The Ruling on One Who Commits an Act of Disbelief and the Establishment of the Proof
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
The questioner says: It is difficult for me to reconcile your statement that one who commits an act of disbelief does not immediately become a disbeliever, as he may be ignorant, with the rebuke of those who say that one who prostrates to an idol should not be declared a disbeliever until he is asked and the proof is established against him?
Answer:
I did not say that. I say that one who displays disbelief is ruled to be a disbeliever based on what is apparent from him. As for intentions, no one knows them except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So we rule based on the apparent. Thus, if one displays disbelief, we rule against him based on what is apparent from him. We do not investigate his intention, for that is a secret that no one knows except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.
The questioner says: It is difficult for me to reconcile your statement that one who commits an act of disbelief does not immediately become a disbeliever, as he may be ignorant, with the rebuke of those who say that one who prostrates to an idol should not be declared a disbeliever until he is asked and the proof is established against him?
Answer:
I did not say that. I say that one who displays disbelief is ruled to be a disbeliever based on what is apparent from him. As for intentions, no one knows them except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So we rule based on the apparent. Thus, if one displays disbelief, we rule against him based on what is apparent from him. We do not investigate his intention, for that is a secret that no one knows except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.
Source
لقاء مفتوح 14-09-1433هـ — alfawzan.live (28:18)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.