Disbelief (kufr) with the definite article according to the Shaykh al-Islam

Question:
The questioner says, may Allah preserve you: Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said that when kufr (disbelief) is mentioned with the definite article (al-), it is that which takes one out of the religion. Does this apply only to the noun, or does it include derivatives such as the active participle, al-kafirun (the disbelievers)?

Answer:
Yes, this is what Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) and others said: kufr (disbelief) with the definite article is that which takes one out of the religion; it is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). As for kufr (disbelief) mentioned in the indefinite form, that is minor shirk (associating partners with Allah). "Cursing a Muslim is open sinfulness, and fighting him is kufr (disbelief)." This is minor shirk (associating partners with Allah). As for what lies between a servant and kufr (disbelief), abandoning the prayer is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), because it is with the definite article. This is the well-known position among the scholars of knowledge, and what is derived from it follows it. This is the noun, and what is derived from it follows it. Yes.