The term ‘Jahiliyyah’....

The word ‘jahiliyyah’ refers to the name of a condition – this is how it is used the majority of the time in the Book and Sunnah but can also be the name of one who possesses that condition.

From the first is the statement of the Prophet (saws) to Abu Dharr (ra), “Verily, you have jahiliyyah in you.”

And the statement of ‘Umar (ra), “I swore in jahiliyyah that I would spend a night of seclusion.”

And the statement of ‘Aishah (ra), “Nikah during jahiliyyah was four types.”

And their (i.e., the Sahabah) statement, “O Messenger of Allah! We were in jahiliyyah and wickedness.” Meaning: in a state of jahiliyyah, or a order of jahiliyyah, or a custom of jahiliyyah, etc. Indeed, the word ‘jahiliyyah’ – even though the origin is an adjective (sifah) – it was used so much it become a noun (ismun), and resembles a verbal noun (masdar) in meaning.

As for the second (usage), it is saying: a jahiliyyah group and a jahili poet; that is, ascribing (them) to ignorance (jahl) which is the absence of knowledge or the lack of following knowledge. Indeed, whoever does not know the truth is a jahil with simple ignorance. And whoever believes in contradiction to it (i.e., to the truth) is a jahil with compounded ignorance. Also, whether or not he knows the truth, if he said contrary to the truth he is a jahil as the Almighty said, “when the ignorant (jahilun) address them (improperly), they only respond with (words of) repose.” And the Prophet (saws) stated, “When one of you is fasting he should not behave obscenely or ignorantly.”

Likewise, whoever acts contrary to the truth is a jahil, even if he knew he was opposing the truth. This is like the Sublime said, “Allah only accepts the repentance of those who commit evil ignorantly.” The companions of Muhammad (saws) said, “Everyone who commits evil is a jahil.” The reason for that is because the firm, genuine knowledge in the heart prevents statements and actions that oppose it. So when its opposite is broadcast, the heart by necessity was heedless or weak to resist what opposes it. These situations contradict the reality of knowledge. Thus he becomes ignorant in this regard.

From here you know the entrance of actions within the term “imaan” is a fact and not a metaphor – even if not everyone who fails to act on something is a kaafir or exits the foundation of imaan. The same is so for terms like “‘aql”, etc. This is why Allah the Almighty calls the owners of these conditions: “dead (mawta)”; “blind (‘umyan)”; “deaf (summan)”; “dumb (bukman)”; “deviants (dallin)”; “ignorants (jahilin)”; and describes them as: “not having intelligence (la ya’qilun)”; “not hearing (la yasma’un)”; and He describes the believers with: “people of reason”; “people of sound judgment”; “guided aright”; “possess light”; “listen”; “use their intellect”.

When this becomes clear, the people before the Messenger (saws) was sent were in a state of jahiliyyah in connection to ignorance. For indeed, what they were upon of statements and actions were enacted by ignorants with only an ignorant doing it. Likewise, everything opposing what the Messengers brought – whether Jewish or Christian customs – is jahiliyyah; and that is general jahiliyyah.

With regard to after Allah sent the Messenger, absolute jahiliyyah could be in one place and not in another – like in the abode of the kuffaar. And it could be present in one person and not in the other – like a man before he accepts Islam; for indeed, he was in jahiliyyah even if he was in the abode of Islam. But in regard to an era, there is no jahiliyyah after the sending of Muhammad (saws), as there will always be a group from his ummah manifest on the truth until the Hour begins.

However, the qualified jahiliyyah can be found in some Muslim lands and in many Muslims, as he (saws) said: “Four things in my ummah are from the dictates of jahiliyyah…”

And he said to Abu Dharr (ra): “Verily, you have jahiliyyah in you.” And so on. Thus his (saws) saying: “a person who desires a tradition of jahiliyyah in Islam,” includes all jahiliyyah absolutely or without restriction: Judaism, or Christianity, Magian or Sabian, pagan or polytheistic, from that or some of it or a mix from some of these jahili religions; for indeed, all of them are innovations and abolished, becoming jahiliyyah by the sending of Muhammad (saws). This notwithstanding, the term ‘jahiliyyah’ is mostly said in reference to the condition of the Arabs which they were upon. But indeed, the meaning is one.

[Ibn Taymiyyah - Iqtida as-Sirat al-Mustaqim, pp. 109-112, Dar al-Kitab al-‘Arabi]