Is major shirk excused by ignorance?

Question:
Another questioner says: Some people among us say that if a person commits major shirk, such as calling upon other than Allah, or slaughtering or making vows for other than Allah, he is still considered a Muslim as long as he did so out of ignorance. Is this statement correct?

Answer:
Shirk is not excused by ignorance, because it is a clear matter. Every Muslim knows that shirk is disbelief and that it takes one out of the religion. Every Muslim knows this, even the common people. The clear Qur'an, the verses they hear recited, the hadiths, and the sermons they hear all state that this is disbelief, that this is shirk. So how can it be said that he is excused by ignorance when he hears the argument, hears the Qur'an, hears the hadiths, hears the sermons, and hears the Friday sermons every week? And it is said he is excused by ignorance. Until when will this ignorance last? What is the benefit, then, of reciting the Qur'an? What is the benefit of reading the hadiths? What is the benefit of the Friday sermon? What is the benefit of the lessons? Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,