Is the one who commits a religious innovation (bid'ah) excused due to his ignorance?

Question:
May Allah reward you. This questioner asks: Is the one who commits a religious innovation (bid'ah) excused due to his ignorance if he falls into it, or is he not excused?

Answer:
How is he excused? One must forbid him from the sin and the religious innovation (bid'ah) and clarify it to him. As for whether he is excused by his ignorance, that is up to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). But we do not leave him in the religious innovation (bid'ah), nor do we fail to declare it wrong, nor do we clarify the Sunnah to him and say, "This is an ignorant person and is excused." No, that is forbidden for us to remain silent and leave him in the religious innovation (bid'ah). It is obligatory for us to clarify, to explain it to him, to advise him, and to forbid him from the religious innovation (bid'ah).