What is the ruling on one who doubts the disbelief of an act after committing it, and should he perform ghusl and recite the Shahada, or merely repent? And what should he do if he is predominantly certain about it being disbelief or not? And does the ruling for one afflicted by obsessive doubts differ from others in this regard?

A Muslim's Islam does not vanish merely by doubt, nor does he become an unbeliever unless he commits a saying, act, or belief that the Qur'an and Sunnah, or the consensus of scholars, indicate to be a major disbelief that expels one from the fold of Islam. A specific person is not judged to be a disbeliever unless the conditions for declaring someone a disbeliever are met and its impediments are absent, such as being an adult, sane, acting willingly, and not excused by ignorance or misinterpretation. Therefore, one whose apostasy has not been declared, especially if he is afflicted with obsessive thoughts, is not required to perform ghusl, and he must dismiss these obsessive thoughts. Scholars have differed on the obligation of ghusl for an apostate and an original disbeliever when they embrace Islam. Anyone who doubts the impermissibility of something or the apostasy of someone who performed a certain act should ask the people of knowledge.