Ibn Husayn. He said: The Muslims captured a man from Banu Aqil, so they brought him to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He said: 'O Muhammad, I am a Muslim.' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'Had you said that while you had control of your affairs, you would have succeeded with complete success.' Both [hadiths] were extracted by Muslim (12). It is possible that this applies to the original unbeliever, or one who denied monotheism. As for one who disbelieves by denying a prophet, a scripture, or a mandatory duty [and the like] (13), he does not become a Muslim by that; for he might believe that Islam is what he is upon, since all people of innovation believe that they are the Muslims, and among them are those who are unbelievers.

Section: If an unbeliever utters the two testimonies, then says, 'I did not intend Islam only,' he becomes an apostate and is compelled to return to Islam. Ahmad stated this clearly in a narration from a group. It has been reported from Ahmad that it is accepted from him and he is not compelled to return to Islam; because it is possible he is truthful, so his blood should not be shed based on doubt. The first [view] is more appropriate, because he has already been ruled a Muslim, so he is executed if he retracts, just as if his period [of Islam] had lasted a long time.

Section: If an unbeliever prays, he is ruled to be a Muslim, whether he is in the Abode of War or the Abode of Islam, and whether he prays in congregation or individually (14). Al-Shafi'i said: If he prays in the Abode of War, he is ruled to be a Muslim; but if he prays in the Abode of Islam, he is not ruled to be a Muslim, because it is possible he prayed out of hypocrisy and dissimulation (taqiyya). Our argument is that what constitutes Islam in the Abode of War is also Islam in the Abode of Islam.