The Ruling on Excusing Ignorance in Matters of Tawhid
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He says: Is there an excuse of ignorance in matters of tawhid (the oneness of Allah)? And does this apply to those who make vows and dedicate offerings to the awliya (close friends of Allah), considering themselves excused by their ignorance?
Answer:
There is no excuse for that. In the station of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), one is not excused by ignorance as long as he is among the Muslims, not in a period of time or in a place far from the people of Islam, but rather among the Muslims. One is not excused in tawhid; rather, whenever shirk (associating partners with Allah) occurs from him, he is held accountable for it, just as it occurs now in Egypt, Syria, and similar places, at the grave of al-Badawi and others.
Therefore, it is obligatory for the scholars of Islam to alert the people, warn them of this shirk (associating partners with Allah), admonish them, and remind them in the mosques and elsewhere. And it is upon the individual to seek knowledge, ask questions, and not be content to be a follower of others without thought; rather, he should ask. And Allah the Exalted says: [Surah al-Nahl: 43].
Therefore, it is not permissible for a person to remain in disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) because he saw the people doing so, without asking or reflecting. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 203 to the one who asked about his father. He said: When he saw his face change, he said: Sahih Muslim 203 —and his father died in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance— narrated by Muslim in the Sahih; because they were upon a law they received from the intimate friend of Allah, Ibrahim (peace be upon him), which is tawhid (the oneness of Allah).
And his mother (peace be upon him) died in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. He sought permission from his Lord to seek forgiveness for her, but it was not permitted to him. He sought permission to visit her grave, and it was permitted to him. This indicates that one who dies in disbelief is not to be sought forgiveness for, nor is supplication made for him, if he was in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. How much more so if he was among Muslims, among the people of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), among those who recite the Qur'an and hear the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? He is more deserving of being called a disbeliever and having the ruling of disbelievers applied to him.
Many of them, if they heard someone calling them to the tawhid (the oneness of Allah) of Allah and warning them of shirk (associating partners with Allah), would become arrogant and proud, argue, or strike out against their false religion and their imitation of their ancestors and fathers. There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Therefore, it is obligatory for every person of legal age to ask, seek the truth, and understand his religion, and not be content to participate with the common people, imitating them in their disbelief, misguidance, and ugly deeds.
And it is upon him to ask the scholars and pay attention to the people of knowledge regarding what is unclear to him about tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and other matters: [Surah al-Nahl: 43]. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and benefit us with your knowledge.
He says: Is there an excuse of ignorance in matters of tawhid (the oneness of Allah)? And does this apply to those who make vows and dedicate offerings to the awliya (close friends of Allah), considering themselves excused by their ignorance?
Answer:
There is no excuse for that. In the station of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), one is not excused by ignorance as long as he is among the Muslims, not in a period of time or in a place far from the people of Islam, but rather among the Muslims. One is not excused in tawhid; rather, whenever shirk (associating partners with Allah) occurs from him, he is held accountable for it, just as it occurs now in Egypt, Syria, and similar places, at the grave of al-Badawi and others.
Therefore, it is obligatory for the scholars of Islam to alert the people, warn them of this shirk (associating partners with Allah), admonish them, and remind them in the mosques and elsewhere. And it is upon the individual to seek knowledge, ask questions, and not be content to be a follower of others without thought; rather, he should ask. And Allah the Exalted says:
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَTherefore, it is not permissible for a person to remain in disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) because he saw the people doing so, without asking or reflecting. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Verily my father and your father are in the Fire.
إن أبي وأباك في النارYour father is in the Fire
إن أباك في النارVerily my father and your father are in the Fire.
إن أبي وأباك في النارAnd his mother (peace be upon him) died in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. He sought permission from his Lord to seek forgiveness for her, but it was not permitted to him. He sought permission to visit her grave, and it was permitted to him. This indicates that one who dies in disbelief is not to be sought forgiveness for, nor is supplication made for him, if he was in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. How much more so if he was among Muslims, among the people of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), among those who recite the Qur'an and hear the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? He is more deserving of being called a disbeliever and having the ruling of disbelievers applied to him.
Many of them, if they heard someone calling them to the tawhid (the oneness of Allah) of Allah and warning them of shirk (associating partners with Allah), would become arrogant and proud, argue, or strike out against their false religion and their imitation of their ancestors and fathers. There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Therefore, it is obligatory for every person of legal age to ask, seek the truth, and understand his religion, and not be content to participate with the common people, imitating them in their disbelief, misguidance, and ugly deeds.
And it is upon him to ask the scholars and pay attention to the people of knowledge regarding what is unclear to him about tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and other matters:
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَThe presenter : May Allah reward you with good, and benefit us with your knowledge.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.