According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the act of 'turning people away from Allah' (يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ) is a grave offense detailed in Quran 9:34, representing the ultimate betrayal of religious authority. The verse specifically warns against scholars and monks who commit two interconnected sins: first, they 'devour the wealth of people unjustly' through means like bribes and selling false religious rulings. Second, as a direct consequence of their materialism, they actively 'avert people from the way of Allah.' Tafsir experts like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this is not merely passive misguidance, but a deliberate obstruction of truth. Al-Qurtubi highlights the legal and societal corruption that stems from such actions. While the verse mentions historical figures, scholars unanimously agree it stands as a universal and timeless warning to all religious leaders against the commercialization of faith and the exploitation of followers, promising a 'painful punishment' for those who hoard wealth and mislead humanity.