The Ruling on Dealing with Muslims Who Are Ignorant of the Laws of the Religion

Question:
The questioner says: Your Eminence the Shaykh, we went to one of the Islamic republics that was under Russian communist occupation, and we found that the people know nothing of the religion except the two testimonies of faith. They do not know that prayer is obligatory, nor zakah, nor fasting, nor the other laws of the religion. Most of them do not pray and do not fast. The question is: Is it permissible to consider them Muslims? In other words, is it permissible for us to greet them with the salam, eat their slaughtered animals, marry their women, and pray over their dead?

Answer:
It is obligatory to advise them, guide them to good, call them to Allah, and make clear to them what they are ignorant of. This is the duty of the da'wah workers in Bosnia and elsewhere. They must make clear to them, call them to Allah, inform them of what Allah has legislated, and guide them to good. If they do not pray, do not eat their slaughtered animals, or if they are in a state of shirk (associating partners with Allah), until they repent. If they repent, there is no harm. But as long as they do not pray or engage in shirk, no, do not eat their slaughtered animals. However, they must be taught and advised. If they repent to Allah and return, then eat their slaughtered animals, and they will become our brothers in Allah. So the da'wah workers must guide them, direct them, and teach them, just as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction) did with the people of Madinah, and just as they did in their expeditions with the people of Sham, Iraq, and others. Da'wah, guidance, and patience are necessary.