Shaykh 'Abdul-'Aziz bin Baz, rahimahullah, was asked, 'Who are the ones who will be excused for ignorance about 'aqidah and matters of fiqh?' to which he replied as follows.
The same applies in the case of those who make fun of the religion, attack it, mock it and insult it - all of these are forms of major kufr and are things for which none may be excused on the grounds of ignorance, because it is well known in the religion that insulting the religion or insulting the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, are forms of major kufr, as is making fun of the religion or mocking it. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: 'Was it at Allah, and His ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking?' Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed."
It is obligatory for the scholars in every place to spread this knowledge among the people and to make it known so that the common folk will have no excuse and so that this important knowledge will become widespread among them; and so that they will give up their attachment to the dead and seeking help from them whether that is in Egypt, Syria, Iraq or in Madinah at the grave of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, or in Makkah or anywhere else; and so that the pilgrims and the people will be aware, and will know the laws and religion of Allah. The silence of the scholars is one of the reasons for the loss and ignorance of the common folk. The scholars, wherever they are, must convey to the people the religion of Allah and teach them about the unity of Allah (tawhid) and the kinds of shirk, so that they will give up shirk out of understanding and so that they will worship Allah Alone with understanding. Similarly, they must speak out against the things that happen at the grave of Al-Badawi, the grave of Al-Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him, or at the grave of Shaykh 'Abdul-Qadir al-Jilani or at the grave of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in Madinah and at other graves. The people must know that worship is due to Allah alone, and no one else has any right to it, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)."
"So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only."
"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him."
In other words your Lord has commanded. So the duty of the scholars throughout the Muslim world and in the areas where there are Muslim minorities and in every place is to teach the people about the unity of Allah (tawhid) and to educate them about the meaning of worshipping Allah, and to warn them against associating anything with Allah (shirk), which is the greatest of sins. Allah has created the two races (of mankind and the jinn) to worship Him, and He has commanded them to do that, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)."
Worship means obeying Him and obeying His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, devoting worship sincerely and purely to Him, and focusing one's heart on Him. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)."
With regard to matters which may be unclear, such as some transactions and some matters of prayer and fasting, the one who is ignorant of them may be excused, as the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, excused the man who entered ihram dressed in a cloak and wearing perfume. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to him, "Take off the cloak and wash off the perfume, and do in your 'umrah what you do in your hajj." He did not tell him to pay a penalty (fidyah) for his ignorance. By the same token, some matters which may be unclear should be taught to the one who is ignorant so that he will come to understand them. But as far as the basics of 'aqidah, the pillars of Islam, and things which are clearly haram are concerned, claims of ignorance cannot be accepted from anyone who lives among the Muslims. If anyone who lives among the Muslims were to say, "I did not know that zina is haram", this is no excuse. If he were to say, "I did not know that disobeying my parents is haram," this is no excuse; rather he should be beaten and disciplined. Or if he were to say, "I did not know that homosexuality is haram," this is no excuse. These are matters which are clear and are well known among the Muslims and in Islam.
But if he lived in a land far away from the Muslim world or in a remote part of Africa where there are no Muslims around him, then the claim of ignorance may be accepted from him, and if he dies in that state his case will rest with Allah; he will come under the same ruling as those who lived during the fatrah (time between two Prophets). The correct view is that they will be tested on the Day of Resurrection: if they respond and obey they will enter Paradise, and if they disobey they will enter Hell. But the one who lived among the Muslims but did actions of kufr and neglected the well known obligations, has no excuse, because the matter is clear and there are Muslims around him, who fast and perform hajj. All of this is well known and widespread among the Muslims, so the claim of ignorance in this case is a false claim.
And Allah is the One Whose help we seek.
From Kitab Majmu' Fatawa wa Maqalat Mutanawwi'ah li Samahat vol. 7, p. 132