apply to it the ruling that is given to one who consumes usury—branding him an open sinner, cursing him, and speaking with stern severity—for he did not know that his transaction belonged to the category that is forbidden.

Likewise, ʿAdī ibn Ḥātim and a group of Companions, when they supposed that Allah’s words, “until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread” (1) meant actual white and black cords, would place two straps, one white and one black, and continue eating until they could tell one from the other. The Prophet ﷺ said to ʿAdī, “Then your pillow must be exceedingly wide! It only refers to the brightness of day and the darkness of night.” (2)

In this way he indicated their lack of understanding of the intended meaning, yet he did not impose on that action the condemnation normally levelled at someone who deliberately breaks the fast in Ramadan, even though doing so is among the gravest major sins.

By contrast, those who issued a fatwa to the wounded man in the cold that a full ghusl was obligatory—whereupon he bathed and died—were rebuked, for the Prophet ﷺ said, “They killed him—may Allah kill them! Why did they not ask when they did not know? The cure for ignorance is only to ask.” (3)