Is there a difference between Muslims who have a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and polytheists who have not acknowledged Islam?
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Q3: Is there a difference between Muslims who have a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and polytheists who have not acknowledged Islam?
A3: There is no difference between one who falls into polytheistic innovations that cause one who claims to be a Muslim to exit Islam, and one who has not entered Islam at all, regarding the prohibition of intermarriage and the prevention of inheritance between them and Muslims. However, there is a difference between them in the degree of disbelief and the punishment for it in this world and the Hereafter, according to the degree of their transgression. For example, the first is considered an apostate from Islam; he is given the opportunity to repent, and if he repents, well and good, otherwise he is killed for his apostasy. His wealth belongs to the public treasury, not to his wife or his family; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 2535Sahih (Darussalam). The second is invited to Islam; if he accepts, well and good, otherwise it is prescribed to fight him and wage jihad against him like the other disbelievers. His wealth is a spoils of war or booty for the Muslims if they take it in jihad, or for his heirs from his religion if he dies other than in jihad. Except if the polytheist is from the People of the Book or the Zoroastrians, in which case they are accepted to pay the jizyah (tax on protected non-Muslims) if they commit to it with their own hand while they are humbled; otherwise, they are fought when there is the ability to do so; based on the saying of the Exalted: [At-Tawbah 9:29]
And it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he took the jizyah (tax on protected non-Muslims) from a Zoroastrian of Hijr. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
A3: There is no difference between one who falls into polytheistic innovations that cause one who claims to be a Muslim to exit Islam, and one who has not entered Islam at all, regarding the prohibition of intermarriage and the prevention of inheritance between them and Muslims. However, there is a difference between them in the degree of disbelief and the punishment for it in this world and the Hereafter, according to the degree of their transgression. For example, the first is considered an apostate from Islam; he is given the opportunity to repent, and if he repents, well and good, otherwise he is killed for his apostasy. His wealth belongs to the public treasury, not to his wife or his family; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever changes his religion, execute him.
من بدل دينه فاقتلوهFight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلاَ بِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَلاَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلاَ يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَنْ يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَAnd it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he took the jizyah (tax on protected non-Muslims) from a Zoroastrian of Hijr. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.