What is the ruling on dealing with Turks in Bulgaria who call themselves Muslims merely because they are Turks, practice circumcision, and name their children with Islamic names, but know nothing of Islam except its name, and attribute their lack of faith to being raised as atheists under the communist state? Is it permissible to eat their slaughtered animals, are their deceased to be treated as Muslims, and is it permissible to attend their condolences despite the polytheistic innovations present therein?

Islam is not merely a name or a claim; rather, it is a commitment to outward rituals and an avoidance of the nullifiers of Islam. Therefore, one who adopts beliefs or performs actions that take him out of Islam will not benefit from his declaration of faith, because it would be devoid of its meaning. Jurists differ on the ruling concerning one who abandons the practical pillars of Islam, but they do not differ on the fact that whoever lives his entire life abandoning them can only be a hypocrite or a heretic.

Faith is not by mere adornment or wishful thinking, but rather what settles in the heart and is affirmed by actions. Thus, actions affirm faith, and their absence negates the existence of faith in the heart.

As for Muslims, they are divided into two categories: 1. Those who say "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," adhere to it, and pray, but they neglect some obligations or commit sins without performing actions that nullify Islam. These are Muslims whose sacrificed animals may be eaten if they pronounced Allah's name over them, for whom funeral prayers may be offered, and who may be buried in Muslim cemeteries. 2. Those who know nothing of Islam but its name, do not pray, or do not say "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," or perform actions that nullify Islam. It is not permissible to eat their sacrificed animals, offer funeral prayers for them, or bury them in Muslim cemeteries. Attending their mourning gatherings is permissible for the purpose of inviting them to Islam and reminding them of Allah.

It is not permissible for individual Muslims to rule an opponent as an infidel; rather, this is entrusted to the people of knowledge. Some of these individuals may be from the people of the fatrah (those who lived during a period when no prophet was sent), so they must be invited to Islam and enlightened about it.