Is the explicit declaration of disbelief by a person, such as saying that democracy is a legitimate method, a sign of disbelief?

The questioner : Does the explicit declaration of disbelief by a person indicate what is in the heart... like the one who says that democracy is a legitimate method, or democracy...?

The Shaykh : May Allah reward you. The wording may indicate what you say, or it may not. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish... Now we have given some examples and asked: who does such-and-such, has he committed disbelief? We said it is possible that this is doctrinal disbelief or practical disbelief. After this research, we moved to verbal disbelief and heart disbelief, and we stopped at verbal disbelief. We did not say that whoever utters the word of disbelief is immediately judged a disbeliever. It is necessary to seek clarification. Perhaps many of our brothers present remember an authentic hadith in which he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Now, if we hear from someone who was in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance and lived in it, then he said, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," what do we say about him? He has embraced Islam. If we then hear him swear by al-Lat and al-Uzza... do we immediately judge that he has associated partners with Allah and apostatized from the Islam he entered with the word of tawhid (the oneness of Allah)? The answer is no. This hadith is among the evidence that makes us restrain our souls from rushing to declare a disbeliever anyone from whom we hear the word of disbelief. Look now, this hadith, in addition to what I am using as evidence that it is not permissible to rush to declare a disbeliever anyone from whom we hear the word of disbelief, gives us another benefit. What did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) mean by his oath, which is explicit shirk (associating partners with Allah)? But he said: Why? Out of good opinion of this Muslim, because he did not enter Islam except after having disbelieved in al-Lat and al-Uzza. But the old custom of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance may overcome him, so his tongue may slip and he says the word of disbelief. So now we take a lesson and Islamic etiquette and knowledge that if we hear the word of disbelief from a Muslim, we do not declare him a disbeliever, but as I mentioned earlier with some examples, we first seek clarification from him... Now, do you see this one who says democracy is an obligatory religious duty? Does he mean Islamic legitimacy? You now find many Muslim rulers who express in some contexts that... one must resort to international legitimacy. Do you hear this word?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : If democracy is an obligatory religious duty, we need to seek clarification from him about these names and titles they use. The matter is serious, my brother. You are talking to a Muslim who bears witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. He may fast and pray with you in the mosque, and he said this word... But the upbringing must be in two ways. The way... democracy that contradicts the Islamic Shari'ah is an obligation. Okay, the connection between me and you is cut off. But do you think that with any person from whom you hear this word, if you asked him, "The democracy I mean contradicts and opposes the Islamic Shari'ah, and it is an obligation?" Do you think he would give you this answer, or does he say a word he hears from so-and-so the writer, so-and-so the orator... We hear him swear by other than Allah. We say to him, my brother, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ... Another hadith: and so on. Do not swear by your father or your brother, and so on. Because this means exalting other than Allah, and Allah is greater than everything. So if you swear, swear by Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So tell him this lesson. We have tried people. Give him a lesson the first time, the second time, and the third time...
Abu Malik: He says to you:

The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest.