The Difference Between a Kafir and a Mushrik

Question

What is the difference between a kafir and a mushrik? Just as Allah, the Pure, forgives a sinful believer if He wills, or does not forgive him [if He wills], does He likewise forgive the mushriks if He wills and not forgive them if He wills? Allah, the Pure, certainly has the power to admit even mushriks and kafirs into the highest Paradise without any reckoning: [ar]إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ[/ar] “Indeed, Allah is over all things competent” (Surah al-Baqara, 2:20).

Answer

Every mushrik is a kafir, but not every kafir is a mushrik. A kafir is also one who denies the necessary matters of religion (daruriyyat al-din), a definitive text (nass qat‘i) and the like — yet he is not called a mushrik. Rather, a mushrik is one who associates a partner with Allah the Exalted, whether in Essence or in Attributes, actions and so on.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.