What is the ruling on those who commit shirk (associating partners with Allah) in Islamic lands? Are they excused due to their ignorance?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Is a person excused by ignorance in the lands of Islam if he falls into shirk (associating partners with Allah)?
The Shaykh : In the lands of Islam where tawhid (the oneness of Allah) is manifest, and there is nothing of the symbols of disbelief, and he lives among them, he is not excused, because there is no cause there that leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). But in the lands of Islam where there are symbols of shirk (associating partners with Allah), like most Islamic lands in the present time, where there are graves that are worshipped besides Allah and called upon for aid, and the like of that, he may be excused by ignorance, because he may be a common person who knows nothing at all. He lived in this village and they go to so-and-so the master and so-and-so the wali (close friend of Allah) and call upon him for aid, so he was with them and no one warned him about it. So this person is excused by his ignorance and he is judged by the apparent state of his condition.
Then, if there is something hidden from us, its matter is with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. But in this world, he is judged by the apparent state of his condition, which is Islam, because if he believed that this was shirk (associating partners with Allah), he would not have done it. He professes Islam, and testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and he establishes the prayer, and he gives the zakah (the obligatory alms), and he performs Hajj (the major pilgrimage), and he fasts. But he is among a people who grew up with this and became old with it, and they do not know that this is shirk (associating partners with Allah). So there is no doubt that he is excused, because Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:[At-Tawbah 9:115] And He said: [An-Nisa 4:115] And the verses in this meaning are many. And He the Exalted said: [Ibrahim 14:4] So clarification is necessary, and knowledge is necessary. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is too generous to punish one who does not know that this is a sin. Yes.
Is a person excused by ignorance in the lands of Islam if he falls into shirk (associating partners with Allah)?
The Shaykh : In the lands of Islam where tawhid (the oneness of Allah) is manifest, and there is nothing of the symbols of disbelief, and he lives among them, he is not excused, because there is no cause there that leads to shirk (associating partners with Allah). But in the lands of Islam where there are symbols of shirk (associating partners with Allah), like most Islamic lands in the present time, where there are graves that are worshipped besides Allah and called upon for aid, and the like of that, he may be excused by ignorance, because he may be a common person who knows nothing at all. He lived in this village and they go to so-and-so the master and so-and-so the wali (close friend of Allah) and call upon him for aid, so he was with them and no one warned him about it. So this person is excused by his ignorance and he is judged by the apparent state of his condition.
Then, if there is something hidden from us, its matter is with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. But in this world, he is judged by the apparent state of his condition, which is Islam, because if he believed that this was shirk (associating partners with Allah), he would not have done it. He professes Islam, and testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and he establishes the prayer, and he gives the zakah (the obligatory alms), and he performs Hajj (the major pilgrimage), and he fasts. But he is among a people who grew up with this and became old with it, and they do not know that this is shirk (associating partners with Allah). So there is no doubt that he is excused, because Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: