Does ignorance and forgetfulness regarding obligatory acts drop the sin and the expiation?
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The Shaykh : Brother Mustafa.
The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Regarding Hajj, do ignorance and forgetfulness drop the sin, or do they drop both the sin and the expiation? For example, someone who forgot to stay overnight in Mina for the nights?
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. As for obligatory acts, ignorance and forgetfulness drop the sin, but they do not drop what is required due to leaving this obligatory act. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not drop the tranquility in prayer from the man who was ignorant of it. As for prohibitions, ignorance or forgetfulness drops the sin and drops the ruling that follows from committing this prohibited act. This is because the ruling that follows from committing this prohibited act does not remove the prohibition after it has occurred. For example: a man who prayed without ablution while forgetting, his prayer is not valid, and he must perform ablution and repeat the prayer. And another man who spoke in prayer while forgetting, his prayer is valid, and he does not have to repeat the prayer.
The questioner : Can we take the rule that ignorance in Muslim lands is not considered an excuse, especially in lands where scholars are present?
The Shaykh : No, this is looked into. One looks at the ignorance: is its cause the actor's negligence by not asking, or is it that this is what is prevalent in his land and its contrary was not conveyed to him and he did not have the contrary in mind? The second case is excused, and the first case is not excused.
The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Regarding Hajj, do ignorance and forgetfulness drop the sin, or do they drop both the sin and the expiation? For example, someone who forgot to stay overnight in Mina for the nights?
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. As for obligatory acts, ignorance and forgetfulness drop the sin, but they do not drop what is required due to leaving this obligatory act. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not drop the tranquility in prayer from the man who was ignorant of it. As for prohibitions, ignorance or forgetfulness drops the sin and drops the ruling that follows from committing this prohibited act. This is because the ruling that follows from committing this prohibited act does not remove the prohibition after it has occurred. For example: a man who prayed without ablution while forgetting, his prayer is not valid, and he must perform ablution and repeat the prayer. And another man who spoke in prayer while forgetting, his prayer is valid, and he does not have to repeat the prayer.
The questioner : Can we take the rule that ignorance in Muslim lands is not considered an excuse, especially in lands where scholars are present?
The Shaykh : No, this is looked into. One looks at the ignorance: is its cause the actor's negligence by not asking, or is it that this is what is prevalent in his land and its contrary was not conveyed to him and he did not have the contrary in mind? The second case is excused, and the first case is not excused.