Likewise, they denounce the Christians more vehemently than they denounce the Jews, although they are closer to the Jews, just as the Sufis and those like them are closer to the Christians. The Christians have worship, asceticism, and moral conduct, but lack knowledge and insight, so they are astray. The Jews have knowledge and rational inquiry, but lack righteous intention, worship, asceticism, and noble character, so they have incurred Allah’s anger, while the Christians are astray.

Abū Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Abī Hātim said:
“I know of no disagreement among the Quran commentators concerning this expression.”

He narrated through his chain of transmission, from Abū Rawq, from Ibn ‘Abbās:
“‘Nor the way of those who have gone astray’: these are the Christians, whom Allah led astray because of the lies they fabricated against Him. This means: ‘Inspire us with Your true religion—which is that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner—so that You do not become angry with us as You became angry with the Jews, nor lead us astray as You led the Christians astray, and thus punish us as You punish them.’ That is: ‘Protect us from that through Your gentleness, mercy, compassion, and power.’”

Ibn Abī Hātim said:
“I know of no disagreement among the Quran commentators concerning this expression.”

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.’”

The speculative theologians base their approach on examining knowledge and its evidence. They therefore exalt knowledge and the means of attaining it—namely, evidence—and following the path to it—namely, rational inquiry. Those devoted to asceticism exalt spiritual aspiration, the aspirant, and the path of those who pursue such aspiration.