nor those who have gone astray.”

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

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

The Jews direct their will toward corrupt, forbidden ends, as Allah has stated of them: they disobeyed and habitually transgressed. They know the truth but do not act upon it: they possess knowledge but do not put it into practice. In directing their will toward blameworthy and forbidden ends, they follow their desires rather than exercising the praiseworthy will they have been commanded to exercise—namely, willing what Allah and His Messenger love.

The Christians have purpose, worship and asceticism, but they are astray, acting without knowledge. They do not know the kind of willing that Allah and His Messenger love. Rather, the utmost aim of any one of them is to divest himself of all will. Thus, he no longer wills what Allah and His Messenger have commanded, just as he does not will much of what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Such people have lost their way to the goal they seek, for that goal can only be attained through obedience to Allah and His Messenger. This is why they are accursed—that is, far removed from the mercy attained through obedience to Allah, Mighty and Majestic.

The “sinful scholar” resembles the Jews, while the “ignorant worshipper” resembles the Christians. Among people of knowledge are some who have something of the former in them, and among people devoted to worship are some who have something of the latter.