Is it regarded as an excuse when a person says, "I did not know" for a mistake he does? Can a person be held responsible for something he does not know?

- Is it regarded as an excuse when a person says, "I did not know" for a mistake he does? Can a person be held responsible for something he does not know? Is it acceptable to say, "I did not know" for a religious issue for a person who knows about art, sports, politics and business and who uses technology?

- Is it regarded as an excuse for a Muslim person born of Muslim parents not to know the religious commands and prohibitions and to say, "I did not know them"? If it is regarded as an excuse, will it not be injustice to those who learn their religion? Will not learning something save man from responsibility and cause him to be forgiven?

Dear Brother / Sister,

1.  It is fard for a person to know enough ilm (knowledge) that will make him live in this world and save him in the hereafter. Therefore, not to learn ilm means to abandon a fard. Therefore, it is not regarded as an excuse to say, "I did not know".

2. Some people prefer ignorance by saying, "My responsibility will increase if I learn." It is wrong to say, "If I become rich, I will have to pay zakah; so, I will remain a poor person." It is similarly wrong to abandon ilm by saying, "If I learn ilm, I will have to act in accordance with it."

3. Ignorance of the law excuses no one; so, it is not regarded as an excuse not to learn ilm, which means Allah's laws. Therefore, not to learn ilm will not save a person from responsibility.

4. There are a lot of hadiths showing the importance of a scholar and ilm. From this point of view, a deed done based on ilm is more valuable than thousands of deeds made without ilm. 

5. It is necessary to teach every child their religious and worldly duties. Even if they are not held responsible when they are children, they will have to learn and practice them when they reach the age of puberty.

Questions on Islam