The Ruling on Excusing Misguided Sects on the Ground of Ignorance

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, regarding the misguided sects that worship Allah in ignorance, are they not excused for their ignorance, since they intended the truth but were led astray?

Answer:
How did they intend the truth when they contradict the evidence, interpret it figuratively, and manipulate it? If they had worshipped Allah in ignorance and nothing had reached them, they might be excused if nothing had reached them. But the texts reached them, and they rejected them; they refused to use them as evidence. So they are not excused for this. Yes. But the one who follows them in blind imitation may be excused. The one who follows them thinks they are on the right path, and he does not know. He is excused by his blind imitation. As for their leaders who invented these things, they are not excused. Yes.