Tuesday, 26 May 2026 (10 Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1447 AH)
Question: Is the ignorant person who follows, in his religion, scholars who are in error — whether from the Companions or others — excused due to his good intention and his seeking, by following them, the pleasure and forgiveness of Allah, or is he not excused?
Answer — and from Allah is success: One deeply immersed in common ignorance may be excused, as well as the common people of the non-Arabs who are unable to understand the details of the Sharī‘ah. Whoever is like that, then general faith is sufficient for him, and following the one whose perfection he deems most likely is sufficient.
The evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Allah does not burden any soul except with what it can bear.” [Al-Baqarah:286] As for the common person who is aware of disagreements and possesses the ability to know the truth and those who are upon it, he is not excused before Allah.
Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.3