I performed Hajj last year, and there was a harmful tree around us, so I cut it down while being ignorant of the ruling. What is the ruling?

The questioner : This questioner says: I performed Hajj last year, and there was a harmful tree around us, so I cut it down while being ignorant of the ruling. Does this invalidate the Hajj? May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : First, we ask: Is this tree something planted by a human, or something that Allah caused to grow without human action? If it is the former, there is nothing wrong with it, even if it were inside Makkah, even if the person were in a state of ihram. If it is the latter, meaning it grew without human action, we look to see if it is in 'Arafah or within the boundaries of the Haram. If it is in 'Arafah, there is no blame, because cutting trees has no connection to ihram. If it is inside the Haram, such as Muzdalifah or Mina, then cutting trees that Allah caused to grow is forbidden. However, this man says that he was ignorant. An ignorant person owes nothing. All the prohibitions of ihram, indeed all the prohibitions in the Shari'ah, if a person commits them while ignorant, he owes nothing: no sin, no invalidation of his worship, and no penalty. This is based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: . Then Allah the Exalted said: . And based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: . And based on the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding hunting: . So take, my Muslim brother, take this principle from the Lord of the Worlds, Mighty and Majestic: "Every prohibition you commit while ignorant or forgetful, you owe nothing at all". A man who eats while fasting, forgetting, his fast is valid. A man who eats after Fajr without knowing that Fajr has broken, his fast is valid. All prohibitions, if a person commits them while ignorant, forgetful, or coerced, he owes nothing. A man who speaks in prayer without knowing that speaking is forbidden, his prayer is valid.