The Differences Between Major Shirk and Minor
Shirk
(Points extracted from the book Kitaab ut-Tawheed, pp. 13-14, &
17-18,
by the Noble Shaikh
Dr. Saalih bin Fawzaan bin Abdillaah Al-Fawzaan)
Translated by Aqeel Walker
The conclusion that we may draw from what we have mentioned here is
that there are differences between the Major Shirk and the Minor Shirk.
They are:
1. The Major Shirk expels one from the religion and the Minor Shirk
does not expel one from the religion.
2. The Major Shirk causes the person who is committing it to remain
in the Hell Fire forever, whereas the Minor Shirk does not cause the
one who commits it to remain in the Hell Fire forever if he
enters it at all.
3. The Major Shirk nullifies all of the persons deeds, but the
Minor Shirk does not nullify all of the persons deeds. Rather,
the showing off and doing actions for the sake of worldly reasons
only nullifies the deed which they are mixed with.
4. The Major Shirk makes the blood (i.e. life) and wealth of those
who commit it lawful, but the Minor Shirk does not make these two
things (life and wealth) lawful (for the Muslims to take).
The Differences Between Major Kufr and Minor Kufr
In summary, the differences between the Major Kufr and the Minor Kufr
are as follows:
1. That the Major Kufr expels one from the religion and nullifies
the deeds, while the Minor Kufr does not expel one from the religion
and it does not nullify the deeds. However, it (Minor Kufr) does decrease
the deeds in reward and it exposes the one who commits it to the threat
of Allaahs punishment.
2. That the Major Kufr causes the one who commits it to remain in
the Hell Fire forever, while the Minor Kufr if the person who
commits it enters the Hell Fire does not cause the person to
remain there forever. For indeed Allaah may accept the repentance
of the one who commits Minor Kufr, and He may not enter that person
into the Hell Fire at all.
3. That the Major Kufr makes the blood (i.e. life) and wealth lawful,
and the Minor Kufr does not make the blood and wealth lawful.
4. That the Major Kufr necessitates pure enmity between the one who
commits it and the believers. Therefore, it is not permissible for
the believers to love and befriend the one who commits Major Kufr,
even if they are their closest of kin. However, regarding the Minor
Kufr, then it does not prevent friendship entirely. Rather, the one
who commits Minor Kufr is still loved and befriended (by the Muslims)
according to the amount of what is in him of Eemaan (faith), and he
is hated and disliked according to the amount of disobedience (to
Allaah) that is in him.