It was these who disbelieved and prevented you from the Sacred Mosque , and stopped the sacrificial animals from reaching their place ; and were it not for some Muslim men and Muslim women , whom you do not know – lest you may crush them and unintentionally incur some violation due to them – Allah would have permitted you to slay them ; this relief for them , is so that Allah may admit into His mercy whomever He wills ; and had they been separated , We would have indeed punished the disbelievers among them with a painful punishment .