The ruling on one who likens the names and attributes of Allah out of ignorance

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The ignorant person who likens the names and attributes of Allah and asks how they are: is he declared a disbeliever, or is he excused for his ignorance?

Answer:
This is the correct answer regarding him. If he is a follower of taqlid (following a scholar without knowing his evidence) or ignorant, he is not excused for his ignorance. He is mistaken, mistaken, but he is not declared a disbeliever, not declared a disbeliever, that is all. As for whether he stumbles or incurs some punishment, this may happen to him. Allah knows best. He may be punished according to the measure of his sin. He may be held accountable for this because he did not ask, and he did not learn from the people of knowledge, and he did not return to the people of knowledge. He may be punished for this reason and held accountable, but he is not ruled to be a disbeliever, one who has exited Islam, and one who will dwell in the Fire forever. He is not ruled to be so.