Do the two noble verses: {Verily, the acceptance of repentance by Allah is only for those who do evil in ignorance and then repent soon after; it is they to whom Allah will turn in forgiveness. And Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise} (An-Nisa 4:17) and {Then, verily, your Lord for those who do evil in ignorance then repent after that and make amends, verily, your Lord thereafter is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful} (An-Nahl 16:119) serve as evidence for excusing ignorance in the fundamentals and branches of religion?

The verses mentioned are not evidence for excusing ignorance, because their meaning—as interpreted by scholars of exegesis—is not ignorance of a Sharia (definition) ruling, but rather treating them as if they are ignorant of Allah's wrath and punishment for those who commit what He has forbidden. Ignorance (Jahalah) encompasses every act of disobedience. As for excusing ignorance, it has other evidences, among them the saying of Allah the Almighty in the story of Musa's people: ﴿They said, “O Musa, make for us a god just as they have gods.” He said, “Indeed, you are a people who are ignorant.”﴾ [Al-A'raf: 138], and the Hadith (definition) of Abu Waqid Al-Laythi, and the story of the man who requested his body be burned and scattered in the sea out of fear of Allah, and Allah forgave him.