If one commits an act of disbelief and the proof is established against him, then he dies, do we rule that he is in the Fire?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: If one commits an act of disbelief, and the proof is established against him by the scholars, so the scholars declare him a disbeliever, do we rule specifically that he is in the Fire?

Answer:
We rule based on the apparent, my brother. We rule based on the apparent, and we do not know; perhaps he repented, and we do not know, and he died upon repentance. This is known only by Allah. But we rule based on the apparent, so we treat him according to what he died upon in the apparent. This is what we were commanded to do. As for ruling on him in the Hereafter, that is up to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.