Explanation of being excused due to ignorance
Question:
"Your Eminence Shaykh! You answered a question related to when ignorance can be used as an excuse, and you mentioned that it requires detailed clarification, and that no one can be excused for ignorance in matters related to `Aqidah (creed). If a man was not in the habit of seeking help from the dead or doing such prohibited things, but he did it once as far as I know; he sought the help of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), while not having any idea that it is Haram (prohibited) and is considered Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). He performed Hajj later, and no one told him that what he did was Haram. I do not think he knew the ruling on this until he died. That man used to perform Salah (Prayer) and ask Allah for forgiveness, but he did not know that what he did was Haram. Is such a person who did this act only once, and died without knowing it is Haram, considered a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)? Please advise, may Allah reward you with the best!"
Answer:
"If that man offered Tawbah (repentance to Allah) after this time and asked Allah for forgiveness, this ruling is canceled and he is still considered a Muslim. However, if continued to seek the help of other than Allah and did not perform Tawbah, he is still considered a Mushrik, even if he used to perform Salah and observe Sawm (Fast), unless he performed Tawbah of Shirk. If a person abuses Allah and His Messenger or abuses the Deen, Jannah (Paradise) or Hellfire, it is of no avail that they perform Salah and observe Sawm, because this invalidates Islam. Thus, their deeds are considered Batil (null and void) until they perform Tawbah. This is an important rule referred to in Allah's (Exalted be He) Saying:
{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-Anam 6:88]
He (Glorified be He) also 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." Nay! But worship Allâh (Alone and none else), and be among the grateful.} [Surah Al-Zumar 39:65-66]
The Prophet's mother died during the time of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance), and he (peace be upon him) asked Allah for permission to seek Allah's Forgiveness for her, but he was not given permission. When he (peace be upon him) was asked about his father, he said: "My father and yours will be in Hellfire"[1] because they died during Jahiliyyah. This means that if one dies in a state of Shirk, it is not permissible to ask Allah to forgive them, supplicate to Allah for them or give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) on their behalf, unless it is known that they offered Tawbah. This is the rule known to scholars. May Allah grant us success."
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz
[1] Related by Muslim, Book on faith, Chapter on he who dies associating none with Allah would enter Paradise and he who dies as a polytheist would enter the Fire of Hell, no. 203.
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 28, Book on subject related to `Aqidah. Nur ‘Ala Al-Darb program, Tape no. 8.
"Your Eminence Shaykh! You answered a question related to when ignorance can be used as an excuse, and you mentioned that it requires detailed clarification, and that no one can be excused for ignorance in matters related to `Aqidah (creed). If a man was not in the habit of seeking help from the dead or doing such prohibited things, but he did it once as far as I know; he sought the help of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), while not having any idea that it is Haram (prohibited) and is considered Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). He performed Hajj later, and no one told him that what he did was Haram. I do not think he knew the ruling on this until he died. That man used to perform Salah (Prayer) and ask Allah for forgiveness, but he did not know that what he did was Haram. Is such a person who did this act only once, and died without knowing it is Haram, considered a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship)? Please advise, may Allah reward you with the best!"
Answer:
"If that man offered Tawbah (repentance to Allah) after this time and asked Allah for forgiveness, this ruling is canceled and he is still considered a Muslim. However, if continued to seek the help of other than Allah and did not perform Tawbah, he is still considered a Mushrik, even if he used to perform Salah and observe Sawm (Fast), unless he performed Tawbah of Shirk. If a person abuses Allah and His Messenger or abuses the Deen, Jannah (Paradise) or Hellfire, it is of no avail that they perform Salah and observe Sawm, because this invalidates Islam. Thus, their deeds are considered Batil (null and void) until they perform Tawbah. This is an important rule referred to in Allah's (Exalted be He) Saying:
{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-Anam 6:88]
He (Glorified be He) also 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." Nay! But worship Allâh (Alone and none else), and be among the grateful.} [Surah Al-Zumar 39:65-66]
The Prophet's mother died during the time of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance), and he (peace be upon him) asked Allah for permission to seek Allah's Forgiveness for her, but he was not given permission. When he (peace be upon him) was asked about his father, he said: "My father and yours will be in Hellfire"[1] because they died during Jahiliyyah. This means that if one dies in a state of Shirk, it is not permissible to ask Allah to forgive them, supplicate to Allah for them or give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) on their behalf, unless it is known that they offered Tawbah. This is the rule known to scholars. May Allah grant us success."
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz
[1] Related by Muslim, Book on faith, Chapter on he who dies associating none with Allah would enter Paradise and he who dies as a polytheist would enter the Fire of Hell, no. 203.
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwas of Ibn Baz, Volume 28, Book on subject related to `Aqidah. Nur ‘Ala Al-Darb program, Tape no. 8.