Polytheism, or shirk, is categorized in Islam into three main types:
Major Polytheism (Shirk Akbar):
“Indeed, whoever associates others with Allāh—Allāh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire.”— Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:72)
Minor Polytheism (Shirk Asghar): This includes actions that may lead to shirk or lessen the purity of worship, like showing off in acts of worship to gain praise or using phrases that imply reliance on others besides Allāh, such as swearing by someone other than Him. Although minor shirk does not remove a person from Islam, it is still a grave sin and must be avoided.
Hidden Polytheism (Shirk Khafi): This type of shirk involves subtle feelings or attitudes that detract from pure reliance on Allāh, like placing one’s ultimate trust or fear in something or someone other than Allāh. It can be difficult to detect because it occurs within the heart, but it weakens true dependence on Allāh.