Some Muslims appear to be turning away from learning; are they excused, how should we deal with them, and who is responsible?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Your Eminence, we have observed that the majority of Muslims, both inside and outside the country, appear to be turning away from the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). They do not know it and do not learn it, and we face many difficulties with them regarding simple matters of the religion that a Muslim should not be ignorant of.
So, how should we deal with these people? Are they excused by the Shari'ah? And who is responsible toward them?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for them to learn from the religion of Allah what they need. They should learn what they need of the rulings of ritual purity, what they need of the rulings of prayer, what they need of the rulings of zakah, what they need of the rulings of fasting, and what they need of the rulings of Hajj.
It is obligatory for them, and this knowledge is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn), as the scholars have stated. It is obligatory for them to ask. The means of acquiring knowledge today are easy, praise be to Allah. Transportation is facilitated, and communication is facilitated. Transportation by car: the distance that people used to cover in two days, they now cover in two hours. Communication is also facilitated; the telephone is available, and they can contact scholars and ask them.
In reality, they are not excused. However, we say that it is obligatory for scholars to travel to the countries where ignorance is prevalent to teach them the matters of their religion. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to send callers to the countries to teach them their religion and guide them. He ordered Malik ibn al-Huwayrith and his companions to return to their people to teach them and educate them.
So, there are two obligations here: one obligation for the general public and one obligation for the scholars. Yes.
The questioner : I mean that they are proficient in matters of agriculture and industry.
The Shaykh : They are proficient in the matters of this world, but the matters of this world are achieved through experience. Perhaps they know them through experience, and perhaps they are more concerned with the matters of this world than with the matters of the religion. Yes.
Your Eminence, we have observed that the majority of Muslims, both inside and outside the country, appear to be turning away from the religion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). They do not know it and do not learn it, and we face many difficulties with them regarding simple matters of the religion that a Muslim should not be ignorant of.
So, how should we deal with these people? Are they excused by the Shari'ah? And who is responsible toward them?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for them to learn from the religion of Allah what they need. They should learn what they need of the rulings of ritual purity, what they need of the rulings of prayer, what they need of the rulings of zakah, what they need of the rulings of fasting, and what they need of the rulings of Hajj.
It is obligatory for them, and this knowledge is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn), as the scholars have stated. It is obligatory for them to ask. The means of acquiring knowledge today are easy, praise be to Allah. Transportation is facilitated, and communication is facilitated. Transportation by car: the distance that people used to cover in two days, they now cover in two hours. Communication is also facilitated; the telephone is available, and they can contact scholars and ask them.
In reality, they are not excused. However, we say that it is obligatory for scholars to travel to the countries where ignorance is prevalent to teach them the matters of their religion. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to send callers to the countries to teach them their religion and guide them. He ordered Malik ibn al-Huwayrith and his companions to return to their people to teach them and educate them.
So, there are two obligations here: one obligation for the general public and one obligation for the scholars. Yes.
The questioner : I mean that they are proficient in matters of agriculture and industry.
The Shaykh : They are proficient in the matters of this world, but the matters of this world are achieved through experience. Perhaps they know them through experience, and perhaps they are more concerned with the matters of this world than with the matters of the religion. Yes.