Is a Person Considered to Be at Fault If They Do Not Study the Basics of Islam?

All praise be to Allah Most High.

The basics of Islam are the pillars and foundations upon which Islam in creed, behavior, and ethics is built. There is no Islam without them. Learning them is an obligation upon every Muslim man and woman, and it is not acceptable under any circumstance to be negligent towards them or any one of them.

Allah Most High said: “So, know ˹well, O Prophet,˺ that there is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Allah…” [Quran, 47:19] And He Most High said: “O believers! Have faith in Allah, His Messenger, the Book He has revealed to His Messenger, and the Scriptures He revealed before. Indeed, whoever denies Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Last Day has clearly gone far astray..” [Quran, 4: 136]

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” [Ibn Maja]

So, it is a religious obligation for every accountable person to know about monotheism and what pertains to the attributes of Allah Most High of the obligatory, permissible, and impossible, as well as the remaining pillars of faith and the pillars of Islam mentioned in the hadith of Gabriel, peace be upon him, reported in Sahih (authentic collections).

Therefore, learning the basics of Islam is a religious duty upon every accountable person so that they may have insight into their affair and worship Allah Most High as commanded. As came about from our Master, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. If one fails to learn this, they are clearly at fault and must rectify this to escape the punishment of Allah Most High on the Day of Judgment.

May Allah guide us and you to adhere to the sanctified Sharia and to hasten in executing the orders of Allah Most High, Majestic is His Majesty.