Does one who permits the entry of intoxicants into his town become a disbeliever?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner asks: If someone permits the sale of intoxicants and brings them into his town, is it said that he has deemed them permissible? Because we have heard people say that this is deeming them permissible and is disbelief?

Answer:
No, one is not ruled to have deemed something permissible until he says that it is permissible, that it is permissible. If he explicitly states that it is permissible, then he has deemed it permissible. However, the mere act does not indicate deeming it permissible. A person, may Allah protect us from that, commits zina, steals, and drinks intoxicants due to desire. But if he is told, "This is forbidden," he says, "Yes, this is forbidden." And if he is asked, "Do you see this as permissible?" he says, "I seek refuge in Allah, no, I do not see it as permissible." So there is a difference between the act and deeming it permissible by words, where he explicitly says and states, "This is lawful." Yes.