—and the texts—is to make distinctions: whoever among the Muslims lives in a sound, knowledge-based Islamic environment, yet remains ignorant of rulings that are necessarily known to be part of the religion—as the jurists put it—is not excused, because the call has reached him and the proof has been established against him. As for one who lives in a disbelieving society to which the call has not reached, or to whom it has reached and who has embraced Islam but some of those rulings remain unknown to him because he is new to Islam, or because there is no one among the people of knowledge of the Quran and sunnah to convey them to him—such a person is excused.

In my view, the same applies to those living in certain Muslim lands in which associationism, blameworthy innovation, and superstition have become widespread, ignorance has prevailed, and no scholar is found to explain to them the misguidance in which they are involved—or where such a scholar does exist, but some of them have not heard his call and warning. They too are excused, since they share with the former group the fact that the call to the truth has not reached them. Allah Most High says: “That I may warn you thereby, and whomever it reaches,” and He says: “We do not punish until We have sent a messenger,” along with similar proofs from which the scholars derived their view that the people of the interval are not held accountable, whether they are individuals, tribes, or peoples, because they share the same legal cause—as is plainly evident to those possessed of knowledge and understanding.

From this, the enormity of the responsibility resting upon the shoulders of the Islamic parties and groups that have appointed themselves to call to Islam becomes clear to every Muslim who is zealous for Islam and the Muslims. Yet, despite this, they leave Muslims in their ignorance and heedlessness of the correct understanding of Islam. Their unspoken attitude is, as some ignorant people have said to me on this occasion: “Leave people in their heedlessness!” Indeed, one of them even claimed that this was a noble hadith! Or they say—as common folk in some lands say—“Let everyone remain with his own religion; may Allah help him!” This is a grave error, if only they knew. But the saying is true: “One who lacks something cannot give it.”