What is the ruling if witnesses claim their false testimony was due to error rather than intent?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Judicial Rulings
Primary text
If witnesses claim they made an error and this claim is plausibly true regarding the mistake, they are not subject to Ta'zir. This is based on the principle that there is no blame for unintentional error, as stated in the Quran: {And there is no blame upon you for what you have erred therein, but [only for] what you intended in your hearts} (Quran 33:5).
Supporting text
If the claim of error is not plausible or cannot be accepted as true, they are subject to Ta'zir, and their statement is not accepted.