Many Muslims have fallen into matters of shirk (associating partners with Allah) while being unaware of their ruling; are these people excused due to ignorance, or are they declared disbelievers?

The questioner : Praise be to Allah. The question is: These matters of shirk (associating partners with Allah) have spread among many Muslims, and they are unaware of their ruling. Are they excused for their ignorance, or are they declared disbelievers and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is attributed to them simply because they call upon a wali (close friend of Allah), seek blessing from a wali, or do something similar? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : What I believe is that it is not permissible to declare a Muslim man a disbeliever who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, just because he has fallen into something of disbelief, even if it is creedal disbelief. This is because among the established principles of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), which are well-known to scholars, is that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not hold anyone accountable until the proof has been established against him, as in the verse: , and as indicated by many authentic Prophetic hadiths. Muslims today live in a state of estrangement and distance from the Islam that came in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him), as indicated by his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim: "Allah does not accept knowledge" . These people who fall into such shirk (associating partners with Allah) are indeed living in an Islamic atmosphere, but they are living in an atmosphere far from the correct understanding of Islam. Therefore, we cannot say, and reality is the greatest witness, that the proof has been established against them. This is because those who are supposed to establish the proof against them are the people of knowledge, and unfortunately, the vast majority of scholars today in most Islamic countries do not see any harm in these matters of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and disbelief. In fact, some of them beautify it for them under names that fit the description of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He): . Sometimes they call this shirk (associating partners with Allah) tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means), and sometimes they call it tabarruk (seeking blessing from a thing or person). And if they explicitly state that this is shirk (associating partners with Allah), they say that the intention is good. So from where can the general Muslims have the proof established against them, when the people of proof are actually the ones who beautify their bad deeds? Therefore, I do not see that these people should be declared disbelievers, even if they have actually fallen into disbelief. We do not say that when they call upon al-Badawi, 'Abd al-Qadir, and others, that they are worshipping Allah with the oneness of worship (tawhid al-uluhiyyah); no, this is clear and complete shirk (associating partners with Allah). However, except for those whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has granted correct knowledge and correct understanding of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), who should convey to these people the proof of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) that this is disbelief and major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and then leave them to their Lord, for He is the One who will hold them accountable. If Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): , , this is from one aspect. And from another aspect, unfortunately, we do not live in a time when the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) punishments and Islamic rulings are implemented. So all that is possible for us is to convey the message. Otherwise, if there were an Islamic ruling, these people who associate partners with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and call upon other than Allah would be brought forward, warned, and told to stop this disbelief, this shirk (associating partners with Allah), and this misguidance. If they return to it, then all that is before them is the sword. There is no such ruling in force today. Therefore, all we have is conveying the message. This is my belief.
The student : May Allah reward you with good.