Is intention required in declaring a disbeliever one who uttered disbelief?

Question:
A group of contemporary scholars say that a person does not become a disbeliever if he says or does an act of disbelief unless he intends it with his heart?

Answer:
That is wrong. This constitutes disbelief by speech, by tongue, and by action, unless one is coerced while his heart remains at ease. If he is coerced by beating or by a threat of death from someone capable of carrying it out, and his heart is at ease, just as 'Ammar, Yasir, Ibn Mas'ud, Bilal, and others (may Allah be pleased with them) did, they agreed with them, but their hearts remained at ease with faith, affirming the oneness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, they said: "Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is a liar," or they said: "He is not a messenger," in order to ward off the beating with sticks and the like from themselves.