If the proof is established against a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), but he does not understand it, do we excuse him?
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The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, if the proof is established against a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), but he does not understand it, do we excuse him?
The Shaykh:
If he does not understand it, that means the proof has not been established against him. Yes.
The questioner:
He says: And did Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) hold the view that he is excused, while the imams of the da'wah (calling others to Islam) held that he is not excused?
The Shaykh:
The arrival of the proof. The proof is only established against him if he understands it, if he were to want to. If he understands it, if he were to want to, but he did not want it, then the proof is established against him. But if he is a non-Arab who does not understand, and even if he wanted to understand, he would not understand, then the proof is not established against him until it is translated for him and explained to him. Yes. So the establishment of the proof is the arrival of the Qur'an with its understanding, if he were to want it. If he leaves it off while he is able to understand it, then he is not excused, because he is capable of removing the ignorance, but he does not want to. Yes.
The presenter:
He says: Honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh:
They say: The one against whom the proof has arrived in a way that he would understand it if he wanted, has no excuse. Yes.
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, if the proof is established against a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), but he does not understand it, do we excuse him?
The Shaykh:
If he does not understand it, that means the proof has not been established against him. Yes.
The questioner:
He says: And did Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) hold the view that he is excused, while the imams of the da'wah (calling others to Islam) held that he is not excused?
The Shaykh:
The arrival of the proof. The proof is only established against him if he understands it, if he were to want to. If he understands it, if he were to want to, but he did not want it, then the proof is established against him. But if he is a non-Arab who does not understand, and even if he wanted to understand, he would not understand, then the proof is not established against him until it is translated for him and explained to him. Yes. So the establishment of the proof is the arrival of the Qur'an with its understanding, if he were to want it. If he leaves it off while he is able to understand it, then he is not excused, because he is capable of removing the ignorance, but he does not want to. Yes.
The presenter:
He says: Honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh:
They say: The one against whom the proof has arrived in a way that he would understand it if he wanted, has no excuse. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، [465 /1350] إذا أقيمت على المشرك الحجة، لكن لم يفهمها، هل نعذره؟ الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.