Discussion of the state of most Islamic countries and their adoption of deviant beliefs.

The questioner : We find, for example, in Europe that Muslims are praying and fasting without a creed.

The Shaykh : Without a creed?

The questioner : Without a sound creed. For example, right now in Bosnia, they are praying and fasting without a sound creed.

The Shaykh : But their creed is not sound.

The questioner : Maturidi.

The Shaykh : It is known.

The questioner : Sufi...

The Shaykh : We believe that this is not specific to there; in all the lands of the non-Arabs, our neighboring Albania, and if you go a little further south, the Turks in Istanbul and Ankara, and so on, and then take it east to the lands of the Afghans, India, and Sindh, and so on, most of the lands are like this. Their creed, as they claim, revolves around the schools of the people of the Sunnah and the community, between the Maturidi and the Ash'ari. As for the other schools, the Shi'ah, the Ja'fari, the Imami, and so on, the answer to that will come now. So, as a parenthetical remark, most Islamic countries, not only the non-Arab ones but also the Arab ones, do not have a sound creed. Therefore, we are today in the time about which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke by revelation from the sky, as in the hadith Who are the strangers? Two authentic narrations describe the strangers with two important characteristics. One includes all Muslims who are upon righteous deeds, shared by the scholar, the student of knowledge, and the common people, and it is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) the strangers This is a tangible description, within reach of the hand. But what concerns us is the second description. He said (peace and blessings be upon him) in another narration This is a parenthetical remark, even though it is long. As for the answer to your question, it was mentioned earlier in the details: the error, whether it is one for which one is held accountable or not, whether it is in the branches or the fundamentals. So now, those living in Europe, whether in lands of disbelief where there are individual Muslims like in Britain and Germany, and so on, or living in lands that were lands of disbelief and then became lands of Islam, the ignorance, and so on. We say that the answer for these people, in light of what was previously explained, is I am distinguishing now, so do not hold me to it, between you students here in an Arab land who have heard of something called the Book and the Sunnah and the methodology of the righteous predecessors, and you, in your own homeland, before you came to this land. You were there excused because no one came to convey to you the call of the Messenger. But here, you are not excused. Therefore, we care about you with all care so that you receive the correct knowledge and then become callers to your people there, as he said (peace and blessings be upon him) in the greatest station in the Farewell Pilgrimage at 'Arafah, when he admonished them and reminded them and said to them Then he said to them (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) So those who pray in those lands while living in creeds deviant from the Book and the Sunnah, I assume that the majority of them are excused, and there may be individuals who are not excused. These individuals, if the proof comes to them and is established against them and they do not submit to it, they are held accountable. As for those others, they are not held accountable. So I refer to the previous research, which is the answer to this question, but I feel that you wanted more clarification and explanation regarding this question.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : And may He bless you.

The questioner Which Messenger? So here, the verse is evidence that the Children of Israel... the Prophet Musa is a proof against the Arabs, even if their original prophet was Isma'il.

The Shaykh : If the call reaches them.

The questioner : The generality of "Messenger," meaning any Messenger. Those who specify it, and the Prophet was sent specifically to his people, but I was sent to all people. This verse is general.

The Shaykh : There is no contradiction between the verse and the hadith at all. The sending of a Messenger as an individual was to his people, but this does not negate that his message comes through people to people who are not of his people. There is no conflict.