What is the response to those who say: One does not rule that a person who prostrates to other than Allah is a disbeliever until the proof is established against him?

Question:
We say, Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, there are those who say that one who prostrates to other than Allah is not ruled to be a disbeliever until the proof is established against him.

Answer:
My brother, we rule based on outward appearances, but the inner realities are known only to Allah. So, if someone prostrates to other than Allah, we rule that he has committed shirk (associating partners with Allah) and kufr (disbelief) based on the outward appearance. As for whether he did not intend it or had a different intention, we do not know that; his ruling in that regard is left to Allah. Allah did not command us to rule on what is in the hearts. He commanded us to rule on outward matters: words, actions, and outward behaviors. We rule on those.