Questions on the Explanation of the Book of Nullifiers of Islam

Question:
Yes. May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, this questioner says: We are studying the factors that negate Islam under your guidance, and you always indicate that whoever does such-and-such is a disbeliever. There is no doubt that you mean this in a general sense. In order to remove confusion, there are those who apply these rulings to specific individuals without verifying the conditions or the absence of impediments. We ask you to clarify and explain this matter. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Yes, regarding the declaration of a specific individual as a disbeliever: if there is no excuse for him, there is no doubt that the one who prostrates to other than Allah is a disbeliever, and the one who slaughters for other than Allah is a disbeliever. We apply the ruling of disbelief to him, unless he repents to Allah the Exalted and returns. Whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance. We have only the outward appearance; we do not know what is in the hearts. This is up to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. So whoever commits disbelief in speech, action, or deed, we rule that he is a disbeliever. Likewise, whoever commits shirk (associating partners with Allah) or speaks it, he is ruled to be a disbeliever. We have only the outward appearance, and rulings are based on the outward appearance. As for the inner realities, their matter is with Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.