Issue: Excuse by ignorance.
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And among the benefits of this noble verse is that the Children of Israel have no excuse for taking the calf as a god, because the argument has been established against them by the saying of Allah the Exalted: .
Can it be inferred from this verse that if they had taken the calf as a god without injustice, they would not be blamed? Or is it said that this is merely a description of their state? Both possibilities are open. It is possible that this is a description of their state, indicating that they took a god without excuse. It is also possible that it serves as evidence that if a person is excused, he is not held accountable. This is indicated by the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Qasas 28:59]. Accordingly, the verse provides evidence that if a person commits a bad act, such as shirk (associating partners with Allah) or anything less than it, and he is excused, then there is no punishment for him. Then, if he claims to be a Muslim, he is judged by his outward appearance as a Muslim. If he claims to follow another religion and the religion of Islam has not reached him, he is treated in this world according to the religion he follows, and his affair in the Hereafter is left to whom? To Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Thus, this is the detailed ruling on the issue of excuse by ignorance.
If a person calls himself a Muslim, testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishes the prayer, gives zakah, performs Hajj and 'Umrah, and says he is a Muslim, but he has some shirk (associating partners with Allah) without knowledge, having lived in a land where this shirk exists and not knowing that it is shirk, then he is treated as what? As a Muslim, based on his outward state. Likewise, in the Hereafter, Allah will not hold him accountable because he is excused. As for the one who is excused but does not claim to be a Muslim, but follows a specific religion, he is treated in this world as a disbeliever, meaning as a follower of that religion, and in the Hereafter it is said that his affair is left to Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
and you were wrongdoers
وأنتم ظالمونCan it be inferred from this verse that if they had taken the calf as a god without injustice, they would not be blamed? Or is it said that this is merely a description of their state? Both possibilities are open. It is possible that this is a description of their state, indicating that they took a god without excuse. It is also possible that it serves as evidence that if a person is excused, he is not held accountable. This is indicated by the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.
وما كان ربك مهلك القرى حتى يبعث في أمها رسولا يتلوا عليهم آياتنا وما كنا مهلك القرى إلا وأهلها ظالمونIf a person calls himself a Muslim, testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishes the prayer, gives zakah, performs Hajj and 'Umrah, and says he is a Muslim, but he has some shirk (associating partners with Allah) without knowledge, having lived in a land where this shirk exists and not knowing that it is shirk, then he is treated as what? As a Muslim, based on his outward state. Likewise, in the Hereafter, Allah will not hold him accountable because he is excused. As for the one who is excused but does not claim to be a Muslim, but follows a specific religion, he is treated in this world as a disbeliever, meaning as a follower of that religion, and in the Hereafter it is said that his affair is left to Allah (Mighty and Majestic).