What are the types of disbelief?

Question:
May Allah hear you. Honorable Shaykh, he says: Is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) or apostasy specific to belief, denial, and refutation, or is it broader than that?

Answer:
Disbelief is of two types: original disbelief, which is the state of disbelievers generally before they enter Islam. The second type is apostasy, which is when one commits one of the nullifiers of Islam. If one commits a nullifier of Islam, he apostatizes from Islam and becomes a disbeliever. This person is not treated as an original disbeliever; he is treated as an apostate by being asked to repent. If he repents, well and good; otherwise, he is put to death. His Muslim relatives do not inherit from him, nor do the disbelievers inherit from him; rather, his wealth is confiscated and becomes public property. This is the apostate who commits one of the known nullifiers of Islam according to the scholars. We do not look at what is in his heart; we judge by the outward appearance. So, whoever commits a nullifier of Islam apostatizes from the religion of Islam, and we treat him as an apostate until he repents to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). As for hearts, their matter is with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Allah has not burdened us with what is in hearts; that is with Him (Glorified and Exalted is He). We only judge by the outward appearance. So, whoever prostrates to other than Allah, or slaughters for other than Allah, or makes a vow for other than Allah, or calls upon the dead for aid, or supplicates to the dead, is a liar who has apostatized from the religion of Islam. We treat him as an apostate unless he repents to Allah with a valid repentance.