Question:

What is the difference between a polytheist (Mushrik) and a hypocrite (Munafiq)?

Answer:

A polytheist (Mushrik) is someone who directs any act of worship to other than Allah and declares it openly, such as grave-worshippers and the like. This is the major form of Shirk (polytheism) which leaves no trace of Monotheism (Tawhid) with the person. Such a polytheist is the one for whom Allah has forbidden Paradise, whose refuge is the Fire, and whose Shirk Allah will not forgive if he dies upon it without repenting, as Allah the Almighty says: “Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.” [An-Nisa: 48], and His saying: “Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.” [Al-Ma’idah: 72].

As for the hypocrite with doctrinal hypocrisy (Nifaq I’tiqadi), he is the one who outwardly displays Islam while concealing disbelief, such as disbelieving in the Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and hating him, or disbelieving in and hating some of what he brought, or rejoicing at the decline of the Messenger’s religion and disliking its victory, and the like. The practitioner of this type of hypocrisy will abide eternally in the Fire and is among the lowest depths of the Fire if he dies upon that, as Allah the Almighty says: “Verily, the hyprocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.” [An-Nisa: 145].

And with Allah is all success, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.