What Is the Difference Between Kufr, Shirk, and Nifaq?
Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani
Question
What is the difference between disbelief (kufr), polytheism (shirk), and hypocrisy (nifaq)?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.
There are distinct differences between kufr, shirk, and nifaq:
Disbelief (Kufr)
Disbelief is the opposite of faith. It means rejecting what the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) brought.
Disbelief can occur in the heart, such as believing that the Quran has been altered; through speech, such as insulting Allah (Most High); or through actions, such as disrespecting the Quran by sitting or stepping on it.
Polytheism (Shirk)
Shirk contradicts the doctrine of monotheism (tawhid). It involves believing in another god alongside Allah, such as believing in multiple gods, like the Christians’ belief in the Trinity, or worshiping something other than Allah.
It can also occur when someone follows others in their worship of beings besides Allah or believes that worldly causes have inherent power. [See: Sanusi, Muqaddimat al-Sanusiyya]
Allah has declared that He does not forgive shirk unless one repents:
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him (in worship), but forgives anything else of whoever He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin.” [Quran, 4:48]
Hypocrisy (Nifaq)
Nifāq is when a person conceals disbelief in their heart while outwardly showing Islam. A hypocrite in belief is a disbeliever. For example, someone who prays with the congregation while internally believing in idol worship is considered a hypocrite.
Although kufr, shirk, and nifaq have different definitions, the end for all who die in disbelief, associating others with Allah, or as hypocrites is eternal punishment in Hell. This is explicitly stated in many Quranic verses and hadiths, and is agreed upon by the Muslim community. Allah says:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve from the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell, to stay there forever. They are the worst of (all) beings.” [Quran, 98:6]
Allah also says:
“Surely Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell.” [Quran, 4:140]
Important Clarification on Shirk and Kufr
These two terms can sometimes be used interchangeably or differentiated. Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Shirk and kufr may be used to mean the same thing, or they may be distinguished. Shirk may be specified for those who worship idols or other creations while acknowledging Allah’s existence, like the disbelievers of Quraysh, making kufr more general than shirk.” [Nawawi, Sharh Muslim]
Types of Shirk
(Shirk can sometimes mean other sinful acts not necessarily disbelief and based on this,) shirk has two types:
Major shirk: This directly opposes monotheism, as discussed earlier.
Minor shirk: This includes showing off (riya’), which is the opposite of sincerity (ikhlas). It means performing acts of worship for the sake of being seen by others. This is a major sin, and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“What I fear most for you is a minor shirk.” The companions asked, “What is minor shirk, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “It is showing off. Allah will say to them on the Day of Judgment when people are rewarded for their deeds: ‘Go to those for whom you were showing off in the world, and see if you can find any reward from them’.” [Ahmad]
Types of Nifaq
(Similarly, nifaq can sometimes be used for other sinful acts). It has two types:
Major hypocrisy (nifaq): This is when a person outwardly displays faith but inwardly conceals disbelief.
Minor hypocrisy: This relates to actions and is referred to as practical hypocrisy. It involves sinful behavior, and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“There are four characteristics; whoever has them all is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up: when he is entrusted, he betrays; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he quarrels, he behaves in an immoral way.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
[Shaykh] Bassem Itani
Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all.
Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.
From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.
His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.