BENEFIT 333: Is it prohibited for a layperson to declare someone a disbeliever?

Sheikh Ibn Baz rahimahullah stated: A layperson should not declare someone a disbeliever except with clear evidence. A layperson does not have knowledge and is ignorant. However, if they have knowledge of a specific matter, such as a person denying the prohibition of adultery, then they can declare that person a disbeliever, both among the general public and the scholars—there is no doubt about this. If someone says that adultery is permissible, they are considered a disbeliever by everyone, both common people and others. This does not require further evidence. Likewise, if someone says that shirk is permissible, or that people can worship other than Allāh, who could doubt this? It does not need evidence. If someone says that it is permissible for people to worship idols, stars, or jinn, they are a disbeliever. As for matters that are difficult for a layperson to understand, or if someone were to say, for example, "Prayer is not obligatory; whoever wants to pray may do so, and whoever doesn't, may not," this is a different situation. Source: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/31408/%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B2-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7 Related benefit ⤵️ https://t.me/almanhajussalafi/1698