Question:
We have read your response regarding the excuse of ignorance in matters that constitute disbelief (kufr). However, we find that in the book Kashf al-Shubuhat (Clarification of the Doubts) by Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, as well as in his book Kitab al-Tawhid (The Book of Monotheism), there is a lack of excuse for ignorance. This is despite the fact that in your answer, you cited the views of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, as well as Ibn Taymiyyah in Al-Fatawa and Ibn Qudamah in Al-Mughni. We hope you can clarify this?
Answer:
Sheikh al-Islam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab explicitly mentioned in his letters that he does not declare anyone a disbeliever if they are ignorant.
If he stated in Kashf al-Shubuhat that there is no excuse for ignorance, this is to be understood as referring to ignorance resulting from negligence on the part of the individual in failing to learn. For example, a person might know that something contradicts what they are practicing, yet they are negligent and complacent about it. In such a scenario, they are not excused on account of ignorance.