Is a mere utterance of the Two Testimonies by an apostate sufficient for his repentance to be accepted, even if he does not regret or intend repentance thereby, but rather utters them out of habit? And is his prayer thereafter considered evidence of his true Islam and acceptable to God?

The repentance of an apostate occurs through his embrace of Islam, meaning by his utterance of the two testimonies of faith (Shahadatayn). However, if his apostasy was due to denying an obligatory tenet, then his repentance is by uttering the two testimonies along with acknowledging the denied tenet, or by saying: "I disavow every religion that contradicts the religion of Islam." For an apostate or an apparent disbeliever, uttering the two testimonies is sufficient for his repentance to be accepted, and we do not scrutinize his intention, as judgment is based on outward appearances. Similarly, the original disbeliever and the apparent apostate are judged to have embraced Islam if they pray. As for the acceptance of his prayer or repentance by Allah, this pertains to the knowledge of the unseen, for Allah is the one who accepts repentance and righteous deeds.