The Ruling on Those Who Speak Words of Disbelief Among Writers and Thinkers, and Seeking Mercy for Them

Question:
The Shaykh (may Allah preserve him) says: We need to address those who call themselves writers or thinkers, all of whom speak ill of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), or of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), or of what he brought. And the question is, O strong one, O Muslim: Is one of them to be treated as other than a disbeliever? And if we hear that they are being mourned, what is the ruling on that? And is it permissible to read their words in order to warn against them and expose them?

Answer:
One who displays disbelief through his speech or his writing is ruled to be a disbeliever, and is treated as a disbeliever, unless it is established that he has repented from this statement and turned away from it. And until that is established, he is considered a disbeliever, and he is not mourned for, nor is forgiveness sought for him. And if he dies, no funeral prayer is performed over him, because he is considered a disbeliever, until his repentance and return to the truth are established.