When can a qualified mujtahid be excused for an erroneous conclusion?
2026-09-21
T95 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Selected explanation · Selected source passage(s) — fully translated
Selected statement about a qualified judge or mujtahid exercising scholarly judgment. It is not an exemption for speaking without knowledge. The English translates every displayed Arabic paragraph; this selection is not the complete surrounding work. Square brackets identify translator-supplied clarification.
النص العربي
المقتطف
وَثَبَتَ فِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: {إذَا اجْتَهَدَ الْحَاكِمُ فَأَصَابَ فَلَهُ أَجْرَانِ وَإِنْ أَخْطَأَ فَلَهُ أَجْرٌ}. فَلَمْ يُؤَثِّمْ الْمُجْتَهِدَ الْمُخْطِئَ؛ بَلْ جَعَلَ لَهُ أَجْرًا عَلَى اجْتِهَادِهِ وَجَعَلَ خَطَأَهُ مَغْفُورًا لَهُ.
English translation
English translation reviewed against the displayed Arabic by SalafAlSalih editorial preparation (AI-assisted); explanatory additions appear in square brackets or separate notes.
Selected explanation
It is established in the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections that the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said: “If a judge exercises scholarly judgment and is correct, he has two rewards; if he errs, he has one reward.” He did not declare the mujtahid who errs sinful. Rather, he assigned him a reward for his effort and made his error forgiven.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 11/203
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic passage checked against the cited volume and printed page. English reviewed against every displayed Arabic paragraph on 14 October 2026.