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What is the difference between lack of knowledge, which is an excusable ignorance, and the knowledge that Allah Almighty denies to disbelievers and hypocrites after the establishment of proof against them, and did Ibn Taymiyyah explain the difference between them?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The ignorance that is considered an excuse is the lack of knowledge of a religious ruling, unless the person is averse to revelation or negligent in seeking knowledge. As for the ignorance mentioned concerning the hypocrites and disbelievers, it is the lack of beneficial knowledge that leads to action, or their ignorance of certain truths, such as that might belongs to Allah and His Messenger, or that guidance lies in following Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, or that they are foolish. Allah the Almighty denied them hearing, sight, and understanding, meaning the denial of beneficial hearing, sight that guides, and beneficial understanding, because they did not benefit from them. And whoever has had the proof established against them, their claim of ignorance does not benefit them, because they failed to consider the proof or turned away from it. These texts specifically refer to the original disbeliever. As for the excuse of ignorance for a believer, it applies to someone who falls into an act of disbelief or polytheism out of ignorance that it takes them out of Islam.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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