Is regret, seeking forgiveness, and saying "I am a Muslim" sufficient for an apostate's repentance without uttering the two testimonies of faith (Shahadatayn)? Is ritual bathing (ghusl) required in this case? What is the ruling on one who uttered disbelief, then repented and sought forgiveness while still believing himself to be a Muslim? How should such individuals be dealt with socially and economically?

Ibn Qudamah's statement about an apostate who denies the oneness of God (Tawhid) is interpreted to mean that merely reciting the two testimonies of faith (Shahadatayn) is sufficient for him, based on the hadith: "I have been commanded to fight the people until they say 'There is no god but Allah'."

As for one who apostatized for reasons other than denying Tawhid, he must affirm what he denied in addition to the two testimonies, because a disbeliever's conversion to Islam after denying an obligation is not complete without affirming what was denied.

Ghusl (ritual bath) for an apostate upon embracing Islam is obligatory according to the Malikis and Hanbalis, and recommended according to the Hanafis and Shafi'is, but it is not a condition for the validity of repentance.

It is permissible to follow Ibn Qudamah's opinion on one issue and someone else's on another, because there is a consensus that whoever embraces Islam may follow whichever scholars he wishes.

Mere utterance of the two testimonies is not sufficient without belief, certainty, sincerity, and submission. The two testimonies require knowledge, certainty, and acting upon their implications.

One who commits an act of disbelief and then repents with sincere repentance is not required to say, "I am a Muslim."

Dealing with laypersons who utter words of disbelief requires not rushing to judgment, and leaving the matter to the legitimate rulers or those who act on their behalf. The default is that a Muslim remains Muslim until his disbelief is proven with certainty.

People must be educated about matters of creed and the dangers of polytheism, warned against blasphemous sayings and actions, encouraged to frequently recite "There is no god but Allah" when uttering a prohibited phrase, and seek refuge from polytheism and ask for forgiveness for it.