For whom is the ruling of declaring a specific person a disbeliever, and what are its conditions and impediments?

The questioner : Who is the one for whom the ruling of declaring a specific person a disbeliever is issued? Is it for the scholars or for others? And what are its conditions and what are its impediments?

The Shaykh : First, without a doubt, the ruling belongs to the people of knowledge, not to the people of ignorance. Second, after that statement in which there was some length, and we distinguished between creedal disbelief and practical disbelief, the scholar who is the only one authorized to issue the ruling of declaring a Muslim a disbeliever will undoubtedly keep in mind the two categories of disbelief: creedal disbelief and practical disbelief. Before he issues his ruling of creedal disbelief, he must study the issue concerning the person intended to be declared a disbeliever in light of This verse is very important, because a Muslim may genuinely be unaware of a ruling and thus fall into disbelief that expels one from the religion, but he does not know and does not feel it. Therefore, it is not permissible for us to rule that a specific Muslim has committed disbelief, even if he has fallen into disbelief, such as apostasy, except after establishing the proof against him, because to Allah belongs the conclusive proof