The jurists use the term *muslim* in a legal sense and *muslim* in a factual sense. What are their meanings, and what is the difference between them?
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The questioner : He says: The jurists use the terms *muslim* in a legal sense and *muslim* in a factual sense. What do they mean by that? And what is the difference between them?
The Shaykh : A *muslim* in a factual sense is one whose Islam is known to be true in both appearance and reality. A *muslim* in a legal sense is one who is treated as a Muslim, even if he is not a Muslim in the innermost part of his heart. For example, they said that an apostate who is a disbeliever, if he prays, is a *muslim* in a legal sense. This means that his Islam is ruled upon and he is treated as a Muslim. If he then apostatizes, he is killed unless he repents. Yes.
The Shaykh : A *muslim* in a factual sense is one whose Islam is known to be true in both appearance and reality. A *muslim* in a legal sense is one who is treated as a Muslim, even if he is not a Muslim in the innermost part of his heart. For example, they said that an apostate who is a disbeliever, if he prays, is a *muslim* in a legal sense. This means that his Islam is ruled upon and he is treated as a Muslim. If he then apostatizes, he is killed unless he repents. Yes.