Is it necessary to ask the one who prostrates to other than Allah about the reason for his action before ruling that he is a disbeliever?

Question:
This questioner says: A group of people have come out claiming that it is not permissible to declare a disbeliever the one who prostrates to other than Allah, or the one who slaughters for other than Allah, on the grounds that one must ask the person about the reason for his action and about his belief.

Answer:
Based on the apparent evidence, if one prostrates to other than Allah, we rule that he is a disbeliever based on his apparent state. As for what is in the hearts, no one knows it except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). We are not tasked with searching the hearts. We rule based on the apparent action: if one commits shirk (associating partners with Allah), we rule that he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah); if one commits kufr (disbelief), we rule that he is a kafir (disbeliever). This is the position of the Murji'ah, the sect that has appeared now, which is the one that makes these statements. Yes.