Surah Al-Ahzab
ٱدْعُوهُمْ لِـَٔابَآئِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَمَوَٰلِيكُمْ ۚ وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَآ أَخْطَأْتُم بِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
Ud‘ūhum li'ābā'ihim huwa aqsaṭu ‘indallāh(i), fa illam ta‘lamū ābā'ahum fa ikhwānukum fid-dīni wa mawālīkum, wa laisa ‘alaikum junāḥun fīmā akhṭa'tum bihī wa lākim mā ta‘ammadat qulūbukum, wa kānallāhu gafūrar raḥīmā(n).
Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers - then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
📝 Footnotes
607) The term "maula" in this verse refers to a close friend.