When is a person excused due to his ignorance?
Question:
“A questioner from Egypt asks: In your opinion, what is the ruling on a Muslim man who commits major Shirk? Will he be excused due to his ignorance? And, when is a person excused due to his ignorance? And, what is the evidence for both cases? May Allah reward you well.”
Answer:
“Anyone who commits major Shirk has committed the most serious sin, and it is obligatory to repent to Allah (Exalted be He) as soon as possible. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful} [Surah An-Nur 24:31]
And: {Say: "O ‘Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)!}, by committing Shirk and sins, {Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh: verily, Allâh forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surah Az-Zumar 39:53]
Scholars have agreed that this Ayah (Qur'anic verse) refers to those who have repented. It is obligatory that whoever has committed any act of Shirk or a sin should quickly repent to Allah (Exalted be He); they should neither despair nor surrender. Allah (Exalted be He) has promised whoever repents to Him that He will forgive them and He is the Most Generous and Ever-Bountiful (Glorified and Exalted be He); the All-Merciful and Ever-Compassionate.
Anyone who is living among Muslims or has learned about the Qur'an or Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), is no longer excused. They should acquire knowledge and inquire and learn in order to be free of blame and base their actions on sure knowledge. Those who reside in remote countries and have not received any knowledge of the Qur'an or Sunnah, fall under the same ruling as Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages). Accordingly, they are neither a Muslim nor a Kafir; rather, they are from Ahl-ul-Fatrah. Their judgement rests with Allah (Exalted be He) on the Day of Resurrection. They will be tested on that day, and if they obey, they will enter Paradise, and if they disobey, they will enter Hell. This is because the Da`wah (calling to Islam) has not reached them. Muslims living in Muslim countries who have heard the Qur'an and Sunnah and have scholars, and yet choose to disregard this and do not ask or seek knowledge, their ignorance is not an excuse. We ask Allah to protect us."
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb, Volume 1, Chapter on `Aqidah, Chapter on being excused out of ignorance, No one is to be excused with regard to the principles of religion due to ignorance. Question number 6, tape number 394.
“A questioner from Egypt asks: In your opinion, what is the ruling on a Muslim man who commits major Shirk? Will he be excused due to his ignorance? And, when is a person excused due to his ignorance? And, what is the evidence for both cases? May Allah reward you well.”
Answer:
“Anyone who commits major Shirk has committed the most serious sin, and it is obligatory to repent to Allah (Exalted be He) as soon as possible. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful} [Surah An-Nur 24:31]
And: {Say: "O ‘Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)!}, by committing Shirk and sins, {Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh: verily, Allâh forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surah Az-Zumar 39:53]
Scholars have agreed that this Ayah (Qur'anic verse) refers to those who have repented. It is obligatory that whoever has committed any act of Shirk or a sin should quickly repent to Allah (Exalted be He); they should neither despair nor surrender. Allah (Exalted be He) has promised whoever repents to Him that He will forgive them and He is the Most Generous and Ever-Bountiful (Glorified and Exalted be He); the All-Merciful and Ever-Compassionate.
Anyone who is living among Muslims or has learned about the Qur'an or Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), is no longer excused. They should acquire knowledge and inquire and learn in order to be free of blame and base their actions on sure knowledge. Those who reside in remote countries and have not received any knowledge of the Qur'an or Sunnah, fall under the same ruling as Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages). Accordingly, they are neither a Muslim nor a Kafir; rather, they are from Ahl-ul-Fatrah. Their judgement rests with Allah (Exalted be He) on the Day of Resurrection. They will be tested on that day, and if they obey, they will enter Paradise, and if they disobey, they will enter Hell. This is because the Da`wah (calling to Islam) has not reached them. Muslims living in Muslim countries who have heard the Qur'an and Sunnah and have scholars, and yet choose to disregard this and do not ask or seek knowledge, their ignorance is not an excuse. We ask Allah to protect us."
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Nur `Ala Al-Darb, Volume 1, Chapter on `Aqidah, Chapter on being excused out of ignorance, No one is to be excused with regard to the principles of religion due to ignorance. Question number 6, tape number 394.