He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was also asked:

About a man who, in accordance with Islamic law, had a debtor imprisoned. Another man came to intercede on the debtor’s behalf, but he refused his intercession. The two disputed over this, and the intercessor testified against the creditor because he had uttered words amounting to disbelief. The creditor feared the consequences and was brought before a Shāfiʿī judge. A Muslim brought a claim against him, alleging that he had uttered the words attributed to him, and requested a ruling under Islamic law.

The judge questioned the defendant about this, but he did not admit it. He was then prompted to confess so that a ruling affirming his Islam and the inviolability of his life could be completed. He admitted that he had uttered those words, unaware of their consequences. He then embraced Islam, pronounced the two testimonies of faith, repented, and sought Allah Most High’s forgiveness. He then asked the aforementioned judge to rule that he was a Muslim, that his life was inviolable, that his repentance was accepted, and that his property remained his. The judge granted his request, ruling that he was a Muslim, that his life was inviolable, that his property remained his, and that his repentance was accepted. He also imposed a discretionary punishment appropriate to his case, ruled that he was not liable to a second discretionary punishment, and adjudicated accordingly in all these matters.

Another judge, a Hanafī, then gave effect to this ruling.

Is the aforementioned judgment valid in every matter decided in his favour? Does the Shāfiʿī judge’s ruling require the presence of an opposing party representing the public treasury? May anyone, on account of what he uttered, seek to take his property or any part of it after his embracing Islam? And is it lawful for another judge, after the judgment