that it is permissible to prostrate before an idol voluntarily in order to call the polytheists to Islam; rather, he excuses someone who does so out of fear.

To conclude, whoever prostrates before an idol out of fear is excused on grounds of coercion. Someone who is ignorant and prostrates before an idol, mistakenly interpreting this as a means of winning over the polytheists in order to call them to Islam, is excused on grounds of that interpretation. Deliberately prostrating before an idol is forbidden; indeed, it is disbelief if it outwardly expresses agreement with the polytheists in their polytheism. No one is excused for this except someone acting out of fear or on the interpretation that it will win them over, as explained above.

The Shaykh’s words explicitly state that inward disbelief is the foundation of outward disbelief. Thus, outward words and deeds that constitute disbelief—such as insulting the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and prostrating to an idol—necessarily entail inward disbelief. This means that insulting the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, can only come from someone who inwardly disbelieves, whether through denial or refusal. Likewise, prostration to an idol can only occur together with inward disbelief.

However, that the prostration is directed to the idol is established only by the prostrator’s admission, even if he is lying. The same applies when he outwardly expresses agreement with the polytheists—for example, if they invite him to prostrate to their idol and he complies, or if they rise to prostrate and he rises and prostrates with them. All these are forms of outward disbelief. Whoever commits any of them is a disbeliever both outwardly and inwardly, unless he is coerced, for Allah Most High says:

“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after