Do the general Muslim population, among whom acts of shirk (associating partners with Allah) have spread while they are ignorant of them, become disbelievers? And are they excused for their ignorance of them, or not?

The student : Praise be to Allah. Those who associate partners with Allah.

The Shaykh : You can turn this around like this.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : Perhaps you can cover the distance without the possibility... Please go ahead.

The questioner : Praise be to Allah. The question is: These acts of shirk (associating partners with Allah) have become widespread among many Muslims, and they are ignorant of their ruling. Are they excused for their ignorance, or are they ruled as disbelievers and shirk (associating partners with Allah) simply because they invoke a wali (close friend of Allah), or seek blessing from a wali, or something else? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : I believe 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, because he has fallen into something of disbelief, even if it is a belief-based disbelief. This is because one of the established principles of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), which is well-known among scholars, is that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) does not hold anyone accountable until the argument is established against him, as in the verse: , and as indicated by many authentic Prophetic hadiths. Muslims today live in a state of alienation 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: . So these people who fall into such shirk (associating partners with Allah), it is true that they live in an Islamic atmosphere, but they live in an atmosphere far from the correct understanding of Islam. Therefore, we cannot say—and reality is the greatest witness—that the argument has been established against them. That is because it is supposed that those who establish the argument against them are the people of knowledge. And unfortunately, the vast majority of people of knowledge today in most Islamic countries do not see any harm in these acts of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and disbelief. In fact, some of them beautify it for them with names to which the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) applies: . 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, my brother, is shirk (associating partners with Allah), but his intention is good, then from where can the argument be established against the general Muslim population when the people of argument, by obligation, are those who beautify the evil of their deeds?! Therefore, I do not see rushing to declare these people disbelievers, even if they have actually fallen into disbelief.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : We do not say that when they invoke al-Badawi, 'Abd al-Qadir, and others, that they are declaring the oneness of Allah in worship. No, this is clear and complete shirk (associating partners with Allah). But it is incumbent upon the one whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has granted correct knowledge and correct understanding of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) to convey to these people the argument of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) that this is disbelief, and major disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah). Then leave them to their Lord, for He is the One who will hold them accountable. If Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says to His 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) limits and Islamic rulings are implemented. So all we can do is convey the message. Otherwise, if there were an Islamic ruling, these people who associate partners with Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and invoke other than Allah would be brought, and they would be told to stop this disbelief and this shirk (associating partners with Allah) and misguidance. If you return to it, then what is before you is only the sword. There is no country today, for example, with an effective ruling. Therefore, all we have is conveying: . This is my belief.