The Ruling on Generalizing the Description of Jahiliyyah (the Pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance) to the Muslim Ummah

The questioner:
You mentioned that Abu Hamid (may Allah have mercy on him) said that it is not permissible to say that people are in a state of jahiliyyah (the pre-Islamic age of ignorance). But is it correct to say that people are in the jahiliyyah of the twentieth century, given that this phrase is widespread?

The Shaykh:
This is not permissible. We do not say “the jahiliyyah of the twentieth century” or “the jahiliyyah of the fifties.” No, for the entire century we say “jahiliyyah.” This is not permissible. However, we may say that there is jahiliyyah among people, or that so-and-so has jahiliyyah. But generalizing it to Muslims and saying “Muslims are in the jahiliyyah of the twentieth century” or “the whole world is in the jahiliyyah of the twentieth century” is not permissible. Yes.

The questioner:
Can jahiliyyah be in one place and not in another?

The Shaykh:
Jahiliyyah can be in one country and not in another, in one person and not in another, in one state and not in another. But what concerns me is when people say that everyone is in a state of jahiliyyah, or that the Muslim ummah (the Muslim community) is absent, as they say the Muslim ummah is absent at this time. All of this is empty talk. There is good among the Muslims, and praise be to Allah, no matter how few or weak they may be. There is still good in this ummah until the Hour stands. These are matters of wording that are not permissible to say, but they come from people who do not have fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) of the texts. They have enthusiasm for the religion. We say nothing but good about them in that they have good and enthusiasm, but their statements do not come from fiqh or understanding.

The questioner:
Of course, jahiliyyah can be in a specific place.

The Shaykh:
It can be in a specific place, in a specific tribe, or in a specific state. That is possible. But generalizing it to Muslims and to all people is not permissible. After the sending of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the general jahiliyyah ended, because jahiliyyah means the absence of knowledge. The absence of knowledge is jahiliyyah. But after the sending of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), knowledge came from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), scholars appeared, and there is still good in the ummah, and praise be to Allah. So we do not generalize in this way. Yes.

The presenter:
Alright, goodbye.

The Shaykh:
And whoever wants to elaborate on this should refer to the book of Shaykh al-Islam, al-Sirat al-Mustaqim Mukhalafat Ahl al-Jahim (The Straight Path: The Opposition of the People of the Hellfire). He spoke about the matters of jahiliyyah and the characteristics of jahiliyyah, and that it is not permissible to generalize jahiliyyah to people after the sending of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).

The questioner:
Of course, the jahiliyyah in one place is more severe than the jahiliyyah in another. The first presentation.

The Shaykh:
No, that it is more severe. Yes, more severe than the jahiliyyah of the first Arabs. Yes.

The questioner:
What are the problems of the Arabs? The problems of the later people in prosperity and partnership? And more severe than the jahiliyyah of the Arabs.

The Shaykh:
The period after the first jahiliyyah is not worse than it. Allah knows best. But in some respects, it may be in some respects. But the jahiliyyah of the later people is more severe than the jahiliyyah of the earlier people in some matters, but not in all matters.