An ignorant villager died not knowing that Shirk was a major sin
Question:
“What is the ruling on a person who dies while committing Shirk - may Allah save us - however, he did not know the extent of the danger of this matter? He was an ignorant villager at that time who did not know that Shirk was a major sin, and he died in this state. Are we permitted to make Du`a' (supplication) for him for Allah (Exalted be He) to have mercy on him and forgive him? And, is it permitted to perform Hajj and `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) on his behalf? Will these deeds benefit him?”
Answer:
“Shirk is the gravest of the major sins. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said in a Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish): 'Should I inform you of the worst of major sins?' They said, 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah.' He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, 'Associating others with Allah.'[1]
The proof of this is the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He):
{Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills} [Surah An-Nisa 4:48]
Shirk is the gravest and most repulsive sin. Whoever dies in this state will not be forgiven; they will be from the permanent dwellers of Hellfire. Neither Hajj, Salah, Sadaqah (voluntary charity) nor Du`a' should be made on their behalf, because Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), as it was to those (Allâh’s Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."} [Surah Az-Zumar 39:65]
And: {But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.} [Surah Al-An’am 6:88]
Allah (Exalted be He) also says about the Mushriks:
{Thus Allâh will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire.} [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:167]
Shirk is dedicating `Ibadah (worship) or any part of it to other than Allah (Exalted be He), like those who invoke the dead, the stars, the angels or the prophets and seek their help, and make vows or slaughter a sacrifice for them; this is Shirk. The same can be said about denying any of the matters which Allah (Exalted be He) has made obligatory, which are classified under Ma`lum minad-din biddarurah (well-established and known Islamic principles) that Muslims unanimously agree on, for example, a person who denies the obligation of Salah, Zakah (obligatory charity), Sawm (Fasting) in Ramadan, or Hajj for those who are able. Also, the same applies to deeming lawful what Allah (Exalted be He) has prohibited from among the Ma`lum minad-din biddarurah; for example, declaring Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage) or Khamr (intoxicant) to be Halal (lawful), or saying that it is not sinful to be undutiful to your parents. Such a person is a Kafir who is guilty of major Kufr (disbelief that takes the Muslim out of Islam). They should not be prayed over when they die, and forgiveness should not be asked for them nor should anyone perform Hajj or give Sadaqah on their behalf, because they have died as a non-Muslim.
This is so as long as such a person was living among Muslims and heard the Qur'an and saw the Muslims and knew their duties. Such a person is left without any excuse. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{...this Qur’ân has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach.} [Surah Al-An’am 6:19]
Anyone who has access to the Qur'an cannot then be excused. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{This (Qur’an) is a Message for mankind (and a clear proof against them)} [Surah Ibrahim 14:52]
Such a person also showed reluctance, for he neither learned nor asked. The final decision with regard to him rests with Allah (Exalted be He), but in this world he falls under the same ruling as most Kafirs of Quraysh who were killed on the Battle of Badr or other battles, or who died in Makkah. Moreover, he is like the majority of Kafirs today, including the the Christians and the Jews as they are all ignorant. They are satisfied with what they are following, and do not seek to be instructed by the Message with which Allah (Exalted be He) sent Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and have ignored it completely so they became Kafirs. We ask Allah to protect us.”
[1] Related by Al-Bukhari, Book on good manners, Chapter on lack of dutifulness to parents is a major wrong action, no. 4976; and Muslim, Book on faith, Chapter on major sins and the gravest among these, no. 87.
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 16, tape number 376.
“What is the ruling on a person who dies while committing Shirk - may Allah save us - however, he did not know the extent of the danger of this matter? He was an ignorant villager at that time who did not know that Shirk was a major sin, and he died in this state. Are we permitted to make Du`a' (supplication) for him for Allah (Exalted be He) to have mercy on him and forgive him? And, is it permitted to perform Hajj and `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) on his behalf? Will these deeds benefit him?”
Answer:
“Shirk is the gravest of the major sins. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said in a Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish): 'Should I inform you of the worst of major sins?' They said, 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah.' He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, 'Associating others with Allah.'[1]
The proof of this is the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He):
{Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills} [Surah An-Nisa 4:48]
Shirk is the gravest and most repulsive sin. Whoever dies in this state will not be forgiven; they will be from the permanent dwellers of Hellfire. Neither Hajj, Salah, Sadaqah (voluntary charity) nor Du`a' should be made on their behalf, because Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), as it was to those (Allâh’s Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."} [Surah Az-Zumar 39:65]
And: {But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.} [Surah Al-An’am 6:88]
Allah (Exalted be He) also says about the Mushriks:
{Thus Allâh will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire.} [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:167]
Shirk is dedicating `Ibadah (worship) or any part of it to other than Allah (Exalted be He), like those who invoke the dead, the stars, the angels or the prophets and seek their help, and make vows or slaughter a sacrifice for them; this is Shirk. The same can be said about denying any of the matters which Allah (Exalted be He) has made obligatory, which are classified under Ma`lum minad-din biddarurah (well-established and known Islamic principles) that Muslims unanimously agree on, for example, a person who denies the obligation of Salah, Zakah (obligatory charity), Sawm (Fasting) in Ramadan, or Hajj for those who are able. Also, the same applies to deeming lawful what Allah (Exalted be He) has prohibited from among the Ma`lum minad-din biddarurah; for example, declaring Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage) or Khamr (intoxicant) to be Halal (lawful), or saying that it is not sinful to be undutiful to your parents. Such a person is a Kafir who is guilty of major Kufr (disbelief that takes the Muslim out of Islam). They should not be prayed over when they die, and forgiveness should not be asked for them nor should anyone perform Hajj or give Sadaqah on their behalf, because they have died as a non-Muslim.
This is so as long as such a person was living among Muslims and heard the Qur'an and saw the Muslims and knew their duties. Such a person is left without any excuse. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{...this Qur’ân has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach.} [Surah Al-An’am 6:19]
Anyone who has access to the Qur'an cannot then be excused. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
{This (Qur’an) is a Message for mankind (and a clear proof against them)} [Surah Ibrahim 14:52]
Such a person also showed reluctance, for he neither learned nor asked. The final decision with regard to him rests with Allah (Exalted be He), but in this world he falls under the same ruling as most Kafirs of Quraysh who were killed on the Battle of Badr or other battles, or who died in Makkah. Moreover, he is like the majority of Kafirs today, including the the Christians and the Jews as they are all ignorant. They are satisfied with what they are following, and do not seek to be instructed by the Message with which Allah (Exalted be He) sent Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and have ignored it completely so they became Kafirs. We ask Allah to protect us.”
[1] Related by Al-Bukhari, Book on good manners, Chapter on lack of dutifulness to parents is a major wrong action, no. 4976; and Muslim, Book on faith, Chapter on major sins and the gravest among these, no. 87.
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 16, tape number 376.