with its ease and tolerance. A person may do something forgetfully or mistakenly, yet, because he has fallen short in obeying Allah in knowledge and practice, he may not know that he is exempt from accountability for it—either because of his ignorance or because no one is available to explain to him the concession afforded by this tolerant monotheistic faith.

Scholars have disagreed over many questions concerning mistakes and forgetfulness. Many have held that these invalidate acts of worship, or some of them. Some, for example, regard forgetfulness as invalidating a fast, while others regard mistakes as doing so. Similar disagreements concern ihrām, speaking during prayer, and doing an act covered by an oath forgetfully or mistakenly. Although Allah, glorified be He, has exempted people from accountability for mistakes and forgetfulness, many Muslim scholars have remained unaware of this in numerous cases. This becomes a punishment for someone who finds himself unable to trust anyone but these scholars: they give him rulings that entail holding him accountable for mistakes and forgetfulness. Thus, what this supplication seeks is not realized for him because of a lack of knowledge, not because the religious law has been abrogated.

Among the ways Allah, glorified be He, punishes people for sins is by depriving them of guidance and beneficial knowledge, as He says:

“And for their saying, ‘Our hearts are wrapped.’ Rather, Allah has sealed them because of their disbelief.”

He also says:

“And they say, ‘Our hearts are wrapped.’ Rather, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief.”

And He says:

“And what will make you realize that even if it came, they would not believe?”

“And We will turn their hearts and their eyes away, just as they refused to believe in it the first time.”

And He says:

“In their hearts is a disease, so Allah has increased their disease.”

And He says:

“So when they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate.”