Is one excused by ignorance if he dies upon major shirk (associating partners with Allah)?

Question:
Tell us about the virtue of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), and whether one who falls into major shirk (associating partners with Allah) while being ignorant his whole life, doing this and dying upon it, is excused by ignorance? And what is the criterion for ignorance that serves as an excuse?

Answer:
The virtue of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) is a great virtue, because it takes one out of kufr (disbelief) and shirk (associating partners with Allah) into the tawhid (the oneness of Allah) of Allah and singling Him out for worship. Thus, the Muslim lives upon the worship of Allah and upon a light from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Whatever good he does, he is rewarded for it and given reward for it along with tawhid (the oneness of Allah). As for the mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), no deed is accepted from him, and no righteous deed benefits him as long as he remains upon shirk (associating partners with Allah). This indicates the virtue of tawhid (the oneness of Allah). Among the greatest virtues of tawhid (the oneness of Allah) is that it saves you from the Fire and enters you into Paradise on the Day of Resurrection, so you become among the people of Paradise. In contrast, the mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah) becomes among the people of the Fire. (Indeed, whoever associates partners with Allah, Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his abode is the Fire, and there are no helpers for the wrongdoers). After the sending of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and the descent of the Noble Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah, and the presence of knowledge and scholars, ignorance ceased, and praise be to Allah. The one who lives among the Muslims, reads the Qur'an, and hears the hadiths, sermons, admonitions, lectures, and lessons, does not ignore the matter of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is among the apparent and clear matters for which Allah has threatened with the most severe warning. Its matter is clear and manifest. So, the one who lives among the Muslims, hears the Qur'an, hears the hadiths and texts, and hears the media programs on 'aqidah (creed), has been reached by the call and the argument has been established against him. Therefore, he is not excused for remaining in ignorance and upon shirk (associating partners with Allah) in a matter that is apparent and clear. Rather, the one who is excused by ignorance is the one who lived far from the Muslims, did not hear the Qur'an, and did not hear anything of knowledge. This is the one who is excused by ignorance and becomes like the people of the period of interruption (fatrah), whose affair is left to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). This is few among people, especially now, after the means of media have become strong and reached the east and the west, so everyone hears them and everyone reads them. This is from the wisdom of Allah in establishing the argument. Islam used to spread in the beginning through jihad (struggle in the path of Allah) and calling to Allah. When jihad (struggle in the path of Allah) weakened, or decreased, or ceased, and the calling to Allah with clarity weakened, the means of media became what Allah used to establish the argument against His servants. So, no one remains who does not know about shirk (associating partners with Allah), and tawhid (the oneness of Allah), and Paradise, and the Fire. No one ignores the prohibition of zina (unlawful sexual intercourse). No one ignores the prohibition of shirk (associating partners with Allah). No one ignores the prohibition of riba (usury or interest). No one ignores the prohibition of khamr (intoxicants) and intoxicants. These are clear matters. And no one ignores the prohibition of killing souls without right. These are all clear matters. So, a person is not excused by claiming ignorance in them, because they are clear, and the person hears them and reads them, and lives in a Muslim society. So how does he claim that he is ignorant? This is not excused by ignorance. Until when is the ignorance? And this is something he can ask about, he can learn, so his ignorance is removed. But he was negligent and let things slip, so he is to be blamed for this.