Who is excused for ignorance in matters of creed and fiqh?
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Question: The brother: M. S. from the Arab Republic of Egypt says in his question: Who are those who are excused for ignorance? Is a person excused for his ignorance in matters of fiqh? Or in matters of creed and tawhid (the oneness of Allah)? And what is the obligation of scholars regarding this matter?
Answer: The claim of ignorance and excusing oneself with it involves a detailed ruling, and not everyone is excused for ignorance. For matters that Islam brought and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified for the people, and which the Book of Allah made clear and which spread among the Muslims, the claim of ignorance is not accepted, especially regarding matters of creed and the foundation of the religion. Indeed, Allah sent His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to clarify their religion for the people and explain it to them. He conveyed the clear message, clarified the reality of their religion for the Ummah, explained everything to them, and left them upon the straight path, its night like its day.
And in the Book of Allah is guidance and light. So if some people claim ignorance regarding what is known from the religion by necessity, and which has spread among the Muslims, such as claiming ignorance about shirk (associating partners with Allah) and worshipping other than Allah , or claiming that prayer is not obligatory, or that fasting Ramadan is not obligatory, or that zakah is not obligatory, or that Hajj with the ability to perform it is not obligatory, then the claim of ignorance is not accepted from one who is among the Muslims regarding these matters. Because they are matters known among the Muslims, known by necessity from the religion of Islam, and have spread among the Muslims, so the claim of ignorance is not accepted in that. Likewise, if one claims that he does not know what the polytheists do at the graves or at the idols, such as calling upon the dead, seeking aid from them, slaughtering for them, making vows for them, or slaughtering for the idols, or the stars, or the trees, or the stones, or seeking healing or victory over enemies from the dead, or the idols, or the jinn, or the angels, or the prophets...
All of this is a matter known from the religion by necessity, and it is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Allah has clarified this in His noble Book, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified it as well. He remained in Makkah for thirteen years warning people against this shirk, and likewise in al-Madinah for ten years, clarifying to them the obligation of making worship sincere for Allah alone, and reciting to them the Book of Allah, such as His saying, the Exalted: [al-Isra: 23], and His saying, the Exalted: [al-Fatihah: 5], and His saying, (peace and blessings be upon him): [al-Bayyinah: 5], and His saying, the Exalted: [al-Zumar: 2 - 3], and His saying, the Exalted: [Al-An'am 6:162] "There is no partner for Him, and with that I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims" [al-An'am: 162 - 163], and by His saying, the Exalted, addressing the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): [Al-Kawthar 108:1] "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice" [al-Kawthar: 1-2], and by His saying, the Exalted and Sublime: [al-Jinn: 18], and by His saying, the Exalted and Sublime: [al-Mu'minun: 117].
Likewise, mocking the religion, criticizing it, ridiculing it, and insulting it, all of this is major disbelief, and no one is excused for it by a claim of ignorance, because it is known from the religion by necessity that insulting the religion or insulting the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is major disbelief, and likewise mocking and ridiculing. Allah said:[At-Tawbah 9:65] Do not make excuses; you have disbelieved after your faith [al-Tawbah: 65 - 66].
So it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge in any place to spread this among the people and make it apparent, so that the common people have no excuse, and so that this great matter spreads among them, and so that they abandon clinging to the dead and seeking their help, in any place in Egypt or al-Sham or Iraq or in al-Madinah, at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or in Makkah or elsewhere, and so that the pilgrims and people pay attention and know the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) and religion of Allah.
The silence of the scholars is one of the causes of the destruction and ignorance of the common people. Therefore, it is obligatory for the people of knowledge, wherever they are, to convey the religion of Allah to the people, and to teach them the oneness of Allah and the types of associating partners with Allah, so that they may abandon shirk with clear knowledge, and so that they may worship Allah alone with clear knowledge. And so it is with what happens at the grave of al-Badawi, or al-Husayn (peace be upon him),or at the grave of Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, or at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Madinah, or at the graves of others. It is necessary to point out this matter, and to teach the people that worship is a right belonging to Allah alone, and that no one has any right in it, as Allah (the Exalted) said::[al-Bayyinah: 5] And He (the Exalted) said:[al-Zumar: 2 - 3] And He (the Exalted) said:[al-Isra: 23] meaning, "Your Lord has commanded."
So it is obligatory for the people of knowledge in all Islamic lands, and in the areas of Islamic minorities, and in every place, to teach the people the tawhid (oneness of Allah), and to make them understand the meaning of worshipping Allah, and to warn them against shirk (associating partners with Allah) , which is the greatest of sins. And Allah created the two groups (humans and jinn) to worship Him and commanded them to do so, as He said: [al-Dhariyat: 56] And His worship is: obeying Him and obeying His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), singling Him out in worship, and directing the hearts to Him. He said: [al-Baqarah: 21].
As for issues that may be obscure, such as some matters of transactions, some aspects of prayer, and some aspects of fasting, the ignorant person may be excused in them? Just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) excused the one who entered ihram (the consecrated state of pilgrimage) wearing a shirt and anointed himself with perfume, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: and he did not order him to pay a fidyah (a ransom payment) due to his ignorance. Likewise, some issues that may be obscure, the ignorant person is taught about them and made to understand them.
As for the foundations of creed, the pillars of Islam, and the apparent prohibitions, a claim of ignorance is not accepted from anyone among the Muslims. If someone says, while being among the Muslims: "I do not know that zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) is forbidden," he is not excused. Or if he says: "I do not know that undutifulness to parents is forbidden," he is not excused, but rather he is struck and disciplined. Or if he says: "I do not know that liwat (sodomy) is forbidden," he is not excused; because these are apparent matters known among the Muslims in Islam.
But if he is in some countries far from Islam, or in the remote areas of Africa where there are no Muslims around him, a claim of ignorance may be accepted from him. And if he dies upon that, his matter is left to Allah, and his ruling is the ruling of the people of the period (those who died before the message reached them). The correct view is that they will be tested on the Day of Resurrection; if they respond and obey, they will enter Paradise, and if they disobey, they will enter the Fire. As for the one who is among the Muslims and commits acts of disbelief against Allah and leaves the known obligations, he is not excused; because the matter is clear, and the Muslims, praise be to Allah, are present, and they fast and perform Hajj and know that zina is forbidden and that khamr (intoxicants) is forbidden and that undutifulness to parents is forbidden, and all of this is known among the Muslims and widespread among them; so a claim of ignorance in that is a false claim, and Allah is the Helper.
Answer: The claim of ignorance and excusing oneself with it involves a detailed ruling, and not everyone is excused for ignorance. For matters that Islam brought and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified for the people, and which the Book of Allah made clear and which spread among the Muslims, the claim of ignorance is not accepted, especially regarding matters of creed and the foundation of the religion. Indeed, Allah sent His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to clarify their religion for the people and explain it to them. He conveyed the clear message, clarified the reality of their religion for the Ummah, explained everything to them, and left them upon the straight path, its night like its day.
And in the Book of Allah is guidance and light. So if some people claim ignorance regarding what is known from the religion by necessity, and which has spread among the Muslims, such as claiming ignorance about shirk (associating partners with Allah) and worshipping other than Allah , or claiming that prayer is not obligatory, or that fasting Ramadan is not obligatory, or that zakah is not obligatory, or that Hajj with the ability to perform it is not obligatory, then the claim of ignorance is not accepted from one who is among the Muslims regarding these matters. Because they are matters known among the Muslims, known by necessity from the religion of Islam, and have spread among the Muslims, so the claim of ignorance is not accepted in that. Likewise, if one claims that he does not know what the polytheists do at the graves or at the idols, such as calling upon the dead, seeking aid from them, slaughtering for them, making vows for them, or slaughtering for the idols, or the stars, or the trees, or the stones, or seeking healing or victory over enemies from the dead, or the idols, or the jinn, or the angels, or the prophets...
All of this is a matter known from the religion by necessity, and it is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). Allah has clarified this in His noble Book, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified it as well. He remained in Makkah for thirteen years warning people against this shirk, and likewise in al-Madinah for ten years, clarifying to them the obligation of making worship sincere for Allah alone, and reciting to them the Book of Allah, such as His saying, the Exalted:
And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him
وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلا تَعْبُدُوا إِلا إِيَّاهُIt is You we worship and You we ask for help.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُAnd they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَSo worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. (3) Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion.
فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ أَلا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُSay, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar.
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ And [He revealed] that the masjids are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone.
وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًاAnd whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.
وَمَنْ يَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ لا بُرْهَانَ لَهُ بِهِ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ إِنَّهُ لا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَLikewise, mocking the religion, criticizing it, ridiculing it, and insulting it, all of this is major disbelief, and no one is excused for it by a claim of ignorance, because it is known from the religion by necessity that insulting the religion or insulting the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is major disbelief, and likewise mocking and ridiculing. Allah said:
Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?"
قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ So it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge in any place to spread this among the people and make it apparent, so that the common people have no excuse, and so that this great matter spreads among them, and so that they abandon clinging to the dead and seeking their help, in any place in Egypt or al-Sham or Iraq or in al-Madinah, at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or in Makkah or elsewhere, and so that the pilgrims and people pay attention and know the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) and religion of Allah.
The silence of the scholars is one of the causes of the destruction and ignorance of the common people. Therefore, it is obligatory for the people of knowledge, wherever they are, to convey the religion of Allah to the people, and to teach them the oneness of Allah and the types of associating partners with Allah, so that they may abandon shirk with clear knowledge, and so that they may worship Allah alone with clear knowledge. And so it is with what happens at the grave of al-Badawi, or al-Husayn (peace be upon him),or at the grave of Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, or at the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Madinah, or at the graves of others. It is necessary to point out this matter, and to teach the people that worship is a right belonging to Allah alone, and that no one has any right in it, as Allah (the Exalted) said::
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَSo worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. (3) Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion.
فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ * أَلا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُAnd your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him
وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلا تَعْبُدُوا إِلا إِيَّاهُSo it is obligatory for the people of knowledge in all Islamic lands, and in the areas of Islamic minorities, and in every place, to teach the people the tawhid (oneness of Allah), and to make them understand the meaning of worshipping Allah, and to warn them against shirk (associating partners with Allah) , which is the greatest of sins. And Allah created the two groups (humans and jinn) to worship Him and commanded them to do so, as He said:
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلا لِيَعْبُدُونِO mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous -
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَAs for issues that may be obscure, such as some matters of transactions, some aspects of prayer, and some aspects of fasting, the ignorant person may be excused in them? Just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) excused the one who entered ihram (the consecrated state of pilgrimage) wearing a shirt and anointed himself with perfume, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:
Take off your shirt and wash off this perfume from you, and do in your 'Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage) what you are doing in your Hajj (the major pilgrimage).
اخلع عنك الجبة واغسل عنك هذا الطيب، واصنع في عمرتك ما أنت صانع في حجتكAs for the foundations of creed, the pillars of Islam, and the apparent prohibitions, a claim of ignorance is not accepted from anyone among the Muslims. If someone says, while being among the Muslims: "I do not know that zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) is forbidden," he is not excused. Or if he says: "I do not know that undutifulness to parents is forbidden," he is not excused, but rather he is struck and disciplined. Or if he says: "I do not know that liwat (sodomy) is forbidden," he is not excused; because these are apparent matters known among the Muslims in Islam.
But if he is in some countries far from Islam, or in the remote areas of Africa where there are no Muslims around him, a claim of ignorance may be accepted from him. And if he dies upon that, his matter is left to Allah, and his ruling is the ruling of the people of the period (those who died before the message reached them). The correct view is that they will be tested on the Day of Resurrection; if they respond and obey, they will enter Paradise, and if they disobey, they will enter the Fire. As for the one who is among the Muslims and commits acts of disbelief against Allah and leaves the known obligations, he is not excused; because the matter is clear, and the Muslims, praise be to Allah, are present, and they fast and perform Hajj and know that zina is forbidden and that khamr (intoxicants) is forbidden and that undutifulness to parents is forbidden, and all of this is known among the Muslims and widespread among them; so a claim of ignorance in that is a false claim, and Allah is the Helper.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.