Explanation of verbal disbelief, including some of the criteria for declaring someone a disbeliever

The Shaykh : As for the second part of this new classification, namely verbal disbelief, what is meant by it is any disbelief that its owner utters without knowing that it is disbelief, or knowing that it is disbelief but not intending it with his heart. This is verbal disbelief, and it includes two forms: one is that a person utters disbelief with his tongue while not intending it with his heart, and this is what the majority of people fall into, as we will explain to you. The second form of this verbal disbelief is that a person utters disbelief and intends it, but he does not know that it is disbelief or does not pay attention to it.
-- And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings --
As for the verbal disbelief that a person utters without intending it, he may be intending the words or ignorant of them, but in both cases, he does not mean the disbelief that is heart-disbelief. The disbelief that a person may speak of without meaning it is what is mentioned in the Qur'an regarding the story of 'Amir ibn Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him), when he uttered disbelief to escape the severe torment at the hands of the polytheists. It is known from early Islamic history that the polytheists had taken captive some of the tortured Companions, and among them was 'Amir ibn Yasir. They tortured him severely, just as they tortured his companion Bilal al-Habashi (may Allah be pleased with them all). However, it appears that human capacities and patience vary from one person to another. 'Amir ibn Yasir could not bear that torment, and the polytheists noticed this from him. So they offered him that he could insult the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), curse him, and abuse him in exchange for their releasing him. He responded to their request with his tongue, saying: "He is a sorcerer, he is a poet, he is a lying sorcerer." When they heard the word of disbelief from him, they released him. He would not have spoken those words had they not subjected him to severe torment. Then, when he found relief, he regretted the word of disbelief he had uttered. He went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to complain to him about his cursing and abusing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He said to him (peace and blessings be upon him): . He said: "I find it at peace with faith." He said to him (peace and blessings be upon him): . Meaning: If they return to capturing you and inflicting severe torment, then you should return to escaping them by uttering this word that your mouth speaks but your heart does not accept, .
This hadith indicates to us. And on this occasion, the saying of the Exalted was revealed: ; so there is no blame on him for speaking the word of disbelief. This hadith and this verse indicate that if a person is compelled to utter the word of disbelief out of compulsion, and his heart is at peace with faith, then there is no harm on him. Another type.

The questioner : The degree of compulsion, Professor...?

The Shaykh : There is no limit. These are relative matters. These are relative matters. Compulsion is mentioned in the Qur'an and covers many matters, , for example, in eating carrion and what is forbidden. So who can determine a specific degree of compulsion for every person? In such cases, it is said: . One person, for example, might eat a hundred sticks and not feel that he is compelled, what? To respond to the desires of the disbelievers with words. And another cannot bear fifty and quickly utters the word of disbelief. Human capacities are different, and the important thing is that he does not speak the word of disbelief and mean it with his heart.