Is it true that some scholars mentioned that the nullifiers of Islam are ten?

The questioner : Did the scholars establish conditions such that if one does such and such, he commits disbelief, meaning ten conditions, the nullifiers of Islam?

The Shaykh : Yes, they did establish them, but in reality, they have greatly exaggerated, especially some of the Hanafi scholars, who mixed up and did not distinguish between practical disbelief and creedal disbelief. This is a very necessary matter: distinguishing between the two. Creedal disbelief is what takes the Muslim out of the religion, whereas practical disbelief is when one performs the actions of the disbelievers. For example, they classified this type of disbelief as apostasy. They mentioned in the chapter on apostasy that "whoever tightens the belt of the Christians has committed disbelief," referring to the belt of the monks and priests. This is undoubtedly not permissible, but the mere action, the mere imitation of the disbelievers, does not warrant ruling that the imitator has committed apostasy and left the religion. Rather, it is the action of the disbelievers and the imitation of the disbelievers. This leads me to point out an issue that is frequently raised in the present age, a trial that Muslims face often, which is abandoning the prayer. Many of the young Muslims, and we can say, unfortunately, most of them, do not pray. So, do we rule that these who do not pray are disbelievers or not? Now we hear many, and very many, fatwas that the one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever, meaning an apostate from the religion and the faith. The reality is that this issue is like that one, and it is necessary to distinguish between the one who abandons the prayer out of laziness, negligence, or preoccupation with his worldly life, not out of denial of its legitimacy. Such a person is an open sinner and not a disbeliever. As for the one who denies the legitimacy of the prayer, as we hear from some of the youth, and unfortunately, they say, "My brother, this prayer was legislated in the time of the Arabs when they were living a nomadic life of filth and dirt, herding camels, and so on. But now, people are civilized and cultured, they claim, and therefore this prayer is a type of exercise. If one does it, fine, and if one leaves it, there is nothing on him." This is the disbelief that takes its owner out of the religion. As for the Muslim, if he is told, "My brother, pray," and he says, "May Allah accept our repentance," acknowledging the obligation of the prayer and acknowledging that he is a sinner before Allah (Mighty and Majestic), but he feels that Satan has dominion over him and the love of the world surrounds him, and he says, "May Allah accept our repentance," it is not permissible to declare him a disbeliever. The hadith cited in this context is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): This is explained here: he has committed two types of disbelief, practical disbelief and creedal disbelief. The one who abandons the prayer while believing in its legitimacy, his disbelief is practical, meaning he performs the actions of the disbelievers. And the one who abandons it while denying its legitimacy, he performs the actions of the disbelievers and holds the creed of the disbelievers. This is an apostate from the religion, destined for Hellfire, and what an evil destination. May Allah reward you.