certain Quranic readings. For example, one of them rejected His words:
“Have those who believe not yet realized,”
and said, “The wording is actually: ‘Has it not become clear to those who believe?’” Another rejected the reading of His words:
“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him,”
and said, “The wording is actually: ‘Your Lord has enjoined.’” One of them had omitted the two surahs of seeking refuge, while another would write down the surah of supplication. These are errors established as such by consensus and mass transmission. Nevertheless, because these matters had not reached them through mass transmission, they were not declared unbelievers, even though someone against whom proof had been established through mass transmission would fall into unbelief by doing the same.
Furthermore, the Quran and Sunnah indicate that Allah does not punish anyone until the message has been conveyed to them. Whoever has not received the message at all will not be punished at all. Whoever has received it in general, but not some of its details, will be punished only for denying those matters concerning which the proof conveyed by the messengers has been established against them. This is indicated by the words of the Most High:
“So that people would have no argument against Allah after the messengers.”
And His words:
“O company of jinn and mankind, did messengers not come to you from among yourselves, relating My verses to you?”
And the rest of the verse.
And His words:
“Did We not grant you lives long enough for anyone who would take heed to do so? And the warner came to you.”
And His words:
“And its keepers said to them, ‘Did messengers not come to you from among yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord?’”
And the rest of the verse.
And His words:
“We never punish until We have sent a messenger.”
And His words:
“Your Lord would never destroy the towns until He had sent to their principal town a messenger reciting Our verses to them.”
And His words:
“Whenever a group is cast into it, they will be asked