Guidelines for declaring disbelief and shirk
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Is the one who falls into major shirk;For example: the one who calls for aid other than Allah, or makes a vow to other than Allah,Can it be said: is he a disbeliever,Or is it said: must the proof be established against him?
Every person who falls into shirk, and his like is ignorant of it, is not judged to be a shirk until the proof is established against him. Similarly, a person who commits a sin other than shirk is not punished for it if his like is ignorant of it. For example, if a man commits zina and he recently converted to Islam and does not know that zina is forbidden, we do not apply the hadd punishment to him because he is ignorant. Likewise, the one who calls for aid other than Allah or supplicates to other than Allah, and he is ignorant and we know that his like is ignorant of it, is not judged to be a disbeliever. This is because there are many explicit verses stating that one is not judged to be a disbeliever except after knowledge.Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: [Surah al-Qasas: 59] And there is no injustice except through stubbornness and opposition.
And Allah the Exalted says: [Surah al-Nisa: 165] , thus it clarified that there is no proof for creation against Allah except if the Messenger is sent and they are informed that this is forbidden and this is shirk.
And Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Isra: 15] .
And Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Nisa: 115] .
And Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said: [Surah al-Tawbah: 115] .
And the verses in this meaning are numerous.
A person does not know what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has forbidden except through knowledge from the Messengers.
So if this person is a Muslim who prays, fasts, pays zakah, performs Hajj, and calls for aid other than Allah while not knowing that it is forbidden, he is a Muslim. But this is on the condition that his like is ignorant of it, such that he is a recent convert to Islam, or he is in a land where this matter has spread and has become like a permissible thing among them, and there are no scholars among them to clarify it for them.
As for if he is in a land where tawhid (the oneness of Allah) is firmly established and settled, his claim of ignorance may be a lie.
Every person who falls into shirk, and his like is ignorant of it, is not judged to be a shirk until the proof is established against him. Similarly, a person who commits a sin other than shirk is not punished for it if his like is ignorant of it. For example, if a man commits zina and he recently converted to Islam and does not know that zina is forbidden, we do not apply the hadd punishment to him because he is ignorant. Likewise, the one who calls for aid other than Allah or supplicates to other than Allah, and he is ignorant and we know that his like is ignorant of it, is not judged to be a disbeliever. This is because there are many explicit verses stating that one is not judged to be a disbeliever except after knowledge.Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
And never would your Lord have destroyed the cities until He had sent to their mother a messenger reciting to them Our verses. And We would not destroy the cities except while their people were wrongdoers.
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَى حَتَّى يَبْعَثَ فِي أُمِّهَا رَسُولاً يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِنَا وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِي الْقُرَى إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَالِمُونَAnd Allah the Exalted says:
[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers
رُسُلاً مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِAnd Allah the Exalted said:
And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.
وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاًAnd Allah the Exalted said:
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيراًAnd Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said:
And Allah would not let a people stray after He has guided them until He makes clear to them what they should avoid. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of all things.
وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوْماً بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَاهُمْ حَتَّى يُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ مَا يَتَّقُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌAnd the verses in this meaning are numerous.
A person does not know what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has forbidden except through knowledge from the Messengers.
So if this person is a Muslim who prays, fasts, pays zakah, performs Hajj, and calls for aid other than Allah while not knowing that it is forbidden, he is a Muslim. But this is on the condition that his like is ignorant of it, such that he is a recent convert to Islam, or he is in a land where this matter has spread and has become like a permissible thing among them, and there are no scholars among them to clarify it for them.
As for if he is in a land where tawhid (the oneness of Allah) is firmly established and settled, his claim of ignorance may be a lie.