What is the ruling on the disagreement that has arisen among a group of committed young people regarding the issue of excusing by ignorance the perpetrator of major shirk, and is it permissible to revile and warn against those who hold this opinion?
Ignorance is an excuse that repels disbelief (kufr), and this is indicated by religious texts such as the Almighty's saying: "And never would We punish until We have sent a messenger," and the Hadith of the man who doubted Allah's power but was forgiven, and the Hadith of Dhat Anwat. Scholars have agreed on accepting ignorance as an excuse, but they differed on its details. Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab said: "We do not declare as disbelievers those who worship the idol on the grave of Abd al-Qadir and the like, due to their ignorance." The methodology of the Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah is not to declare a specific person a disbeliever until proof is established against them, such as someone who is a new convert to Islam or grew up in a remote desert. Describing actions or statements as disbelief (kufr) does not necessitate declaring the doer a disbeliever. One should be keen to find ways out of disbelief for a Muslim, interpret their actions in the best possible light, and abandon disunity and discord.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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