“Do not follow the desires of a people who went astray before, led many astray, and strayed from the straight path.”

One who is astray is the opposite of one who is rightly guided: he departs from the path of truth without knowledge. Lacking the knowledge one is commanded to acquire, and the guidance afforded by what is commanded, constitutes neglect of an obligation. Thus, the root of their disbelief is neglecting what is obligatory. They then divided over the Trinity and union, and enmity and hatred arose among them. They became Melkites, Jacobites, Nestorians, and other groups. The Quran has explained this point, which can also serve as an independent proof, since it shows that neglecting an obligation leads to committing what is forbidden. The Exalted said:

“From those who said, ‘We are Christians,’ We also took their covenant, but they neglected a portion of what they had been reminded of. So We stirred up enmity and hatred among them until the Day of Resurrection.”

This explicitly states that they abandoned some of what they had been commanded to do, and that abandoning it caused them to fall into forbidden enmity and hatred. This is evidence that neglecting an obligation can lead to committing what is forbidden, such as enmity and hatred; and the cause is stronger than its effect.

Likewise, He said concerning the Jews:

“For breaking their covenant, We cursed them and hardened their hearts. They distort words from their proper places and neglected a portion of what they had been reminded of.”

Breaking the covenant means abandoning what they were commanded to do, for the covenant includes obligations, as expressed in His words:

“Allah certainly took a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We appointed twelve leaders from among them. Allah said, ‘I am with you. If you establish prayer, give zakah, and believe in My messengers