94- Ruling on excuse for ignorance in issues relating to Tawhid (1)
Q: Is ignorance an excuse when it comes to matters concerning Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism)? Is this applicable to those who make Du'a 1 (supplication) and vow to the Awliya (pious people)? Are they to be excused for their ignorance?
A: They are not excused if they live in a country which practices Tawhid, so long as they live among Muslims and are not far away from those who practice Islam. Therefore, they cannot be excused for ignorance. On the contrary, if they commit Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), they will be accounted for it as, for example, what is happening now in Egypt, the Levant (the region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine) and other countries at the graves of (Al-Sayyid) Al-Badawy and others. It is Wajib (obligatory) on the Muslim scholars to notify people, and warn them of this Shirk, and they should admonish and remind them in lectures in the Masjids (mosques), and so on. Muslims should inquire and ask for knowledge, not to accept to be subject to others. Instead, they should inquire. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "So ask the people of the Reminder, if you do not know." It is not permissible for someone to hold on to Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk just because they saw others doing the same thing without asking or inquiring. The Prophet (ﷺ) is reported to have said to someone asked him about his father: "Your father is in Hell-fire." When he found the man's face change, he said: "Both my father and yours are in Hell-fire." His father had died during Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance). (Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith) This is because they were following the traces of Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham, عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) religion, which was based on Tawhid. The Prophet's (ﷺ) mother died in the Jahiliyyah. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked if he could seek Allah's forgiveness for her, and Allah (Exalted be He) did not allow him. He then asked if he could visit her, and Allah (Exalted be He) allowed him to do this. This is a proof that whoever dies as a Kafir will not be forgiven, even if they died during the time of Jahiliyyah. Then how will it be if they were living among Muslims, the people of Tawhid, the people who read the Qur`an and listen to the Prophetic Hadith. Thus, there is no excuse for ignorance on their behalf and they deserve to be called Kafirs (disbelievers). A lot of these people upon hearing someone guiding them to the Oneness of Allah and warning them of Shirk, will be stubborn, proud and will dispute, or insist on their false religion and its practices. There is neither might nor power but with Allah. It is Wajib (obligatory) upon every Mukallaf (legally competent person) to ask and seek the truth, understand the religion, not accept follow in the footsteps of the populace with regard to their Shirk, Kufr, misguidance, or corrupt actions. Every Mukallaf is required to ask the scholars and pay attention to the people of knowledge advice about things which he is unsure of. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "So ask the people of the Reminder, if you do not know."
[Vol. 1, Page No. 237-245]
Q: Is ignorance an excuse when it comes to matters concerning Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism)? Is this applicable to those who make Du'a 1 (supplication) and vow to the Awliya (pious people)? Are they to be excused for their ignorance?
A: They are not excused if they live in a country which practices Tawhid, so long as they live among Muslims and are not far away from those who practice Islam. Therefore, they cannot be excused for ignorance. On the contrary, if they commit Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), they will be accounted for it as, for example, what is happening now in Egypt, the Levant (the region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine) and other countries at the graves of (Al-Sayyid) Al-Badawy and others. It is Wajib (obligatory) on the Muslim scholars to notify people, and warn them of this Shirk, and they should admonish and remind them in lectures in the Masjids (mosques), and so on. Muslims should inquire and ask for knowledge, not to accept to be subject to others. Instead, they should inquire. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "So ask the people of the Reminder, if you do not know." It is not permissible for someone to hold on to Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk just because they saw others doing the same thing without asking or inquiring. The Prophet (ﷺ) is reported to have said to someone asked him about his father: "Your father is in Hell-fire." When he found the man's face change, he said: "Both my father and yours are in Hell-fire." His father had died during Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance). (Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith) This is because they were following the traces of Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham, عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) religion, which was based on Tawhid. The Prophet's (ﷺ) mother died in the Jahiliyyah. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked if he could seek Allah's forgiveness for her, and Allah (Exalted be He) did not allow him. He then asked if he could visit her, and Allah (Exalted be He) allowed him to do this. This is a proof that whoever dies as a Kafir will not be forgiven, even if they died during the time of Jahiliyyah. Then how will it be if they were living among Muslims, the people of Tawhid, the people who read the Qur`an and listen to the Prophetic Hadith. Thus, there is no excuse for ignorance on their behalf and they deserve to be called Kafirs (disbelievers). A lot of these people upon hearing someone guiding them to the Oneness of Allah and warning them of Shirk, will be stubborn, proud and will dispute, or insist on their false religion and its practices. There is neither might nor power but with Allah. It is Wajib (obligatory) upon every Mukallaf (legally competent person) to ask and seek the truth, understand the religion, not accept follow in the footsteps of the populace with regard to their Shirk, Kufr, misguidance, or corrupt actions. Every Mukallaf is required to ask the scholars and pay attention to the people of knowledge advice about things which he is unsure of. Allah (Exalted be He) says: "So ask the people of the Reminder, if you do not know."
[Vol. 1, Page No. 237-245]
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