The People of the Sunnah do not declare anyone a disbeliever for a sin; is this statement absolute?

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Is the statement that the People of the Sunnah do not declare anyone a disbeliever for a sin considered correct in its absolute sense, given that they have declared some sins to be disbelief, such as abandoning prayer out of negligence or mocking something of the religion?

Answer:
Mockery is not among actions; it is among words. Mockery is not an action but a statement. And the People of the Sunnah do not declare anyone a disbeliever for a sin. The intent of this is to refute the Khawarij, as we have said. For a sin, other than shirk (associating partners with Allah), other than shirk, they do not declare disbelief for it. As for declaring disbelief for abandoning prayer, yes, this is declaring disbelief for a sin, but the evidence indicates this, so it is an exception. The evidence indicates this, so it is an exception to the rule. Because I think Abu Razin al-Aqili said: The Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) did not declare anyone a disbeliever for a sin except for abandoning prayer. Except for abandoning prayer. This is the meaning of his statement. So this is an exception to the rule. Yes.