded, avoiding what he forbade, and believing what he reported. There is no path to Allah except this. It is the way of Allah’s God-fearing allies, His successful party, and His victorious army. Everything contrary to this belongs to the paths of those given to error and misguidance. Allah Most High declared His Prophet free of both, saying:

“By the star when it descends.”

“Your companion has neither strayed nor erred.”

“Nor does he speak from desire.”

“It is nothing but revelation conveyed to him.”

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

“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.”

Al-Tirmidhī and others narrated from Adī ibn Hātim that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The Jews have incurred wrath, and the Christians have gone astray.”

Al-Tirmidhī said: “This is an authentic hadith.”

Sufyān ibn Uyaynah said:

“They used to say, ‘Whoever among our scholars becomes corrupt bears a resemblance to the Jews, and whoever among our worshippers becomes corrupt bears a resemblance to the Christians.’”

Several of the early Muslims used to say:

“Beware of the trial posed by the wicked scholar and the ignorant worshipper, for they are a trial to all who are put to the test.”

Whoever knows the truth but does not act upon it resembles the Jews, concerning whom Allah said:

“Do you command people to be righteous and forget yourselves, while you recite the Scripture? Will you not then use your reason?”