to let her go—that is, to release her and physically part from her, neither confining her nor exercising control over her, just as one relinquishes possession of property.

His words:

“Call them by their fathers’ names; that is more just in Allah’s sight. If you do not know their fathers, then they are your brothers in faith and your associates. There is no blame upon you for your unintentional mistakes, but only for what your hearts deliberately intend”

explicitly establish that there is no blame for mistakenly attributing a man to someone other than his father or his patron.

This may also be cited as evidence that a person incurs no blame for any mistaken word or deed. This can be established either through the generality of the wording—on the grounds that a general expression is not restricted to the particular circumstance mentioned alongside it—or through the general applicability of its meaning, based on the common factor that an unintentional error has no effect upon the heart. It is thus an action of a bodily member without any deliberate intention of the heart. The heart is the foundation, as the Prophet said:

“When it is sound, the rest of the body is sound; and when it is corrupt, the rest of the body is corrupt.”

If the foundation has done nothing, the actions of its branches without its participation cause no harm, because it remains sound and free of corruption. The whole body is therefore sound, not corrupt. Consequently, there is no sin in this, since sin can arise only from corruption within the body. This verse thus reinforces His words:

“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake.”

He said: “I have done so.”

This is further supported by His words concerning oaths:

“Allah does not hold you accountable for your unintentional oaths, but He holds you accountable for what your hearts have earned.”

“But He holds you accountable for the oaths you deliberately bind yourselves by.”

For