Excuse by Ignorance in Prayer
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Some people in some remote villages, far from education and the call to Islam, are ignorant of many of the rulings of the religion, including prayer. They do not know the number of rak'ahs in the obligatory prayers. Some of them pray Fajr with three or four rak'ahs, combining the sunnah and the fard with a single taslim, and so on with the rest of the obligatory prayers, due to their ignorance. What is the ruling regarding their past prayers, and regarding one who dies while in that state?
Answer: If their doing this was due to their negligence in that they did not ask or investigate, and they had people who could guide and benefit them, but they neglected that and did not care, then their prayer is not valid; because they are not excused in this case; because it is required of the Muslim to know the rulings of worship before performing it, and performing the obligatory duties and fard, in particular, it is obligatory for a person to know their rulings before he begins them so that he can perform them in the prescribed manner, as much as he is able. So if these people had people who could guide them, and they were able to contact people of knowledge, or they had, for example, books and pamphlets, or they could obtain them by requesting them, but they did not do this and did not take the initiative, then these people are not excused by ignorance; because they have no excuse and their prayer is not valid.
As for if they were unable to know the rulings of prayer, and they knew that it is obligatory, and that it is required of them; but they were not able to know its rulings, and they did not have anyone to explain it to them, and they were unable to contact people of knowledge, then they pray according to their condition, and their prayer is valid;because of His saying, the Exalted: [al-Taghabun: 16] ;And by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 7288 .
Question: If there were people of knowledge and jurisprudence among them, and they were able to teach and guide them, but they did not do so, does any sin attach to them?
Answer: If the students of knowledge and the jurists did not fulfill their duty, then it is obligatory for the common people to ask them, and to inquire of them about what is difficult for them, and not to remain in their ignorance while there are people who can guide them;Because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says: [Surat al-Anbiya: 7] , so Allah the Exalted has obligated the ignorant to ask the people of knowledge if they do not know anything of the obligatory rulings upon them, and it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge to convey the message.
Answer: If their doing this was due to their negligence in that they did not ask or investigate, and they had people who could guide and benefit them, but they neglected that and did not care, then their prayer is not valid; because they are not excused in this case; because it is required of the Muslim to know the rulings of worship before performing it, and performing the obligatory duties and fard, in particular, it is obligatory for a person to know their rulings before he begins them so that he can perform them in the prescribed manner, as much as he is able. So if these people had people who could guide them, and they were able to contact people of knowledge, or they had, for example, books and pamphlets, or they could obtain them by requesting them, but they did not do this and did not take the initiative, then these people are not excused by ignorance; because they have no excuse and their prayer is not valid.
As for if they were unable to know the rulings of prayer, and they knew that it is obligatory, and that it is required of them; but they were not able to know its rulings, and they did not have anyone to explain it to them, and they were unable to contact people of knowledge, then they pray according to their condition, and their prayer is valid;because of His saying, the Exalted:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْAnd if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can.
إذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتمQuestion: If there were people of knowledge and jurisprudence among them, and they were able to teach and guide them, but they did not do so, does any sin attach to them?
Answer: If the students of knowledge and the jurists did not fulfill their duty, then it is obligatory for the common people to ask them, and to inquire of them about what is difficult for them, and not to remain in their ignorance while there are people who can guide them;Because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says: