Clarification of the Rule of Excuse Due to Ignorance
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Is there a rule or rules regarding the excuse of ignorance for what a person does that is forbidden?
Yes, the rule is: That any ignorant person who does something forbidden or leaves off an obligatory act owes nothing, unless he was negligent in asking,For example, it is said to him: This thing is obligatory, do it,So he says: [Al-Ma'idah: 101] and he is careless in asking, in which case we do not excuse him for his ignorance because he was negligent in not learning.
As for a person in a remote desert who is far from knowledge and knows nothing, he is excused for his ignorance, whether in an obligatory act or a forbidden one,And this is indicated by: That when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had a man come to him who prayed a prayer in which he did not settle, he ordered him to repeat the prayer and said: You have not prayed. But he did not order him to repeat the past prayers, even though he was praying a prayer that was not valid. Likewise, the woman with irregular bleeding who did not pray during her period of bleeding, thinking it was menstruation, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order her to make up the prayers.
In conclusion: That ignorance is an excuse, but it may not be an excuse if he was negligent in asking and did not ask despite the presence of doubt in him.
Yes, the rule is: That any ignorant person who does something forbidden or leaves off an obligatory act owes nothing, unless he was negligent in asking,For example, it is said to him: This thing is obligatory, do it,So he says:
do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you
لا تَسْأَلوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْAs for a person in a remote desert who is far from knowledge and knows nothing, he is excused for his ignorance, whether in an obligatory act or a forbidden one,And this is indicated by: That when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had a man come to him who prayed a prayer in which he did not settle, he ordered him to repeat the prayer and said: You have not prayed. But he did not order him to repeat the past prayers, even though he was praying a prayer that was not valid. Likewise, the woman with irregular bleeding who did not pray during her period of bleeding, thinking it was menstruation, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order her to make up the prayers.
In conclusion: That ignorance is an excuse, but it may not be an excuse if he was negligent in asking and did not ask despite the presence of doubt in him.