Shaykhul-Islām Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullâh) stated:

The people are divided into three categories regarding knowing the truth and acting in accordance to it. That’s because the servant (of Allâh) is either one who knows the truth or ignorant of it. And the one who knows the truth either he is one who acts in accordance to its requirements or opposes it. These are the categories of people who are (held) responsible and they don’t ever leave (from these categories). The one who knows the truth and acts in accordance to it, he is the one who is favored (by Allâh). He is the one who has purified himself with the beneficial knowledge and righteous actions and he is the one who is successful. Allâh says: “Indeed the one who purifies himself is successful” (Surah ash-Shams: 9). The one who knows the truth (but at the same time) he is one who follows his desires, he is one upon whom is the anger (of Allâh). As for the one who is ignorant of the truth, he is the one that is astray. The one whom the anger (of Allâh) is upon is astray from the guidance of his actions. And the one who is astray is one whom the anger (of Allâh) is upon due to his being misguided from the knowledge that necessitates actions.

Source: Mukhtasir Madaarij As-Saalikeen, p. 10-11

Translated by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
8th of Sha’bān, 1437 (05-15-2016)
Masjid Nur Allah, NYC

Original Arabic

:قال شيخ الإسلام ابن القيم رحمه الله

فانقسم الناس بحسب معرفة الحق والعمل به إلى هذه الأقسام الثلاثة. لأن العبد إما أن يكون عالما بالحق أو جاهلا به. والعالم بالحق إما أن يكون عاملا بموجبه أو مخالفا له. فهذه الأقسام المكلفين لا يخرجون عنها البتة. فالعالم بالحق العامل به هو المنعم عليه. وهو الذي زكى نفسه بالعلم النافع والعمل الصالح وهو المفلح. “قد أفلح من زكاها” (الشمس:9) والعالم به المتبع هواه: هو المغضوب عليه. والجاهل بالحق: هو الضال. والمغضوب عليه ضال عن هداية العمل. والضال  مغضوب عليه لضلاله عن العلم الموجب للعمل

(مختصر مدارج السالكين ص. 10-11)