The Specific Declaration of Apostasy and Praying Behind an Imam Who Slaughters for Other Than Allah

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The ruling on the specific declaration of apostasy (takfir) has become confused for me. Is the one who commits major shirk (associating partners with Allah) while ignorant considered a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah)? Is the prayer valid behind an imam who slaughters for other than Allah and calls for aid from other than Him? What is my position regarding declaring him a disbeliever? Do I rule that he is a disbeliever, or is the ruling for the scholars and judges?

Answer:
My brother, if a person commits disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) while he is in the lands of the Muslims and reads the Qur'an, we rule that he is a disbeliever and we rule that he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah). This matter is clear in the Qur'an and the Sunnah. He is an Arab and understands the Qur'an and the Arabic language, so he is not excused by ignorance in this case. He lives among the Muslims, reads the Qur'an, and reads the hadiths that contain the cursing of the one who slaughters for other than Allah and the cursing of the one who builds on the mosques over graves. He reads this, and he is an Arab. The proof has been established against him, and his action is shirk (associating partners with Allah), and he is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), except if he repents to Allah the Exalted and Majestic. Yes.